Google Ads Quality Score: Everything You Need To Know (2024)
Mastering quality score is essential if you want to pay less per click and outrank competitors.
In this article youâll learn the 80/20 of what you need to know about quality score.Â
Letâs dive into it!Â
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Quality Score SimplifiedÂ
- How is Quality Score Calculated?
- How to audit your Quality Score?
- How to improve your Quality Score?
- Quality Score FAQ
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Quality Score SimplifiedÂ
Back in 2005, Google released Quality Score.Â
This is a number from 1-10 that Google created to determine how relevant your ads are to what people are searching for (1 being the lowest relevance, and 10 being the highest).Â
Google wantâs people who search to find what they are looking for.
This way they come back to Google and search again in the future.
Quality Score is how they gamified the system to achieve this objective.Â
Itâs the perfect trinity between advertiser, searcher, and Google:Â
- Advertisers are rewarded with lower costs when having higher quality scores
- People searching for answers on Google will now find more relevant informationÂ
- Because people find relevant information they use Google again in the futureÂ
Before Quality Score was introduced Google was filled with tons of irrelevant ads leading to a poor experience for searchers and ultimately less people using Google in the future.Â
(In my opinion) Quality Score was one of the most important features released that transformed Google into the most dominant search engine in the world.Â
The secret to improving Quality Score is relevance.
How is Quality Score Calculated?
Ad relevance, landing page experience, and expected CTR are the three variables that go into calculating your Quality Score. Depending on how relevant each is to your keywords youâll have a final score between 1-10 (1 being the lowest relevance, and 10 being the highest).Â
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Ad Relevance
A metric that determines how relevant your keywords are to your ad copy.Â
Above average signifies great relevance, below average signifies room for improvement, below average signifies poor keyword and ad copy relevance.Â
Ad relevance is 100% in your control and below average ad relevance is usually the result of poor ad group structure resulting from too many keywords and/or few variations of ad copy.Â
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Landing Page Experience
A metric that determines how relevant your keywords, ads, and post click experience matches the search intent of the user.Â
Itâs not just about having your keywords on the page, it also takes into consideration page load speeds, page structure (ex: H1, H2s, H3s), and mobile optimization.Â
Above average signifies a great landing page experience, average signifies room for improvement, and below average signifies poor post click experience.Â
Expected CTR
A metric that determines the likelihood of someone clicking on your ads once seen in the Google search results.Â
In my experience auditing Google Ads accounts this is the #1 most common variable that drags down quality score for most accounts since itâs the least in your control.Â
This is Googleâs perception based on historical and predicted performance on how well you believe your ad will be engaged with.Â
Above average signifies a highly engaging ad, average signifies room for improvement, and below average signifies poor ad engagement.Â
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How to audit your Quality Score?
Once you understand the basics of quality score that it is a factor of relevance and three components that determine whether youâre a 1-10 the next logical question becomes:
Whatâs impacting my quality score performance?
Hereâs how to run a Google Ads quality score to find whatâs impacting your performance.Â
[EMBED YOUTUBE VIDEO]
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Step 1 - Download a keyword reportÂ
Within your Google Ads manager navigate to the keywords section within your account:
Campaigns > Keywords (press G + K for a keyboard shortcut)
Modify your keyword columns to include:
- Quality Score
- Ad Relevance
- Landing Page Experience
- Expected CTR
Once completed download your keywords into a CSV.
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Step 2 - Summarize your keywords into a pivot table
Pivot tables are great for summarizing large amounts of data.Â
Within Excel navigate to Insert > PivotTable to summarize your keyword report.Â
Once complete format your table as follows:
- Rows = Quality Score
- Values = Count of Keywords
- Filter = Quality score 1-10 (exclude â)Â
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Step 3 - Drill down to understand Quality Score performance
With your table setup now you can easily see overall quality score performance and drill down into specific elements such as ad relevance, landing page experience, and expected CTR.Â
Switch your rows to drill down into each element of quality score to diagnose performance:Â
- Ad Relevance; rows = Ad Relevance, values = count of keywords
- Landing Page Experience; rows = Landing Page Experience, values = count of keywords
- Expected CTR; rows = Expected CTR, values = count of keywords
How to improve your Quality Score?
After completing your Google Ads Quality Score audit it should be pretty clear which factor of QS is hurting your performance? (ex: ad relevance, landing page experience, expected CTR).
Hereâs some recommendations on how to improve each QS factor:Â
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Improving Ad Relevance
Below average ad relevance is a symptom of poor ad group structure.Â
If you have below average ad relevance, fear not! Because this is 100% in your control.
