Skip to content
Live journey to $500K MRR 1.9% $9.5K $500K MRR 1 client · Meta Ads management last sync · today
THE JOURNAL · 136 ENTRIES

Wins, failures, and the tactics that actually worked.

The complete log of building 500k.io from $0 to $500K MRR. Tactics + feelings, no fluff. New entries every week.

A stack of leather-bound journal notebooks beside an open laptop in soft morning light
Week 40 Sep 30, 2026
prompt 12 min read

Creatives Ads Playbook: 9 Steps to Ship Winners Weekly

Creatives ads playbook for Meta and Google: 9 steps, KPIs, templates and a one-day turnaround workflow built by operators past $35M.

Week 40 Sep 29, 2026
tactic 13 min read

Image Size for Facebook Ads 2026 Specs

Exact image size for Facebook ads in 2026. We break down pixel dimensions, aspect ratios and safe zones to stop Meta from cropping your paid creative.

Week 40 Sep 28, 2026
tactic 10 min read

How to Build Ads Image Assets That Scale

Produce high-performing ads image assets that actually convert. Crank11's step-by-step guide covers specs, hierarchy, testing, and scaling for paid acquisition.

Week 39 Sep 27, 2026
tactic 11 min read

Media Buying Agency: What They Do and How to Choose One

Media buying agency explained for $30k+/month spenders: inventory, negotiation, programmatic vs direct, pricing math and selection criteria.

Week 39 Sep 24, 2026
tactic 23 min read

Ecommerce Facebook Ad: 15 Examples That Convert

These ecommerce Facebook ad examples expose the creative, copy and testing choices worth replicating across cold, warm and retargeting audiences.

Week 39 Sep 21, 2026
tactic 14 min read

Meta Ads Management Agency: How to Hire One at Scale

Hiring a meta ads management agency at $30k+/month spend? The hiring rubric, KPI thresholds and onboarding playbook we use, in one place.

Week 38 Sep 20, 2026
tactic 13 min read

Average Landing Page Conversion Rate Is 6.6% Now What

Average landing page conversion rate is 6.6% median. See industry benchmarks, maths and CRO fixes for paid traffic at scale.

Week 38 Sep 19, 2026
tactic 21 min read

Conversion Rate Optimization Services What They Do

Conversion rate optimization services explained for paid traffic teams. What is included, pricing models and how to choose a provider.

Week 38 Sep 18, 2026
tactic 12 min read

Landing Page Conversion Rate Optimization Playbook

Landing page conversion rate optimization playbook for paid traffic. Hypothesis, testing and rollout framework to lift ROAS without more spend.

Week 38 Sep 16, 2026
tactic 11 min read

Average Media Buyer Salary 2026 Benchmarks

The average media buyer salary in the US is $66,414 in 2026. See real compensation benchmarks, agency costs and hiring maths for $30k+ monthly ad budgets.

Week 38 Sep 15, 2026
tactic 14 min read

Performance Marketing Agency: What It Actually Does

Performance marketing agency explained for founders spending $30k+/month. Real engagement models, KPIs, ROI maths, and how to vet one without getting sold to.

Week 38 Sep 14, 2026
tactic 9 min read

Fixed Price Marketing Agency: 5 Buyer Checks

A fixed price marketing agency caps your monthly fee regardless of ad spend. We break down the exact deliverables, scope risks and five buyer checks.

Week 37 Sep 13, 2026
tactic 10 min read

Ad Creative Testing That Finds Winners Faster

Ad creative testing that finds winners faster. A step by step system to design, run and scale tests that lift CTR and cut CPA.

Week 37 Sep 10, 2026
tactic 13 min read

Google Ads Management Agency Explained with Costs

What a google ads management agency does, costs and how to evaluate one. Get deliverables, pricing models and a checklist to choose well.

Week 37 Sep 09, 2026
tactic 12 min read

Landing Page Split Testing: A Practical Playbook

A practitioner's guide to landing page split testing: hypothesis design, traffic split, sample size math, and reading winners without fooling yourself.

Week 36 Sep 06, 2026
prompt 8 min read

Field notes: what we shipped from May to September 2026

The journey to $500K MRR, in receipts. Every system, page and funnel we shipped between May and September 2026, what it was for, and what it taught us. No client names.

Week 36 Sep 05, 2026
tactic 12 min read

Google Ads ROAS Benchmark: Real 2026 Numbers and Fixes

Google Ads ROAS benchmark in 2026 by industry and campaign type, with the maths, attribution traps, and tactics to lift your return on ad spend.

Week 36 Sep 04, 2026
tactic 10 min read

Facebook ROAS Benchmark: What 35000 Brands Show

The median Facebook ROAS benchmark sits at 1.86x for DTC ecommerce. See the real numbers by industry, funnel stage and margin, and how to set targets.

Week 36 Sep 03, 2026
tactic 15 min read

Conversion Rate Optimization Audit

Conversion rate optimization audit. A conversion rate optimisation audit framework that finds revenue leaks before A/B testing, with the 11 checks we run

Week 36 Sep 02, 2026
tactic 12 min read

Why Are My Facebook Ads Not Working? a Diagnostic Guide

Why are my Facebook ads not working? A diagnostic guide that separates delivery, creative and measurement failures, with fixes you can run this week.

Week 36 Sep 01, 2026
tactic 11 min read

Paid Social Agency: What They Do and How to Pick One

Paid social agency explained by operators: service scope, pricing math, and the 11 questions that reveal whether one is worth hiring in 2026.

Week 36 Aug 31, 2026
tactic 11 min read

Creative Testing Services: What They Actually Do

Creative testing services run high-velocity ad experiments so you stop guessing. See the maths, the cadence and the KPIs that separate real operators

Week 35 Aug 30, 2026
tactic 10 min read

Creative Testing Solutions That Actually Win in 2026

Creative testing solutions that ship weekly winners: frameworks, KPIs and vendor criteria built from $35M in paid spend. Crank11's operating playbook.

Week 35 Aug 29, 2026
tactic 9 min read

Acquisition Cost Per Customer Formula: The Real Math

The acquisition cost per customer formula, worked examples, and the numerator mistakes that make CAC lie. Built for $30k+/month paid spenders.