From Cold to Sold: How to Drive Conversions Forward with Omnitrain
Marketing today is a lot like a first date. You’re putting yourself out there, trying to spark a connection with someone who has no idea who you are, let alone why you might be a good match. It’s not about coming on too strong, but more about laying the groundwork for something real. You need to guide that initial spark into something meaningful. And in the world of digital marketing, your ads are that first introduction.
When we built Omnitrain, the goal wasn’t just to give people another ad tool to slap a logo on a stock image. We designed Omnitrain for impact—to create ads that actually resonate and convert, and to do it in a way that makes sense for each step of the journey. We understand the nuanced journey customers take. That’s why our ad system includes three distinct ad types: Avatar, Results, and Pain.
I want to talk about a powerful approach to getting your message in front of the right people at the right time—using each of these ad types across the entire customer journey. We call this journey Cold to Sold:
Cold > Attention > Resonance > Conversion > Sold.
Here’s the thing about funnels—they’re not magic. They're just structured, deliberate systems for getting people to go from "Hmm, that’s interesting" to "Take my money!" And that’s exactly what we’re doing here. Omnitrain helps you do that in a very human, non-sleazy way.
In our model:
Cold: Getting on Their Radar
In the early stage—when your audience is ice-cold—no one knows you exist, let alone that you’re offering something they need. The key here is subtlety. You’re not selling yet. You’re laying the groundwork.
At this stage, you use a mix of all three ad types to spark curiosity without scaring them away with a hard sell.
Avatar Ads for Cold
People like to see themselves in the future. Not necessarily the immediate future, but an aspirational one. The idea here is simple: show them someone like them—someone they could be if they had your product in their life. It's all about capturing their dream and bringing it to life in the ad.
Your move: Feature an avatar who’s thriving. Happy, successful, and quietly living a better life. The product connection isn’t the focus here—they are.
Why it works: It whispers, “I want to be like that.” It’s gentle but effective at sparking a thought.
Results Ads for Cold
People love good results, even when they’re not actively looking for them. At the cold stage, a results ad works because it showcases craftsmanship and quality without being overly salesy.
Your move: Keep it visual. The product should shine, but don’t dig into features. It’s about showing the beauty and potential of the product.
Why it works: The response is, “Hmm, that’s interesting.” You’re giving them a reason to pay attention without overwhelming them.
Pain Ads for Cold
Pain ads at the cold stage? Absolutely. But it’s a slow burn. You don’t want to hit them with too much right away. A light touch is all you need.
Your move: Subtly highlight a pain point they might be dealing with. No deep dive yet—just enough to make them think, “That’s familiar…”
Why it works: The reaction is, “I think I’ve felt that before.” You’re planting a seed, prepping them for deeper conversations later.
Attention: Hooking Them In
So they’re aware of you now. What’s next? You’ve got to grab their Attention. This is where things start to heat up. The goal is to engage them on a deeper level by showing how your product fits into their life.
And again, all three ads may come into play here.
Avatar Ads for Attention
Now that you’ve piqued their interest, it’s time to bring the product into the story. The avatar is still the hero, but now they’re not just winning—they’re winning with your product.
Your move: Show the avatar achieving success, and this time, your product is in the picture. It’s still subtle, but it’s clearly the reason they’re succeeding.
Why it works: Now the audience says, “I want to be that person—and this is how I get there.”
Results Ads for Attention
With results ads at this stage, you’re showing them the magic. You’ve got their attention, and now they’re ready to know how your product actually delivers.
Your move: Highlight the product in action. Show the outcome, but connect it to real-world use cases. This is where they start seeing the potential of what you offer.
Why it works: “I want that.” They’re beginning to connect the dots between your product and their needs.
Pain Ads for Attention
Your audience is no stranger to their pain points by now. They know they’ve got a problem. This is where you turn up the heat just a little.
Your move: Show them someone in the middle of their struggle. The pain is real, and it’s getting in the way of their success. And they need a way out.
Why it works: The emotional response is, “That’s me. I don’t want to feel this way anymore.” You’re amplifying the urgency of their problem, pushing them further into your funnel.
Resonance: Creating Connection
Once you’ve captured attention, the next step is Resonance—building an emotional and logical connection. Now, your audience is engaged and considering how your product fits into their lives.
This is where the real relationship-building happens, and all three ads play a major role.
Avatar Ads for Resonance
At this stage, it’s all about showing the transformation. Your avatar isn’t just winning—they’ve grown, evolved, and it’s all thanks to your product.
Your move: Feature an avatar in the middle of their journey. They’re progressing, and your product has been a critical part of that success.
Why it works: Now your audience says, “That could be me. I can change, too.”
