It’s a squarely outside my norm to brag—I’m honestly cringing a little as I type—but today, I’m going to, because I have an important point to make.

When I opened Purple Monkey Playroom in 2012, it wasn’t exactly a fairytale setup. I handed in my two weeks’ notice at my salaried job in November 2011, formed my LLC in December, signed a lease in January 2012, and opened our doors the first weekend of February. Why? Because missing the cold (aka busy) season wasn’t an option. We opened our doors without even having all of our future equipment in place.

Our first review, published in Chicago Kids Magazine, wasn’t glowing. It essentially described us as a mediocre offering in a mediocre part of town. Ouch. I might still be bitter. But despite that less-than-stellar start, Purple Monkey Playroom was buzzing from day one. Families filled the space every day, and our reputation grew steadily over the years.

By our 5th anniversary, we’d outgrown our tiny space (figuratively, if not literally). We hosted a massive celebration in a park district gymnasium with hundreds of families, countless vendors, and so much love for the little playroom that could. Vendors volunteered their services—photographers, performers, face painters, food vendors—all of whom told me it was some of the best exposure they’d ever had.

Even years later, the name still sparks recognition and fond memories. Our tiny little playroom—anything but mediocre, thank you very much, Chicago Parent—more than held its own in an (over)crowded market where playrooms often came and went every three years.

The Secret to Purple Monkey’s Success

How did I take 1,300 square feet and turn it into a household name in Chicago’s family scene? It wasn’t luck or a single brilliant idea—it was a well-cultivated, multi-pronged strategy: partnerships, events, community involvement, email marketing, brand ambassadors, incentives… you name it, we did it.

But here’s the kicker: all of those efforts were superpowered by ads.

I wasn’t afraid to dive into Meta, Google Adwords, or Yelp advertising—even when I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing. I started small, learned through trial and error, and kept my budgets manageable. Over time, I saw results, which encouraged me to invest more and refine my strategy. Eventually, my spending attracted the attention of Google and Meta reps, who helped me optimize my campaigns further.

(Fun fact: Chicago Parent never saw a dime of my advertising dollars—but Meta and Google? They happily took plenty, and it was worth every penny.)

Why Ads Were a Game-Changer

When I launched my second business, a local event venue, I didn’t hesitate for a moment to include ads in my strategy. From day one, they were integral to keeping our space busy right from the jump.

Why? Because I’d learned that ads aren’t just an expense—they’re an investment. Done correctly, they pay dividends. For Purple Monkey, they were an essential part of our growth. For my event venue, they kept us competitive and ensured we stayed top of mind in a busy market.

When I launched my current business, I didn’t just rely on past experience—I doubled down on my knowledge by investing in a digital ads intensive. This included close to 20 hours of cutting-edge training in Google Ads, Meta advertising, email marketing best practices, and even TikTok.

The training reinforced everything I’d learned through trial and error and introduced me to advanced techniques for targeting, tracking, and optimizing campaigns. It also gave me the confidence to help my clients integrate ads into their own strategies, knowing I had the expertise to guide them toward success.

Why So Many Business Owners Resist Ads

Despite my success with advertising, I’m continually surprised by how many business owners are hesitant to run ads—even when they’re a perfect fit for their growth strategy. They see ads as a gamble, something risky and unpredictable.

Here’s what I tell my clients: the real gamble is not getting in front of the clients who are actively looking for you and leaving yourself vulnerable to your competitors finding them first.

We start small. You set the budget. The first step is setting up tracking, so we know exactly where every dollar goes, what works, and how we can refine it. Yes, it takes time—typically up to 90 days—to optimize the algorithm, but once the platforms understand your ideal audience, ads can become an engine for growth.

The Big Picture

Looking back on Purple Monkey’s journey, I had a well-cultivated, multi-pronged creative strategy baked into every activity we undertook. But what elevated us from good to great was our advertising. Ads gave us the reach, recognition, and resonance that transformed a tiny playroom into a beloved community institution.

If you’re on the fence about advertising, ask yourself: What’s the lifetime value of acquiring just one client through Google Adwords or Meta advertising? Can you “risk” that amount to test the waters?

The real gamble is letting your competitors get to those clients first.

Ready to Supercharge Your Business?

If you’re ready to move past hesitation and unlock your business’s full potential, let’s talk. Together, we’ll design a strategy that works for you—one that ensures every dollar counts and every effort drives results.

💬 Schedule a consultation today and take the first step toward transforming your business into the one everyone’s talking about years down the road.