Hereâs some tips to improve your ad relevance:Â
- Add more headline variations to your responsive search ads to include the keywords within your ad groups.Â
- Keep your ad groups tightly grouped with thematic keywords, for the keywords that canât fit the theme consider putting it into its own group with relevant copy. Â
- Consolidate your active keywords and remove below average ad relevance variations that are not receiving any worthwhile impressions or clicks.Â
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Improving Landing Page ExperienceÂ
Below average landing page experience is a symptom of poor post click experience.Â
If youâve been neglecting your landing pages this is where itâs going to bite you.Â
Hereâs some tips to improve landing page experience:Â
- Include your primary keyword in your headline 1 to match search intent and your ad copy.Â
- Run your landing page through PageSpeed Insights to find how you can improve the mobile and desktop experience.Â
- Follow on page SEO best practices and have proper headline, and content formatting. Remember Google will crawl your landing pages so make sure itâs technically sound.Â
- Install a session recording tool to see how users behave on your landing page, the insights here are invaluable at understanding gaps.Â
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Improving Expected CTRÂ
This is Googleâs perception on how likely your ads will be clicked.Â
Unfortunately this aspect of Quality Score is the least in your control but that doesnât mean there isnât anything you can do to improve it.Â
Hereâs some tips to improve your expected clickthrough rate:Â
- Use as many ad extensions as possible (ex: sitelink, image, structured snippet, etc). Ad extensions provide more info to the searcher and make your ads larger.Â
- Test new RSA ad copy on a monthly basis to consistently try and improve your ad clickthrough rate performance on an ongoing basis.Â
- Monitor your account clickthrough rate trends month over month to combat negative trends. You can set up an automated rule within Google Ads to be notified automatically via email.Â
- Audit your search terms report and build your negative keyword lists. Block irrelevant impressions of your ads so that you can actually drive clicks.Â
- Experiment with dynamic keyword insertion to see if it positively affects your ad CTR.
Quality Score FAQ
How long does it take to improve your quality score?Â
Technically every time your keyword enters an auction quality score is recalculated to determine placement of your ad in relation to your competitors.Â
However in my experience it usually takes a month to see significant changes in your overall score.Â
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Should you worry about low quality scores?Â
Yes, low quality scores should cause concerns but it shouldnât be your initial priority. The first goal should be to drive relevant traffic and convert users.Â
If youâre not currently accomplishing this then stressing about quality score is pointless as itâs really only a factor of reducing your costs and improving visibility.Â
If youâre not already converting the visibility you do have, getting more of it wonât help.Â
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What is a good quality score?Â
A good quality score will fluctuate depending on your keyword strategy but overall Iâd recommend having 70% of enabled keywords in your account with a score > 7.Â
Just know this is highly circumstantial and if youâre running a competitive keyword strategy you will have lower quality scores by default given the difficulty of including your competitors in your ads.Â
Hope you found this article helpful! đĽ
Check out our video tutorial linked if you want a visual walkthrough.Â
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How to Build a Multichannel B2B Retargeting Strategy (Step-By-Step)
With long sales cycles staying top of mind is half the battle when it comes to B2B.
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In this blueprint youâll learn how to build a multichannel B2B retargeting strategy across:
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- LinkedInÂ
- Meta (Facebook & Instagram)
- X (Twitter)
- & YouTube
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So you can stay omnipresent and convert users across channels.Â
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I know youâre going to love it, letâs get started! â¤ď¸
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Recommended Channels
- Step 1:Â Confirm Your Remarketing Pixels are Installed
- Step 2: Create all possible retargeting segments by time frame
- Step 3: Adjust targeting and exclusion parameters
- Step 4: Align on retargeting content and offers
- Step 5: Build all Relevant Retargeting Campaigns
- B2B Retargeting FAQ
- Launch Checklist
- Conclusion & Free Courses
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Recommended Channels:Â
- LinkedIn AdsÂ
- Meta (Facebook & Instagram)
- X (Twitter)
- YouTube
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Minimum Budget:
- $1,000/month (for 1 channel)
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Recommended Targeting:
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Step 1:Â Confirm Your Remarketing Pixels are Installed
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This is a mandatory first step, and something that needs to be done first.
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These pixels are how the ad platforms are able to track users activity and provide you the ability to remarket them with various campaigns and offers.Â
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Even if youâre not planning to advertise soon on any channels, I HIGHLY recommend creating a free ad account and installing that platform pixel on your site to start building your remarketing pool.Â
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Hereâs what this will look like for each channel.
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How to Install the LinkedIn Ads Pixel In 4 Steps
- Create a free LinkedIn Ads accountÂ
- Navigate to the âAnalyzeâ â âInsight Tagâ section
- Choose how to install your tag (recommend Google Tag Manager aka GTM)
- In Google Tag Manager, create a new tag type with LinkedIn Insight and fire on all pages
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How to Install the Meta (Facebook & Instagram) Ads Pixel In 6 Steps
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- Create a free Facebook Ads account
- In the Ads Manager navigate to âEvents Managerâ â âConnect Data Sourcesâ
- Connect âWebâ as a new data source and name your pixel (ex: Meta Pixel)
- Select your new pixel under âData Sourcesâ and navigate to âOverviewâ â âSetup Pixelâ
- Choose how to install your pixel (recommend Google Tag Manager aka GTM)
- In Google Tag Manager, create a new tag type with Custom HTMLÂ and fire on all pages
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How to Install the X (Twitter) Ads Pixel In 4 Steps
- Create a free X (Twitter) Ads account
- In the Ads Manager navigate to âEvents Managerâ â âAdd Event Sourceâ
- Install with âPixel codeâ and allow 1st-party cookies
- In Google Tag Manager, create a new tag type with Custom HTMÂ and fire on all pages
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How to Install the Google Ads Pixel In 5 Steps
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By installing the Google Ads pixel youâll be able to remarket to website visitors on YouTube because Google owns YouTube and all campaigns are created in the same ads manager.Â
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- Create a free Google Ads account
- In the Ads Manager navigate to âAudience Managerâ â âYour Data Sourcesâ
- Select âGoogle Ads Tagâ â âEdit SourceâÂ
- Select âTag Setupâ recommend âUse Google Tag Managerâ and copy your ID
- In Google Tag Manager, create a Google Ads Remarketing tag and fire on all pages
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Once complete, confirm all pixels are installed correctly on your website with GTM Preview:
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Remarketing audience size requirements for Meta, YouTube, LinkedIn & X (Twitter)
â
- Meta (Facebook & Instagram) = 1,000 audience members
- YouTube = 100 audience members
- LinkedIn = 300 audience members
- X (Twitter) = 100 audience members
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Now that youâve installed all the pixels for the platforms youâre interested in youâll need to allow the pixels time to build your cookie pool to meet audience minimums.Â
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Iâve seen it take 7-30+ days depending on monthly engagement or traffic volumes for the retargeting segment youâre trying to build (ex: website visits, video views, post engagement, etc..).
