From Startup to 2000+ Clients: John Horn’s Blueprint for Digital Marketing Success

Welcome to another episode of The Proven Entrepreneur Show, where we dive deep into the stories behind today’s most successful business leaders. In this episode, host Don Williams sits down with John Horn, the CEO of Stub Group — a digital marketing agency that has helped over 2,000 businesses grow through smart, ROI-driven advertising.

John’s journey is anything but ordinary. From working in a warehouse at age 10 to becoming the first employee at his brother’s startup, John has played a pivotal role in scaling Stub Group into a powerhouse agency managing hundreds of millions in ad spend. His story is one of grit, strategy, and relentless focus on results.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Stub Group grew from a bootstrapped startup to a 30-person team
• The biggest mistake brands make with paid ads — and how to avoid it
• What it means to land in “Google Ad Jail” and how John’s team helps clients get out
• Why hiring the right people early is critical to long-term success
• How diversification helped Stub Group survive the COVID-19 crash
• A behind-the-scenes look at ad campaigns so effective, they were shut down by platforms

John also shares his thoughts on the future of digital marketing, the importance of tracking ROI, and why best practices from platforms like Google and Meta aren’t always in your best interest.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, marketer, or business owner looking to scale, this episode is packed with actionable insights and hard-earned wisdom.

Key Entities Mentioned in this episode:

• John Horn (Guest):  CEO of Stub Group
• Don Williams: Host
• Stub Group: Advertising Agency
• The Proven Entrepreneur Show: Podcast Channel