
August 30, 2024 • 56min
5 Dead Simple Business Ideas You Can Start With A FB Ad | ft. George Mack
My First Million

Key Takeaways
- Self-awareness test business idea: Create a personality test where friends/family also fill it out about you, revealing how others perceive you compared to your self-perception. Has viral potential and taps into people's fascination with self-discovery.
- Designer babies and IVF: As technology advances, more people may opt for IVF and embryo selection to avoid genetic diseases or select for desired traits in their children. This could become increasingly common, especially among the wealthy.
- Eye art business: A fast-growing company takes close-up photos of people's eyes and sells them as art prints. Has strong emotional appeal and personalization.
- Mold removal service: With increasing awareness of mold's health impacts, there's opportunity in mold testing and remediation services marketed through health influencers and targeted ads.
- CMO of the UK idea: Proposal to rebrand the UK's national day to "Dunkirk Day" to instill more national pride and unity, using advertising tactics like creating a common "enemy" (Nazi Germany).
- Ad Professor marketing strategy: Growing a marketing agency by creating viral ad content on social media, showcasing creativity to attract clients organically.
Introduction
In this episode of My First Million, hosts Sam Parr and Shaan Puri are joined by George Mack, a marketing expert and founder of the Ad Professor. George shares several innovative business ideas and marketing strategies, ranging from personalized health services to nation-level branding concepts. The discussion explores how to identify business opportunities by looking at societal trends, leveraging emotional appeal, and using creative advertising techniques.
Topics Discussed
Self-Awareness Test Business Idea (2:49)
George proposes a business idea for a self-awareness test, building on the popularity of personality tests but with a unique twist:
- Users fill out a personality test about themselves
- Friends, family, and colleagues also fill out the test about the user
- Results show discrepancies between self-perception and how others perceive you
- Potential for viral growth as people share results and invite others to participate
The hosts discuss the appeal of personality tests and their business potential, referencing successful companies like Tickle that have capitalized on people's fascination with self-discovery.
"Personality tests are often answers that you want to be true about yourself versus the actual reality," George notes, highlighting the value proposition of his idea.
Designer Babies and IVF (16:35)
The conversation shifts to the future of reproduction, with George suggesting that s*x may become less common as a means of conception:
- Advancements in IVF and genetic testing are making embryo selection more sophisticated
- Wealthy individuals may increasingly opt for IVF to select embryos with desired traits or avoid genetic diseases
- This trend could eventually become more widespread as technology improves and costs decrease
Sam shares his personal experience with IVF, confirming the reality of genetic selection to avoid hereditary conditions. The group discusses the ethical implications and potential societal impacts of this technology becoming more common.
Eye Art Business (26:30)
George introduces a unique business he encountered in Europe that creates personalized art from close-up photographs of people's eyes:
- Customers look into a special camera that captures a detailed image of their eye
- The image is then sold as a high-quality print or digital file
- Appeals to people's fascination with their own uniqueness
- Potential for couple's portraits, gifts, etc.
The hosts discuss the emotional appeal and viral potential of this idea, as well as possible ways to expand or replicate the business model.
Personal Color Analysis (30:40)
Sam shares his experience with a personal color analysis service, which determines the most flattering colors for an individual based on their skin tone, hair, and eye color:
- Customers pay around $100 for a one-on-one session
- Receive personalized color recommendations for clothing, makeup, etc.
- Business model involves franchising to individual operators
The group discusses how this taps into people's desire for self-improvement and personalization, as well as the trend of "personal consumerism" around self-knowledge.
Mold Removal as a Service (34:45)
George proposes a business idea centered around mold testing and removal services:
- Capitalize on growing awareness of mold's health impacts
- Offer free mold tests to generate leads
- Partner with health influencers to raise awareness and drive traffic
- Potential for high-ticket services as homeowners invest in remediation
The hosts discuss the marketing potential, comparing it to other home services like pest control that play on homeowners' concerns.
"70% of houses in America apparently have mold in them," George states, highlighting the market opportunity.
CMO of the UK (40:11)
George shares a creative idea for rebranding the UK's national day to increase patriotism and unity:
- Replace St. George's Day with "Dunkirk Day" to celebrate a unifying historical moment
- Use advertising tactics to create a sense of national pride
- Highlight British achievements and cultural icons
- Potential to boost tourism and national morale
The hosts discuss the challenges of national branding for the UK compared to countries like the US, and how to effectively create a sense of shared identity.
George's Favorite Ad Campaigns (46:43)
The conversation turns to memorable advertising campaigns, with George and the hosts sharing some of their favorites:
- Rolex: "The men who control the destiny of the world wear Rolex"
- Porsche: Various clever slogans playing on exclusivity and aspiration
- New Balance: Highlighting appeal to both fashion models and everyday dads
George explains how these ads use psychological tactics and clever copywriting to create strong emotional associations with the brands.
Ad Professor Marketing Strategy (50:52)
George reveals how he grew his marketing agency by creating the anonymous "Ad Professor" account on social media:
- Shared examples of great ads and marketing insights
- Created speculative ads for major brands to showcase creativity
- Built a large following, attracting potential clients organically
- Leveraged the account's popularity to drive business to his agency
The hosts praise the strategy as an innovative way to demonstrate expertise and attract clients without traditional sales tactics.
Conclusion
This episode of My First Million showcases a range of creative business ideas and marketing strategies, emphasizing the importance of emotional appeal, tapping into societal trends, and innovative approaches to customer acquisition. George Mack's insights highlight the potential for businesses that address people's desires for self-knowledge, health, and personal improvement. The discussion also underscores the power of effective advertising and branding, both for individual companies and even at a national level. By thinking creatively about how to present and market ideas, entrepreneurs can find unique opportunities in various industries and scales of operation.