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Step 2: Create all possible retargeting segments by time frame.
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Once your remarketing audience has met minimums itâs time to build your segments.Â
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This step will vary depending on how large your retargeting audience is.Â
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In a perfect world weâll want to create retargeting segments for the following timeframes:
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The advantage of creating retargeting segments by time frame is:
â
â Easily see which cohort performs best
â Allocate more budget to the top performing time frame
â Align offers and messaging accordinglyÂ
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Watch this video to better understand the thought process behind leveraging different remarketing segments by timeframes:
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In addition to testing timeframes we want to combine as many relevant remarketing segments together in each cohort so we can scale up our overall audience size (more on this in Step 4).
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Depending on the channel youâre advertising on, the available remarketing segments will vary.
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Here are my go to choices for each channel below.Â
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Top 10 LinkedIn Ads retargeting segments:
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Top 9 Meta (Facebook & Instagram) Ads retargeting segments:Â
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Top 5 X (Twitter) Ads retargeting segments:Â
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Top 4 YouTube Ads retargeting segments:Â
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Depending on your audience sizes you might not be able to use shorter timeframes.Â
If thatâs the case, default to the next longest one:
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For example:Â
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â30 days < 1,000 audience size? Try 90 days
â90 days < 1,000 audience size? Try 180 days
â180 days < 1,000 audience size? Hold off on remarketing until your audience sizes build
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Build out each relevant remarketing combination for the channels you want to advertise on.Â
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Step 3: Adjust targeting and exclusion parameters.
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Equally important to who youâre targeting is who you exclude.Â
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With all your retargeting segments created itâs clear who youâre going to target.Â
â
Now itâs time to get clear on who youâll exclude for each cohort (e.g. 30, 90, 180 days).Â
â
Exclusion audiences allow you to remove users who arenât a good fit for your targeting.Â
â
Hereâs my go-to exclusions by channel.Â
â
Top 8 LinkedIn Ads Exclusion Audiences:
â
Top 9 Meta (Facebook & Instagram) Ads Exclusion Audiences:Â
â
Top 6 X (Twitter) Ads Exclusion Audiences:Â
â
Top 6 YouTube Ads Exclusion Audiences:Â
â
Feel free to remove and add the exclusions that make sense for your business and who youâre ultimately trying to reach with your retargeting campaigns.Â
â
By no means should you only use the ones I outlined above, some will make sense others wonât.Â
â
Once youâre clear on who youâll exclude itâs time to align on content and offers.
â
Step 4: Align on retargeting content and offers.Â
â
Now that youâre clear on who youâll target and exclude for each cohort. Letâs chat about what content and offers youâll want to show them.Â
â
First things first, donât make the mistake of only showing offers to people in your remarketing audience. This is the equivalent of following someone all day asking them to buy something.
â
This is what Corporate Bro has to say about that đ
â
Recommended B2B Remarketing Budget Allocation:Â
â
Avoid leaving a bad impression and potentially hurting your brand by also adding content in the mix.
â
50% of your remarketing budget should go towards adding value to your audience, and 50% goes towards asking them to convert on something (ex: Demo, Trial, Event, etcâŚ)
â
With this budget allocation youâre rotating offers and content equally to your remarketing cohorts (e.g. 30, 90, 180 days) and letting the users decide which asset they're interested in.Â
â
Which leads us to common remarketing mistakes youâll want to avoid.Â
â
4 Common Mistakes to Avoid with Retargeting:
â
1. Only promoting offersÂ
ââ
Avoid a pitch fest and split your remarketing budget 50/50 between content and offers as outlined above.Â
â
2. Retargeting on assumption instead of action
â
Donât create these crazy retargeting flows where someone must do X then Y and finally youâll give them Z. This kills your retargeting audience size and youâre assuming that youâll be correct 3/3 times (idk about you but Iâm not great at guessing).Â
â
Instead show them everything equally (content and offers) and then once they decide to click on an ad, watch a video etc⌠you can now create unique campaigns to remarket off that activity (now youâre no longer assuming they are interested).Â
ââ
3. Not using all available retargeting segmentsÂ
â
Donât rely on 1 segment alone like a website visitor segment. Instead combine multiple segments together with an OR statement in the same timeframe to scale up your overall retargeting audience so you have more flexibility to layer filters.Â
â
4. Failing to refresh creative to offset fatigueÂ
â
Thereâs nothing worse than seeing the same ad 1,000 times. This can be easily avoided by creating a workflow to refresh your creatives on a monthly basis.Â
â
Just changing the creatives for the same offers and content will create a new experience for users and help offset ad fatigue.Â
â
Watch this video to learn more about how to monitor and overcome ad fatigue:
â
When we talk about remarketing content and offers equally â what exactly does that mean?Â
- White papers?
