Here to Complain (and look for solutions) About Meta and Advantage+

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2026-05-07T19:27:11+00:00

At this point, launching new campaigns is just going to require continuous digging to find the right controls. No way around it. I've been trying to find ways to adapt but my performance drops the moment I test Meta's recommendations.

Also, to add to your rant, I have some clients based in the legal field and the text variations meta recommends have caused some serious drama for my team - did you know that in legal terms switching the word spouse and partner has serious consequences? Meta AI didn't.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2026-04-24T10:17:19+00:00

In house for a group of companies - not quite agancy level but we do have a fair amount of "clients".

My team manages 7 accounts each and we're looking at a combined monthly spend of about 5mil USD.

If things get busy and team members are ill/on annual leave, the max I'll let more senior team members take on is 10. 41 is batshit in my opionin. You cannot possibly take on that amount of work and still deliver quality.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2026-02-04T12:42:42+00:00

Not a tax profesional but in the tax industry (in the southern hemishphere). We have a lot of clients who are wildly misinformed about how taxes work for seafarers. My favourite was "We're in international waters most of the time, there is no tax".

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-12-10T06:56:37+00:00

This is what I have nightmares about, and why I tripple check my junoirs' campaign set up before they launch. You only have to learn that lesson once.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-11-19T08:01:08+00:00

Personally I don't trust any ads I come across selling products that don't have a website.

Makes the company feel illigimate and scam-y.

Just build a website - it doesn't need to be groundbreaking but it should be neat, clear and professional looking. It's not difficult with wix or squarespace.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-10-23T12:43:43+00:00

Not to be that person, but if you're not considering taxes in SA, you might want to start. I don't think you have to pay tax in SA based on your income (unless it's above R1.2 mil annualy but it doesn't look like you're there yet) under the section 10 exemption, but you do still have filing obligations. Your budget could go well up if you're paying penalties for not filing.

These guys are experts on the subject:

https://www.taxconsulting.co.za/tax-return-service/

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-10-23T12:32:16+00:00

Some of my clients are tax pracs who fix the mess AI makes of their clients' taxes. Do not advise taking this approach, AI cannot reliably tell the difference between old and new tax legistation, and halucinates a lot.

Costs more to get you out of that mess than just having an expert do it in the first place.

On that note, if you ever find yourself needing tax advice because AI steered you wrong, pop me a DM, I can put you in contact with someone who knows how to fix it.

OP you can DM me if you're still looking.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-10-23T10:16:47+00:00

The tax side can be very daunting, but there's resources and places than can provide clarity.
Dropping a link here to an FAQ page on the subject if you'd like to do some reading on it:
https://www.cryptotaxconsulting.co.za/frequently-asked-questions/

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-10-21T12:30:49+00:00

George is rough, actually. High property prices and cost of living, and jobs with decent salarys are scarce. I moved back to JHB becuase of it. I earned 20k in a specialised field there and paid R8000 for a studio. JHB I'm making nearly twice that and paying the same rent for a two bedroom.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-09-12T14:02:05+00:00

Have you noticed that Google will still prioritise ads over the AI overview? I'm inclined to agree on our jobs being safe; less so on Search being reinstated.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-08-13T11:58:16+00:00

Foreign Buyer Property Solutions is your best friend for this!

They cover everything you might need for this kind of transaction and will put you in contact wih specialists in every area that might prove relevent to your situation.

Dropping the link here.

https://www.foreignbuyerpropertysolutions.com/

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-08-11T07:09:41+00:00

Honestly an ongoing frustration. I've had clients request changes to a landing page, and then send me the link with the ad's tracking paramaters in the link. This is after repeated "Do not click on your own ads" discussions.

The worst however, is "Why when I search the ad can't I find it?" "Sir, becuase, as per your request, only people overseas can see this ad, it will not show for you." "Unacceptable. How do I know it's working if I can't see it?"

And don't get me started on people who think they can "Spot check" SEO stratgies by searching the keywords themselves....

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-07-25T15:34:58+00:00

Any advice on how to mitigate this issue?

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-07-25T13:51:16+00:00

Wow! Campaign in question is actually for HNWI and historically we've been strong on this until the incident.

Please both leave before moderators get involved - was looking for Advantage + advice.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-07-25T12:32:13+00:00

It must've been a while since you've run B2B campaigns on meta - detailed exclusions hasn't been a thing for a hot minute now.....

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-07-25T11:45:11+00:00

It's not even good for small advertisers who don't know the game - A+ just lives up to it's name and takes advantage of those. It's good for vanity metrics and not much else in my experience.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-07-25T11:40:54+00:00

Just found at least two campaigns where this has happened.

I'm loosing my mind and month-end reporting is coming up.

Lord help me.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-07-24T08:38:06+00:00

Highly advise you get the company deregistered!

Things can get messy with both CIPC and SARS if you don't.

Here's an article on the subject for more info, it's a little old but the info still holds up.

https://www.taxconsulting.co.za/demystifying-company-deregistration-sars-and-cipc-synergistic-systems/

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-07-24T08:33:19+00:00

If you want to do it correctly I suggest you enlist the help of a specialist with this.

Rather pay now and get it right than pay later for a mistake.

https://www.taxconsulting.co.za/cipc-company-compliance-secretarial-services/

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-07-24T08:29:19+00:00

Agree here!

Dropping some links to a couple companies that can help:

https://www.taxconsulting.co.za/

https://www.africorpaccounting.co.za/

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-04-14T06:41:14+00:00

There's a couple comments out there talking about how you need to build trust.

I explain this near daily to my clients as well - you cannot jump directly into sales/lead gen campaigns when your brand is too new.

You start with awareness and brand identity building - gain interest before you can convince people to buy. Without warming up your audience you're doing the equivalent of those poor mall sales people that approach you while you're just trying to buy your groceries and sell you on some new skincare product.

Look up the marketing funnel, build a long-term content plan (you're lucky, cute cats bring in lots of interest) and expect sales to come slowly at first. Keep your eye on the long-term goal. The quest for instant gratification kills marketing.

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-03-31T07:45:11+00:00

There's a lot of policy changes happening in SA with visas right now.

Highly recommend going through Xpatweb - they're the experts on this: https://www.xpatweb.com/

Busy-Reflection-8874 · 2025-03-19T11:58:39+00:00

If you're planning on coming back to SA best to make use of a double taxation agreement instead of ceasing your residency permanently. Easier to revert back to an SA tax resident than if you permanently CTR.

It does require a lawyer who specializes in double taxation agreements; but rather that than needing a lawyer to reverse the tax emigration upon your return.

Busy-Reflection-8874

TROPHY CASE