Results Ads for Resonance
Resonance is built on trust, and trust comes from seeing real-world results. This is where you start showing proof—case studies, testimonials, actual data.
Your move: Focus on the outcome, backed by evidence. Highlight tangible, specific results your product has delivered for real people.
Why it works: The response is, “That’s what I need.” You’re bridging the gap between aspiration and action with concrete results.
Pain Ads for Resonance
By now, your audience feels the pressure to solve their problem. Your Pain Ads should make that problem feel urgent, even a bit overwhelming.
Your move: Show the ongoing struggle without your product. They’re missing out, and it’s costing them. The pain is intensifying.
Why it works: They’re thinking, “I need to fix this now.” This is the push they need to take action.
Conversion: The Final Push
Now, your audience is primed for Conversion. They know you, they trust you, and they’re ready to take the plunge. But they need one final nudge. This is where all three ad types come together to close the deal.
Avatar Ads for Conversion
At this stage, your avatar should be living the dream. The transformation is complete, and the success is undeniable.
Your move: Show your avatar thriving post-conversion. They’ve solved their problem, and they’re experiencing the full benefit of your product.
Why it works: The audience says, “I’m ready. I want that to be me—now.”
Results Ads for Conversion
For Results Ads, the message is simple: the product delivers, and if they want these results, they need to act fast.
Your move: Use direct, action-oriented messaging. “Here’s what you get, and here’s how you get it.” Make the benefits feel immediate and within reach.
Why it works: They think, “I want this, and I can get it right now.” It’s the logical next step in their journey.
Pain Ads for Conversion
Finally, Pain Ads here are about urgency. You’re showing them what it’s costing them to not solve their problem. The longer they wait, the worse it gets.
Your move: Amplify the stakes. Show them the ongoing cost of inaction, and make it clear that the pain isn’t going away until they make a change.
Why it works: “I can’t afford to wait any longer.” This is the final emotional driver that turns consideration into conversion.
Sold: The Journey Doesn’t End Here
Once they’re Sold, the story continues. The relationship you’ve built through each of these stages ensures that your customer doesn’t just buy—they become loyal advocates.
When you use Avatar, Results, and Pain Ads at each stage of the Cold to Sold funnel, you’re not just driving conversions—you’re creating meaningful connections. You’re guiding your audience through an emotional and logical journey that leads to long-term success, both for them and for you.
Using all three ad types—Avatar, Results, and Pain—ensures you’re covering every angle. You’re appealing to emotions, delivering proof, and driving urgency. The trifecta for winning marketing.
When we built Omnitrain, the goal wasn’t just to give people another ad tool to slap a logo on a stock image. We designed Omnitrain for impact—to create ads that actually resonate and convert, and to do it in a way that makes sense for each step of the journey. We understand the nuanced journey customers take. That’s why our ad system includes three distinct ad types: Avatar, Results, and Pain.
I want to talk about a powerful approach to getting your message in front of the right people at the right time—using each of these ad types across the entire customer journey. We call this journey Cold to Sold:
Cold > Attention > Resonance > Conversion > Sold.
Here’s the thing about funnels—they’re not magic. They're just structured, deliberate systems for getting people to go from "Hmm, that’s interesting" to "Take my money!" And that’s exactly what we’re doing here. Omnitrain helps you do that in a very human, non-sleazy way.
In our model:
Cold: Getting on Their Radar
In the early stage—when your audience is ice-cold—no one knows you exist, let alone that you’re offering something they need. The key here is subtlety. You’re not selling yet. You’re laying the groundwork.
At this stage, you use a mix of all three ad types to spark curiosity without scaring them away with a hard sell.
Avatar Ads for Cold
People like to see themselves in the future. Not necessarily the immediate future, but an aspirational one. The idea here is simple: show them someone like them—someone they could be if they had your product in their life. It's all about capturing their dream and bringing it to life in the ad.
Your move: Feature an avatar who’s thriving. Happy, successful, and quietly living a better life. The product connection isn’t the focus here—they are.
Why it works: It whispers, “I want to be like that.” It’s gentle but effective at sparking a thought.
Results Ads for Cold
People love good results, even when they’re not actively looking for them. At the cold stage, a results ad works because it showcases craftsmanship and quality without being overly salesy.
Your move: Keep it visual. The product should shine, but don’t dig into features. It’s about showing the beauty and potential of the product.
Why it works: The response is, “Hmm, that’s interesting.” You’re giving them a reason to pay attention without overwhelming them.
Pain Ads for Cold
Pain ads at the cold stage? Absolutely. But it’s a slow burn. You don’t want to hit them with too much right away. A light touch is all you need.