- Webinars?
- Tutorials?
- Demos?
- Trials?
â
The list goes on, and onâŚ
â
There are 1,000s of offers and content you could potentially promote.Â
â
To help simplify and conceptualize this, here are 4 useful remarketing buckets inspired by Canberk Beker, Global Head of Paid Media at Cognism from episode 2 of Behind the Ads.
Â
Recommended Remarketing Buckets by Timeframe:
â
B2B Retargeting Ad Examples:
â
Product MarketingÂ
(Content that focuses on promoting the capabilities of your product)
â
Social ProofÂ
(Leveraging others words and results in our ads)
â
Thought Leadership
(Content that educates your target audience and positions you as an expert)
â
Offers
(Any other type of ad where youâre asking your target audience to convert)
â
Armed with your content and offers by time frame thereâs one last step to do.Â
Step 5: Build all Relevant Retargeting Campaigns.
After going through steps 1-4 you should be clear on:
- Which channels youâre going to advertise onÂ
- What retargeting segments youâll leverage
- Which exclusion audiences youâll block
- What content/offers youâll showcase
â
Letâs wrap up with how these campaigns should be built.Â
â
B2B Retargeting Campaign Structure:
Hereâs what the retargeting campaign structure will look like at 10,000 feet:
â
Couple of important call outs:
â
Every campaign has its own unique timeframe and retargeting bucket.Â
âThis makes pacing, optimization, and reporting really easy.Â
â
âAll retargeting segments within the same timeframe are grouped together as an OR.â
This allows you to scale your retargeting audience size overall within the cohort.Â
Combine segments together with OR not AND.Â
â
Naming conventions are clear and consistent from the campaign to ad level. â
This allows you to easily find your campaigns and reporting on performance.Â
â
Hereâs how to build these campaigns out for each channel.
â
How to Build LinkedIn Retargeting Campaigns:
Make sure to disable Audience Expansion and the LinkedIn Audience Network for all LinkedIn retargeting cohort campaigns.
â
This will prevent LinkedIn from serving your ads to people not in your retargeting audiences and outside of the LinkedIn platform.Â
â
Create the following campaigns in the LinkedIn Ads campaign manager across whichever timeframes are applicable for your account:Â
â
Cohort #1: 30-Day LinkedIn Retargeting
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | Remarketing (30D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | PM Content | Remarketing (30D) | Image | Awareness
- EX: USA | Demo | Remarketing (30D) | Video | Conversions
- EX: USA | Social Proof | Remarketing (30D) | Carousel | Engagement
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Content focus =Â Brand Awareness, Engagement, Video Views
- Conversion focus = Lead Generation or Conversion
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences (layer titles or function if possible):Â
- All website visitors (30D)
- All company page visitors (30D)
- All document interactions (30D)
- All past event attendees (30D)
- All lead gen form opens and submits (30D)
- All single-image ad interactions (30D)
- All 25-97% video viewers (30D)
- All closed lost contacts (30D)
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content focus = Maximize delivery
- Conversion focus = Manual CPC
â
âAds: Product marketing content, social proof, offers (ex: Demo, Trial)
â
Cohort #2: 90-Day LinkedIn Retargeting
ââ
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | Remarketing (90D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | PM Content | Remarketing (90D) | Image | Awareness
- EX: USA | Demo | Remarketing (90D) | Video | Conversions
- EX: USA | Social Proof | Remarketing (90D) | Carousel | Engagement
- EX: USA | Thought Leadership | Remarketing (90D) | Image | Awareness
ââ
Recommended Objectives:
- Content focus =Â Brand Awareness, Engagement, Video Views
- Conversion focus = Lead Generation or Conversion
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences (layer titles or function if possible):Â
- All website visitors (90D)
- All company page visitors (90D)
- All document interactions (90D)
- All past event attendees (90D)
- All lead gen form opens and submits (90D)
- All single-image ad interactions (90D)
- All 25-97% video viewers (90D)
- All closed lost contacts (90D)
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content focus = Maximize delivery
- Conversion focus = Manual CPC
â
âAds: Product marketing content, social proof, offers (ex: Demo, Trial), thought leadership
â
Cohort #3: 180-Day LinkedIn Retargeting
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | Remarketing (180D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | PM Content | Remarketing (180D) | Image | Awareness
- EX: USA | Demo | Remarketing (180D) | Video | Conversions
- EX: USA | Social Proof | Remarketing (180D) | Carousel | Engagement
- EX: USA | Thought Leadership | Remarketing (180D) | Image | Awareness
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Content focus = Brand Awareness, Engagement, Video Views
- Conversion focus = Lead Generation or Conversion
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences (layer titles or function if possible):Â
- All website visitors (180D)
- All company page visitors (180D)
- All document interactions (180D)
- All past event attendees (180D)
- All lead gen form opens and submits (180D)
- All single-image ad interactions (180D)
- All 25-97% video viewers (180D)
- All closed lost contacts (180D)
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content focus = Maximize delivery
- Conversion focus = Manual CPC
â
âAds: Product marketing content, social proof, offers (ex: Demo, Trial), thought leadership
â
Optional: 30-Day LinkedIn Offer Bouncers Campaign
If you have the audience size available creating an offer bouncer campaign that shows personalized creative to folks who visited your intent pages and didnât convert is worth testing.Â
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | {Offer Name Bouncers} (30D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | Demo | Demo Page Bouncers (30D) | Conversation | Lead Gen
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Conversion focus = Lead Generation or Conversion
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences (layer titles or function if possible):Â
- All pricing, demo, trial, and case study bouncers
- All meeting no-shows
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Conversion focus = Manual CPC
â
Ads: Offers
â
How to Build Meta (Facebook & Instagram) Retargeting Campaigns:
â
Highly recommend selecting manual placements of feeds and stories for Facebook & Instagram with creative in the correct dimensions to prevent your ads from appearing in the wrong formats.Â
â
Also donât recommend delivering on the Audience Network or Video Feeds based on our past results, and make sure to not to run on Reels unless you have unique creative for that placement.Â
â
Always make sure your creative matches the placement it appears for.
