performance marketing, with taste

grow pipeline.look cool doing it.

currently running

paid media and creative consulting for brands that care about results and don't want to sacrifice taste to get there. google, linkedin, meta.

let's chat
google adslinkedin adsmeta adspipeline qualitySQLs, not just clickscreative strategyB2B SaaSDTC brandsperformance with tasterevenue impact

i work with some cool clients

SINGTruly Small

my point of view

most paid media underperforms because strategy, creative, and execution are split across too many people. nobody's connecting the dots.

when one person owns all three, and actually cares, results compound.

01 what i do

three ways to work together.

no packages, no tiers, no 40-slide onboarding deck.

01

full account management

I run your paid media end to end. strategy, builds, optimization, and reporting across google, linkedin, and meta. I own it like it's mine. creative support (briefs, ad design, testing) available as an add-on.

  • google ads
  • linkedin ads
  • meta ads
  • + creative
02

creative testing consulting

you're running ads but not learning from them. I audit what's running, build a structured testing framework, and design experiments that compound. works standalone or alongside your existing team.

  • creative audit
  • test frameworks
  • briefs + messaging
03

growth strategy consulting

you have the team but need direction. I work with founders and marketing leads to figure out what's actually worth doing. which channels, which audiences, how to structure it. strategy only, no retainer.

  • channel strategy
  • ICP targeting
  • paid media roadmap

02 selected work

work that moved the needle.

real results. clients anonymized.

B2B SaaS

zero to pipeline.

problem

paid media contributing zero to pipeline. built the channel from scratch. Google Search for high-intent demand, LinkedIn ABM to reach senior buyers at target accounts, YouTube retargeting to stay top of mind.

  • Google Search
  • LinkedIn ABM
  • YouTube

outcome / full month

~10SQOs per month at $1,879 each
~8meetings booked
6-figureLTV deals from cold paid. a VP at SiriusXM posted about seeing our YouTube ad in the wild.
E-commerce

a sinatra launch.

problem

Frank Sinatra album launch with no paid media history. needed to drive vinyl and CD sales. tested static vs. Reels built around nostalgia and romance, iterating on hooks and formats to find what converted.

  • Meta
  • creative testing

outcome / shopify, month 1

+1,400%total sales
+1,100%orders
+499%sessions, conv. rate +107%
E-commerce

shopping, restructured.

problem

Google Shopping running but underperforming. conv. value/cost of 15.43 overall, with Branded (USD) at 4.05 and Remarketing at 1.23.

  • Google Shopping
  • Branded Search
  • Remarketing

outcome / post-restructure

19.40 → 22.81google shopping conv. value/cost
4.05 → 7.87branded (USD)
+16%conv. value on the same spend

03 the honest take

not an agency. a strategic partner.

I work with a focused number of clients at any time. senior-level attention on your account every week, not a junior AM managing 14 others.

let's chat
$500K+
monthly spend managed
82%
pipeline increase, B2B SaaS
10 yrs
google, meta, linkedin, amazon, tiktok, programmatic
SQLs
not vanity metrics. always.

04 consultant vs. agency

what you're actually choosing.

typical agencyspencer consulting co.
who does the worka junior strategist managing 8–12 accounts. the senior who sold you moves on.me. every brief, every optimization, every report.
attentionmonthly strategy reviews, if you're lucky. templated reporting.something breaks on friday, it gets fixed on friday.
incentivesretainer renewal regardless of results. high turnover.I live on results and referrals. same person, always.
creative ownershipbriefed out. feedback loops are slow. sometimes not offered at all.strategy, briefing, execution. no telephone game.
best fit$100k+/month, multi-channel, full creative production at scale.$10k–$80k/month, senior attention on the work, pipeline focus.

longer read on this: paid media consultant vs. agency: which one do you actually need? →

05 in their words

from former managers and clients.

two clients this week did nothing but gush about how much they love working with you. you're calm, sharp as all hell, and handle client questions not with answers, but with plans.

former VP · paid media agency

hard work and dedication, bearing fruit, with leads progressing to final stage before close. great combination of patience, relationship building, and marketing execution.

former VP · B2B SaaS agency

"we've been through 2 other agencies and the work you've already delivered is very impressive. you're a very engaging presenter."

client, direct

06 how it works

no 40-slide decks. just a clear path.

01

discovery call

30 minutes. goals, channels, current state. no pitch deck.

02

audit + proposal

I review your accounts and creative. clear gaps, scoped proposal.

03

kick off fast

once aligned, I move. first deliverables within 5 business days.

04

results + iteration

weekly optimization, transparent reporting. you always know where things stand.

07 about

shelby ibbotson

i'm shelby.

toronto, on · 10 years in paid media

after 10 years of going out of scope, feeling physically ill pushing creative that was lame, questioning why taste is treated like an afterthought in performance marketing, I didn't return to agency life. I bet on myself instead.

the reality is most brands don't need someone to execute. they need someone to discern, challenge, and have opinions about what they're putting in front of thousands of people a day.

I work with a focused group of clients at a time. your account gets the same attention I'd give my own.

08 follow along

paid media hot takes.

creative strategy and opinions i probably shouldn't post. on instagram.

@spencerconsultingco
@spencerconsultingco instagram grid
let's chat.let's chat.let's chat.let's chat.let's chat.let's chat.let's chat.let's chat.

let's
chat.

tell me what you're working on. no commitment, no hard sell.

basedtoronto, on, canada
channelsgoogle · linkedin · meta

i'll reply within one business day.