Your move: Subtly highlight a pain point they might be dealing with. No deep dive yet—just enough to make them think, “That’s familiar…”
Why it works: The reaction is, “I think I’ve felt that before.” You’re planting a seed, prepping them for deeper conversations later.
Attention: Hooking Them In
So they’re aware of you now. What’s next? You’ve got to grab their Attention. This is where things start to heat up. The goal is to engage them on a deeper level by showing how your product fits into their life.
And again, all three ads may come into play here.
Avatar Ads for Attention
Now that you’ve piqued their interest, it’s time to bring the product into the story. The avatar is still the hero, but now they’re not just winning—they’re winning with your product.
Your move: Show the avatar achieving success, and this time, your product is in the picture. It’s still subtle, but it’s clearly the reason they’re succeeding.
Why it works: Now the audience says, “I want to be that person—and this is how I get there.”
Results Ads for Attention
With results ads at this stage, you’re showing them the magic. You’ve got their attention, and now they’re ready to know how your product actually delivers.
Your move: Highlight the product in action. Show the outcome, but connect it to real-world use cases. This is where they start seeing the potential of what you offer.
Why it works: “I want that.” They’re beginning to connect the dots between your product and their needs.
Pain Ads for Attention
Your audience is no stranger to their pain points by now. They know they’ve got a problem. This is where you turn up the heat just a little.
Your move: Show them someone in the middle of their struggle. The pain is real, and it’s getting in the way of their success. And they need a way out.
Why it works: The emotional response is, “That’s me. I don’t want to feel this way anymore.” You’re amplifying the urgency of their problem, pushing them further into your funnel.
Resonance: Creating Connection
Once you’ve captured attention, the next step is Resonance—building an emotional and logical connection. Now, your audience is engaged and considering how your product fits into their lives.
This is where the real relationship-building happens, and all three ads play a major role.
Avatar Ads for Resonance
At this stage, it’s all about showing the transformation. Your avatar isn’t just winning—they’ve grown, evolved, and it’s all thanks to your product.
Your move: Feature an avatar in the middle of their journey. They’re progressing, and your product has been a critical part of that success.
Why it works: Now your audience says, “That could be me. I can change, too.”
Results Ads for Resonance
Resonance is built on trust, and trust comes from seeing real-world results. This is where you start showing proof—case studies, testimonials, actual data.
Your move: Focus on the outcome, backed by evidence. Highlight tangible, specific results your product has delivered for real people.
Why it works: The response is, “That’s what I need.” You’re bridging the gap between aspiration and action with concrete results.
Pain Ads for Resonance
By now, your audience feels the pressure to solve their problem. Your Pain Ads should make that problem feel urgent, even a bit overwhelming.
Your move: Show the ongoing struggle without your product. They’re missing out, and it’s costing them. The pain is intensifying.
Why it works: They’re thinking, “I need to fix this now.” This is the push they need to take action.
Conversion: The Final Push
Now, your audience is primed for Conversion. They know you, they trust you, and they’re ready to take the plunge. But they need one final nudge. This is where all three ad types come together to close the deal.
Avatar Ads for Conversion
At this stage, your avatar should be living the dream. The transformation is complete, and the success is undeniable.
Your move: Show your avatar thriving post-conversion. They’ve solved their problem, and they’re experiencing the full benefit of your product.
Why it works: The audience says, “I’m ready. I want that to be me—now.”
Results Ads for Conversion
For Results Ads, the message is simple: the product delivers, and if they want these results, they need to act fast.
Your move: Use direct, action-oriented messaging. “Here’s what you get, and here’s how you get it.” Make the benefits feel immediate and within reach.
Why it works: They think, “I want this, and I can get it right now.” It’s the logical next step in their journey.
Pain Ads for Conversion
Finally, Pain Ads here are about urgency. You’re showing them what it’s costing them to not solve their problem. The longer they wait, the worse it gets.
Your move: Amplify the stakes. Show them the ongoing cost of inaction, and make it clear that the pain isn’t going away until they make a change.
Why it works: “I can’t afford to wait any longer.” This is the final emotional driver that turns consideration into conversion.
Sold: The Journey Doesn’t End Here
Once they’re Sold, the story continues. The relationship you’ve built through each of these stages ensures that your customer doesn’t just buy—they become loyal advocates.
When you use Avatar, Results, and Pain Ads at each stage of the Cold to Sold funnel, you’re not just driving conversions—you’re creating meaningful connections. You’re guiding your audience through an emotional and logical journey that leads to long-term success, both for them and for you.
Using all three ad types—Avatar, Results, and Pain—ensures you’re covering every angle. You’re appealing to emotions, delivering proof, and driving urgency. The trifecta for winning marketing.
Updated on: 08/02/2025
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