â
â
Create the following campaigns in the Meta Ads campaign manager across whichever timeframes are applicable for your account:Â
â
Cohort #1: 30-Day Meta Retargeting
â
âCampaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | Remarketing (30D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | PM Content | Remarketing (30D) | Image | Awareness
- EX: USA | Demo | Remarketing (30D) | Video | Sales
- EX: USA | Social Proof | Remarketing (30D) | Carousel | Traffic
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Content focus =Â Awareness, Traffic, Engagement
- Conversion focus = Leads or Sales
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences:Â
- All website visitors (30D)
- All Facebook page visitors (30D)
- All Instagram page visitors (30D)
- All past event attendees (30D)
- All lead gen form opens and submits (30D)
- All 25-95% video viewers (30D)
- All closed lost contacts (30D)
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content focus = Maximize reach of ads, link clicks, engagement, or views
- Conversion focus = Maximize number of conversions or leads
â
âAds: Product marketing content, social proof, offers (ex: Demo, Trial)
â
Cohort #2: 90-Day Meta Retargeting
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | Remarketing (90D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | PM Content | Remarketing (90D) | Image | Awareness
- EX: USA | Demo | Remarketing (90D) | Video | Sales
- EX: USA | Social Proof | Remarketing (90D) | Carousel | Traffic
- EX: USA | Thought Leadership | Remarketing (90D) | Image | Engagement
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Content focus =Â Awareness, Traffic, Engagement
- Conversion focus = Leads or Sales
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences:Â
- All website visitors (90D)
- All Facebook page visitors (90D)
- All Instagram page visitors (90D)
- All past event attendees (90D)
- All lead gen form opens and submits (90D)
- All 25-95% video viewers (90D)
- All closed lost contacts (90D)
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content focus = Maximize reach of ads, link clicks, engagement, or views
- Conversion focus = Maximize number of conversions or leads
â
Ads: Product marketing content, social proof, offers (ex: Demo, Trial), thought leadership
â
Cohort #3: 180-Day Meta Retargeting
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | Remarketing (180D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | PM Content | Remarketing (180D) | Image | Awareness
- EX: USA | Demo | Remarketing (180D) | Video | Sales
- EX: USA | Social Proof | Remarketing (180D) | Carousel | Traffic
- EX: USA | Thought Leadership | Remarketing (180D) | Image | Engagement
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Content focus =Â Awareness, Traffic, Engagement
- Conversion focus = Leads or Sales
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences:Â
- All website visitors (180D)
- All Facebook page visitors (180D)
- All Instagram page visitors (180D)
- All past event attendees (180D)
- All lead gen form opens and submits (180D)
- All 25-95% video viewers (180D)
- All closed lost contacts (180D)
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content focus = Maximize reach of ads, link clicks, engagement, or views
- Conversion focus = Maximize number of conversions or leads
â
Ads: Product marketing content, social proof, offers (ex: Demo, Trial), thought leadership
â
Optional: 30-Day Meta Offer Bouncers Campaign
â
If you have the audience size available creating an offer bouncer campaign that shows personalized creative to folks who visited your intent pages and didnât convert is worth testing.Â
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | {Offer Name Bouncers} (30D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | Demo | Demo Page Bouncers (30D) | Image | Leads
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Conversion focus = Leads or Sales
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences:Â
- All pricing, demo, trial, and case study bouncers
- All meeting no-shows
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Conversion focus = Maximize number of conversions or leads
â
âAds: Offers
â
How to Build X (Twitter) Retargeting Campaigns:
â
With X (Twitter) we donât have the ability to filter by time frame so weâll create the following campaigns in the ads manager:Â
â
Cohort #1: All Time (Twitter) Retargeting
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | Remarketing (All Time) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | PM Content | Remarketing (All Time) | Image | Reach
- EX: USA | Demo | Remarketing (All Time) | Video | Conversions
- EX: USA | Social Proof | Remarketing (All Time) | Carousel | Engagement
- EX: USA | Thought Leadership | Remarketing (All Time) | Image | Reach
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Content focus = Reach, Video Views, Engagement, Website Traffic
- Conversion focus = Conversions or Keywords
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences:Â
- All website visitors (All Time)
- All 50-100% video viewers (All Time)
- People who saw your tweets (All Time)Â
- Followers of your X (Twitter) profile (All Time)
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content or conversion focus = Autobid
â
âAds: Product marketing content, social proof, offers (ex: Demo, Trial), thought leadership
â
â
Optional: All Time X (Twitter) Offer Bouncers Campaign
â
If you have the audience size available creating an offer bouncer campaign that shows personalized creative to folks who visited your intent pages and didnât convert is worth testing.Â
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | {Offer Name Bouncers} (All Time) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | Demo | Demo Page Bouncers (All Time) | Image | Conversions
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Conversion focus = Conversions or Keywords
