69 • $236,000 ARR from 1 LinkedIn Thought Leader Ad

In this episode, Ryan breaks down one of the most powerful, yet underused, ad formats on LinkedIn right now: Thought Leader Ads. He explains what they are, why they’re performing better (and cheaper) than company ads, and how to use them to grow both your personal brand and your SaaS business. From storytelling and video strategy to targeting and budgeting, Ryan shares the exact framework he’s used to turn simple posts into direct revenue — including one ad that’s brought in multiple clients and measurable pipeline.

Takeaways:

• Thought Leader Ads are up to 80% cheaper than company ads — and far more engaging
• Best for top-of-funnel and brand-building — people buy from people, not companies
• Don’t abandon company ads — use both together for full-funnel performance
• High-performing ad formats: story-driven posts, short videos, memes, and educational carousels
• Include a soft call-to-action — subtle links work better than hard sells
• Ryan’s top-performing ad: “7 reasons RocketSaaS is better than hiring in-house” — directly led to new clients
• Build a content calendar: 80% educational, 20% promotional
• Pair with retargeting ads to nurture and convert engaged viewers
• Growing your personal brand is the best long-term ROI — for both founders and marketers

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By Ryan James

Founder of Rocket SaaS