Hacking Advertising: How We Learned to Make Ads Without the Agency (And You Can Too)

by Jon Sneider

Overview

Learn How You Can Make World-Class Advertising Without an Ad Agency

In Hacking Advertising, Jon Sneider shows how businesses and brands can adopt a straight-to-production approach that results in better ad creative, on much faster timelines, with significantly more cost-effective solutions.

Creative production is the future. Marketing professionals and entrepreneurs will learn how to adopt this new process and save a fortune in developing ad campaigns. Ad agency and production house leaders will learn how to streamline their shops for massive gains in profitability.

For business owners, marketing and advertising professionals, and everyone who wants to produce the best advertising creative of their careers, save and make millions, do it all faster, and have a damn good time doing it.

CEOs, CMOs, founders, and agency leaders agree:

“In Hacking Advertising, Jon Sneider details how marketers can save millions”

“a manifesto that redefines what’s possible in advertising”

“this book will change your perspective for good”

“a must-read for anyone looking to revolutionize their marketing approach”

“redefines what’s possible in advertising”

“will leave you inspired, empowered, and ready to create”

“Move over Tim Ferriss, Jon Sneider has created the ultimate hack”

“Cut to the chase and buy Jon Sneider’s exceptional book.”

Skip the Agency BS and Go to Market!

It’s the beginning of the end for traditional advertising agency models—giant ad agencies have created a bloated, slow, expensive system with bureaucratic processes that seldom lead to better advertising creative. Advertising production is a near-trillion-dollar industry ripe for disruption, says Jon Sneider, the founder and president of Wild Gravity, a multi-award-winning creative production agency in Seattle, WA. Hacking Advertising, Sneider’s authoritative debut work, comes as a result of his firsthand experience (as the client for some of the country’s largest brands) of the mind-blowing inefficiencies of the advertising-production industry. After seeing these inefficiencies and the squandering of time and money head-on, Jon created a multi-million-dollar creative production company in three months—with no employees, no studio, and no capital, with the sole purpose of producing great creative without the time, cost, and hassle of a traditional agency. In this provocative book, Sneider shares an insider’s tips to producing cinema-quality work for top clients WITHOUT THE AGENCY.

Anyone who needs creative assets will learn to produce content faster and better than their own dedicated ad agencies. With real stories and clever insights, Jon provides an eye-opening how-to guide for brands and companies who want save millions of dollars by skipping the ad agency. Leaving no one out in the cold, he teaches agencies and production companies how to transform their shops to thrive as the ad industry evolves towards this new model.

Jon holds an M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship from Babson College and has over 25 years in the advertising and marketing industry from both agency-side and client-side.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781639090549
Publisher:	An Inc. Original
Publication date:	04/29/2025
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Raised in Boston during the ‘70s and ‘80s, Jon Sneider moved west to study at Colorado College, graduating with a degree in Comparative Literature in 1991. After a brief stint in Telluride, he returned to Boston to begin a career in marketing, cutting his teeth selling Wave Radios for Bose over the phone. His knack for sales saw him manage a $20-million sales team while earning his MBA at night.

 

After earning his degree, he joined Digitas, Inc., one of the earliest and largest interactive agencies in the US. By the new millennium, he was responsible for supervising digital accounts for industry giants like GM, AT&T, Microsoft, and Time-Warner. This position served as an excellent springboard for his subsequent 25-year career in advertising and marketing. 

 

He moved from agency to client-side when he transitioned to Fidelity Investments to lead the revamp of fidelity.com. Subsequently, he was recruited by L. L. Bean as Director of Advertising & Brand, expanding his skillset to broadcast advertising and producing national television and digital advertising campaigns.

 

When a former boss from Fidelity moved to Microsoft offering Sneider a role managing advertising for Windows, he worked with the nation’s largest and most coveted ad agencies executing on eight-figure budgets. After five years at Microsoft, he joined Redfin as VP of Advertising & Brand, managing their first-ever broadcast advertising campaign.

While working with these influential brands, he recognized inefficiencies in advertising production. 

 

Realizing that globally recognized creative content could be produced more efficiently without relying on ad agencies, he was inspired to launch Wild Gravity in 2017. In just three months, with no initial capital, employees, or physical infrastructure, the company secured two trillion-dollar corporations as its first clients and became a multi-million-dollar company in its first year.

 

Wild Gravity's unique process allows the team to deliver work superior to traditional agencies' to some of the world's biggest brands more quickly and cost-effectively. 

 

The success of this approach inspired him to author Hacking Advertising.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Jon Sneider’s Hacking Advertising: How We Learned to Make Ads Without the Agency (And You Can Too) is a manifesto that redefines what’s possible in advertising. As a proven innovator and disruptor, Jon demonstrates how the traditional agency model—often seen as essential—can be streamlined or bypassed entirely, even for the biggest companies in the world. Drawing from his experience leading campaigns at industry giants like Microsoft, Jon exposes inefficiencies, shatters myths, and offers practical tools to create high-impact advertising with less time, fewer resources, and far more control.

This book is a must-read for marketing students eager to glimpse the inner workings of Fortune 500 marketing departments. It’s also a valuable resource for marketing leaders seeking a more streamlined, audience-driven approach to creating impactful marketing assets. Jon’s bare-knuckled storytelling and real-life learning reveal not only how world-class campaigns come to life but also the hidden pitfalls to creativity and alignment within corporate structures. It’s a crash course in navigating, innovating, and thriving in modern advertising.”