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences:
- All pricing, demo, trial, and case study bouncers
- All meeting no-shows
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content or conversion focus = Autobid
â
Ads: Offers
â
How to Build YouTube Retargeting Campaigns:
Create the following campaigns in the YouTube Ads campaign manager across whichever timeframes are applicable for your account:Â
â
Cohort #1: 30-Day YouTube Retargeting
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | Remarketing (30D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | PM Content | Remarketing (30D) | In-Stream | Views
- EX: USA | Demo | Remarketing (30D) | In-Stream | Conversions
- EX: USA | Social Proof | Remarketing (30D) | In-Stream | Views
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Content focus =Â Get views
- Conversion focus = Drive conversions
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences:Â
- All website visitors (30D)
- All YouTube video viewers (30D)
- All YouTube subscribers (30D)
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content focus = Max CPV
- Conversion focus = Maximize conversions
â
âAds: Product marketing content, social proof, offers (ex: Demo, Trial)
â
Cohort #2: 90-Day YouTube Retargeting
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | Remarketing (90D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | PM Content | Remarketing (90D) | In-Stream | Views
- EX: USA | Demo | Remarketing (90D) | In-Stream | Conversions
- EX: USA | Social Proof | Remarketing (90D) | In-Stream | Views
- EX: USA | Thought Leadership | Remarketing (90D) | In-Stream | Views
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Content focus = Get views
- Conversion focus = Drive conversions
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences:Â
- All website visitors (90D)
- All YouTube video viewers (90D)
- All YouTube subscribers (90D)
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content focus = Max CPV
- Conversion focus = Maximize conversions
â
âAds: Product marketing content, social proof, offers (ex: Demo, Trial), thought leadership
â
Cohort #3: 180-Day YouTube Retargeting
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | Remarketing (180D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | PM Content | Remarketing (180D) | In-Stream | Views
- EX: USA | Demo | Remarketing (180D) | In-Stream | Conversions
- EX: USA | Social Proof | Remarketing (180D) | In-Stream | Views
- EX: USA | Thought Leadership | Remarketing (180D) | In-Stream | Views
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Content focus =Â Get views
- Conversion focus = Drive conversions
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences:
- All website visitors (180D)
- All YouTube video viewers (180D)
- All YouTube subscribers (180D)
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Content focus = Max CPV
- Conversion focus = Maximize conversions
â
âAds: Product marketing content, social proof, offers (ex: Demo, Trial), thought leadership
â
Optional: 30-Day YouTube Offer Bouncers Campaign
If you have the audience size available creating an offer bouncer campaign that shows personalized creative to folks who visited your intent pages and didnât convert is worth testing. â
â
Campaign Name: {Location} | {Offer} | {Offer Name Bouncers} (30D) | {Ad Type} | {Objective}
- EX: USA | Demo | Demo Page Bouncers (30D) | In-Stream | Conversions
â
Recommended Objectives:
- Conversion focus = Drive conversions
â
Recommended Daily Budget: $25-$100/day
â
Recommended Audiences (layer titles or function if possible):Â
- All pricing, demo, trial & case study visits
â
Recommended Bid Strategies:Â
- Conversion focus = Maximize conversions
â
Ads: Offers
B2B Retargeting FAQ
â
Thereâs no shortage of questions around implementing successful retargeting campaigns.Â
We completely understand the complexity (especially when itâs your first time building them).Â
â
Hereâs 5 of the most common retargeting questions we hear from clients:
â
How long does it take to build a retargeting audience?
- Â 7-30+ days depending on monthly engagement or traffic volumes for the retargeting segment youâre trying to build (ex: website visits, video views, post engagement, etc..)Â Â
â
How many channels should you advertise on?
- Â Focus on one advertising channel at a time when you have a limited budget (ex: < $3,000/month) master it and then expand to other channels over time.Â
â
How do you calculate your starting retargeting budget?Â
- Â $25-$100/day is a general rule of thumb you can follow as itâs enough to support the average costs per platform and coverage for small retargeting audiences when starting out.Â
â
How does retargeting work?
- Â Leveraging first party and third party data ad platforms are able to track user behavior in-app and out of platform allowing you to remarket to them based on past behavior.Â
â
How often do you need to refresh creatives for retargeting?Â
- Â A smaller audience size (ex: < 50,000) typically requires more frequent creative refreshes vs a larger one (ex: > 50,000) to prevent ad fatigue. At minimum you should aim to refresh ad creatives on a monthly basis to stay ahead of ad fatigue.Â
â
Launch ChecklistÂ
Weâve covered quite a bit in this blueprint!Â
â
Hereâs a checklist we put together to help you easily reference when launching your retargeting campaigns to make sure you donât forget anything and avoid common pitfalls.Â
- LinkedIn Retargeting:Â Launch Checklist
- Meta Retargeting:Â Launch Checklist
- XÂ (Twitter)Â Retargeting:Â Launch Checklist
- YouTube Retargeting: Launch Checklist
Conclusion & Free Courses
â
Hope you received a tremendous amount of value from the blueprint! đ
â
If youâre serious about mastering B2B advertising then you definitely need to join 1,000+ B2B marketers leveling up their paid advertising skill sets in AdConversion.Â
Every one of our on-demand courses are:
â
â 100% free access.
â Taught by vetted industry experts.
â Have workbooks, resources, and templates.
â Less than 10 minutes per lesson.
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We believe every marketer should know how to scale paid ads so they can:
⢠Scale their ideas
⢠Level up their careers
⢠Make a positive impact
â
Click here to join 1,000+ B2B marketers today and start leveling up your advertising skill set.Â
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â
Insider Benchmarks From $1,041,978 In YouTube Ads Cost Data
If youâve ever asked yourself:
- How much does YouTube Ads cost?
- Whatâs a good view rate for YouTube Ads?Â
- Whatâs a good CTR for YouTube Ads?
â
We analyzed $1,041,978 In YouTube Ads data from 2023-2024 to find the answers.Â
â
Now Itâs important to stress that benchmarks and stats should not be seen as law.Â
â
Use these benchmarks and stats as helpful starting point for perspective.Â
â
But ultimately you should hold yourself accountable to your own results.Â
â
The data set is comprised of the following sample:
- Companies with > $10,000 in YouTube spend
- Historical performance from 2023-2024
- 100% B2B SaaS organizationsÂ
â
For my fellow nerds đ¤ you can review and play with the anonymized data set here <<
Letâs jump into the insights!Â
â
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- How much does YouTube Ads cost?
- Average Cost Per Click (CPC)
- Average Cost Per Thousand Impressions (CPM)
- Whatâs a good view rate for YouTube Ads?Â
- Whatâs a good CTR for YouTube Ads?
- Additional Resources
How Much Does YouTube Ads Cost?
â
Average Cost Per View (CPV)
â
The average cost per view for YouTube in-stream ads is $0.05, ranging from $0.01-$0.19.
â
A view is only counted if someone watches at least 30 seconds of your video.Â
â
Average Cost Per Click (CPC)
The average cost per click for YouTube Ads is $3.56, ranging from $0.05 - $10.71.
â
Average Cost Per Thousand Impressions (CPM)
The average cost per thousand impressions (CPM) for YouTube Ads is $9, ranging from $1 - $23.Â
Whatâs a Good View Rate for YouTube Ads?Â
The average view rate for YouTube in-stream ads is 29.24%, ranging from 3.47% - 51.39%.Â
Whatâs a Good CTR for YouTube Ads?
The average clickthrough rate for YouTube in-stream ads is 0.51%, ranging from 0.09% - 1.64%.Â
Additional Resources
If youâre looking to uplevel your paid advertising skill set check out our free on-demand courses and join 1,000+ B2B marketers leveling up their skill sets.Â
â
If you want to dive deeper into B2B advertising check out some of our other top articles:
- B2B Advertising in 2024: The Definitive Guide
- How to Build a Multichannel B2B Retargeting Strategy (Step-By-Step)
- How to get LinkedIn-like Targeting with YouTube Ads for B2B
â
Hope these benchmarks and stats gave you some insight on YouTube Ads.Â
â
As mentioned at the beginning of this article benchmarks should only be used as a starting point.Â
â
Your performance and beating your current benchmarks is ultimately all that matters most.Â
â
People Also Ask
How can I optimize my YouTube Ads to achieve a lower Cost Per View (CPV)?
To reduce CPV, focus on creating engaging content that resonates with your target audience. Utilize precise targeting options to reach viewers more likely to engage with your ad, and experiment with different ad formats to determine which yields the best performance.
â
What factors influence the Cost Per Thousand Impressions (CPM) for YouTube Ads?
CPM is affected by factors including audience demographics, geographic location, industry competition, and seasonal demand. Understanding these elements can help in strategizing your ad placements and budgeting effectively.
â
How does the bidding strategy impact the overall cost of YouTube Ads?
Choosing between bidding strategies like Cost-Per-View (CPV) and Cost-Per-Thousand Impressions (CPM) can significantly influence ad costs. Selecting a strategy that aligns with your campaign objectivesâwhether focusing on views or impressionsâcan optimize spending.
â
What are some best practices for achieving a higher click-through rate (CTR) on YouTube Ads?
Enhance CTR by crafting compelling ad creatives with clear calls-to-action, ensuring relevance to the target audience, and conducting A/B testing to refine ad elements. Monitoring performance metrics allows for continuous optimization.
â
How can I effectively measure the return on investment (ROI) for my YouTube Ad campaigns?
Calculate ROI by comparing the revenue generated from the ad campaign to the total ad spend. Utilize tracking tools to monitor conversions and assess the profitability of your campaigns, adjusting strategies as needed to improve outcomes.
â
10 Proven Landing Page Tips You Can Apply Today To Boost Your Conversion Rates
Increase your SaaS landing page conversions with strategies you can apply today.
â
Iâve had the pleasure of crafting more than 100+ landing pages for top SaaS brands.