—John Dougherty, Chief Marketing Officer, Brighton Jones Wealth Management

 

“You can spend the next 20 years going through the school of hard knocks that is marketing leadership, or just cut to the chase and buy Jon Sneider’s exceptional book. Part practical playbook, part professional autobiography, Hacking Advertising won’t just save your organization money—it will save something infinitely more valuable—time!”

—Richard Stern, CEO, TuneIn

 

“Hacking Advertising takes a closer look at the advertising process, celebrating its successes while addressing areas for improvement. Jon Sneider shares practical solutions for enhancing efficiency and creativity within existing frameworks. It’s a thought-provoking read for anyone in marketing or agency leadership.”

—Rob Reilly, Global Chief Creative Officer, WPP

 

“Hacking Advertising: How We Learned to Make Ads Without the Agency (and You Can Too) by Jon Sneider is a groundbreaking guide that challenges the traditional advertising model. Sneider argues that the conventional agency approach is often inefficient and expensive, and he provides a compelling case for brands to take control of their creative production. The book is a treasure trove of practical advice, advocating for the development of internal creative capabilities or partnerships with lean, agile creative production companies. Sneider emphasizes the importance of quick, iterative processes and the value of frequent market tests to refine and optimize advertising strategies. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to revolutionize their marketing approach and achieve better results through efficiency and effectiveness.”

—Aaron Strout, Chief Marketing Officer, Real Chemistry

 

“Move over Tim Ferriss. Jon Sneider has created the ultimate hack to the bloated traditional agency model and takes us behind the scenes of his career, creating a compelling business case for a more nimble and resourceful approach to developing creative advertising that drives results.”

—Marc Oshima, Chief Marketing Officer & co-founder, AeroFarms

 

“Advertising is in such flux these days it’s hard to describe what an agency is anymore. In Hacking Advertising, Jon Sneider details how marketers can save millions with a straight-to-production approach, and how agencies and production companies can adapt to this new world.”

Creative production shops have smaller teams that move much faster than traditional agencies. They replace focus groups with in-market testing, and swap agency bureaucracy for “GSD” people—seasoned pros who just Get Shit Done. What’s not to like?”

—Luke Sullivan, author of Hey Whipple, Squeeze This: The Classic Guide to Creating Great Advertising

 

“Jon Sneider’s Hacking Advertising is a bold and refreshing take on an industry bogged down by inefficiencies and outdated processes. With his firsthand experiences leading campaigns for global giants like Microsoft, Sneider lays bare the challenges of traditional advertising and offers a clear, actionable blueprint for a better way forward. His hybrid approach to ad production—combining creative and production under one roof—feels not just innovative but essential in today’s fast-paced marketing landscape.

What sets this book apart is Sneider’s ability to make complex topics relatable and engaging. From tales of creating fake snow in Pasadena to navigating the bureaucratic maze of agency politics, his storytelling keeps readers hooked while delivering valuable lessons. The book is packed with practical advice, like eliminating unnecessary middlemen, embracing in-market testing, and rethinking agency relationships, making it a must-read for anyone in marketing or advertising.”

More than just a guide, Hacking Advertising is a call to arms for marketers to reclaim control of their creative processes. It’s a book that will leave you inspired, empowered, and ready to create ads that don’t just look good but actually make an impact.”

—Scott Erikson, CEO, Manufaktur Marketing; CMO, Picnic

 

“You don't need to be in the advertising industry to enjoy and get a ton of value from Jon Sneider's Hacking Advertising: How We Learned to Make Ads Without the Agency (and You Can Too). It's a great book for everyone—from college students and incoming interns to seasoned industry professionals—interested in selling, marketing, or advertising anything. For the uninitiated industry hopefuls—let this book be your guide to help you navigate your career and speak up for efficiency where it's desperately needed. If you're in the industry and find yourself aggressively nodding while you read, you'll feel affirmed in your frustrations, validated in your desire to do things differently, and equipped with a road map to help you build a framework that empowers you and your team to do what you do best.”

—Sydney Williams, author of Hiking Your Feelings, founder of Hiking My Feelings, and recovering marketer

 

“This book is for every marketer who’s ever asked, ‘Why is this so hard?’ In Hacking Advertising, Jon Sneider dismantles the outdated agency model and replaces it with something better. His insights are sharp, his advice actionable, and his solutions revolutionary.”

—Phil Greenwood, CEO, Redmond Technology Partners

 

“As a small business owner trying to scale my services, I found Hacking Advertising by Jon Sneider to be an insightful and practical guide. The book demystifies traditional advertising models, offering efficient strategies for creating impactful campaigns without large agencies. Sneider’s focus on breaking down silos and integrating creative and production processes is particularly valuable for businesses aiming to grow while maximizing their budgets. His relatable anecdotes and actionable advice make this an empowering read for anyone looking to simplify and elevate their advertising efforts.”

—Carl Nelson, CEO, founder, Visual

 

“Part memoir, part industry critique, Hacking Advertising is the rare book that combines storytelling with strategy. Jon Sneider takes readers through the highs and lows of his career, offering hard-won lessons on how to navigate the complexities of modern advertising. His writing is engaging and relatable, making even the most technical aspects feel approachable. What sets this book apart is its practicality—every chapter offers tools and tips that can be applied immediately. Sneider doesn’t just point out what’s broken; he shows you how to fix it. This is essential reading for anyone looking to level up their marketing game.”

—Greg Olson, Head of Data & Analytics, Clear Channel Outdoor