â
Here are my top 10 tips and landing page best practices for increasing conversion rates.Â
(In no particular order, they all matter)Â
â
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Tip #1 - Showing the âAha Momentsâ in the Hero Section
- Tip #2 - Switching from âCall to Actionâ to âCall to Valueâ
- Tip #3 - The Art of Showcasing True Value
- Tip #4 - Contrast: The Psychology Behind Decision-Making in SaaS
- Tip #5 - The Art of Show vs Tell
- Tip #6 -Â Increase Conversion by Selling Indirectly
- Tip #7 - Showcasing the Crucial 20% That Truly Resonates
- Tip #8 - Minimizing Risk to Maximize Conversion
- Tip #9 - How to Find Those âAha Momentsâ
- Tip #10 - The Three Pillars for an Effective Landing Page
- Bonus Tip: Enhance Your Mental Reference
- Conclusion
- Resources for Mastering B2B Advertising
Tip #1 - Showing the âAha Momentsâ in the Hero Section
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Unlike traditional approaches that cram the hero section with exhaustive product details, the most effective strategy is to spark curiosity.
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The hero's purpose transcends mere product selling; it's about unveiling those 'aha' moments that resonate deeply with the audience, compelling them to explore further.
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'Aha' moments are those instances of sudden insight or discovery that leave a lasting impression on the audience.
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In the hero section, showcasing these moments effectively can be the difference between a visitor bouncing off the page and one who stays to learn more.
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For example, rather than just stating that a product simplifies a complex process, demonstrating this transformation through a brief, engaging visual or interactive element can be far more compelling.
The Case for Clarity and Creativity:
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Consider a tool that converts audio instructions into a polished presentation.
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A straightforward statement like "You talk, we'll write" paired with a generic AI-themed image does little to convey the true potential of the product.Â
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A more effective strategy would involve a dynamic display of an audio clip evolving into a complete slide deck right within the hero section.Â
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This visual demonstration not only clarifies the product's purpose but also instantly showcases its efficiency and innovative approach, making the value proposition clear and compelling from the outset.
Tip #2 - Switching from âCall to Actionâ to âCall to Valueâ
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A compelling call to action (CTA) is effective not just because it tells users what to do, but because it clearly shows the value they'll get from taking action.
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This principle is particularly relevant when discussing how to entice potential users to engage with a SaaS product, whether through booking a demo, signing up for a trial, or merely exploring the features of a tool.
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The Strategy of Value-Driven CTAs:
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A common misstep in crafting CTAs is the assumption that a straightforward directiveâsuch as "Sign up for free" or "Book a demo"â suffices to motivate action.
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However, this overlooks the critical need to communicate the unique benefits that await the user.
We need to shift from a generic call to action to one that vividly presents a 'value proposition'.
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For instance, rather than merely inviting potential customers to "book a demo," a more effective approach would illustrate what they can expect to gain from that demo, such as âBook a 30-Minute Demo & Walk Away With 5 Tailored Tipsâ
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Tailoring Experiences to Overcome Skepticism:
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Marketers need to ensure that CTAs are not just gateways to product features but also to experiences that address the visitors' needs and concerns.Â
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Particularly in industries where customers are overwhelmed with choices, standing out requires demonstrating immediate and tangible value.
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Practical Example:
A service offering insights into optimizing YouTube ad placements might offer a "Free consultation to uncover 10 high-impact ad placements you're missing."Â
This approach directly speaks to the user's desire to gain an advantage and assures them of receiving valuable insights regardless of their decision to commit to the service.
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Leveraging Trust Through Transparency and Results:
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Trust plays a major role in converting users from interested observers to active participants. This trust can be significantly bolstered by transparency and evidence of potential results.
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A case in point involves a service that automates customer feedback collection, where the CTA emphasizes the realistic outcomes users can expect, such as "Join our trial and see how businesses gain 10+ new reviews in just a week."Â
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Such a statement not only sets clear expectations but also addresses common concerns around efficacy and value for time spent.
Tip #3 - The Art of Showcasing True Value
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The debate between emphasizing features versus benefits has long been a topic of discussion.Â
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However, a more profound approach focuses on selling outcomesâa strategy that transcends the traditional split by aligning a product's capabilities directly with the customer's success.
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This method does not just highlight what the product can do or the advantages it offers but rather, it shows the tangible impact it will have on a user's objectives, such as enhancing profitability, efficiency, or operational insights.
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For example, instead of stating that an analytics tool provides comprehensive data analysis (a feature) or delivers actionable insights (a benefit), outcome-based selling would focus on how it enables businesses to identify and rectify inefficiencies in their ad spend, ultimately increasing ROI.
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Crafting an Indirect Promise:
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One of the critical nuances of this approach is the subtlety of the promise being made.
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Directly stating that a product will lead to more revenue or savings might trigger skepticism. Thus, the art lies in painting a scenario that leads the customer to reach these outcomes naturally.Â
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By detailing the insights or efficiencies a tool provides, customers begin to see the path to increased profits or reduced costs themselves, making the conclusion feel like their discovery rather than a bold claim from the company.
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Practical Example:
âConsider a service that offers AI-driven call answering for small businesses. Rather than simply stating it answers calls, the marketing message could focus on the outcome:
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"Never miss a sale again with our AI receptionist, ensuring you capture every opportunity, 24/7."Â
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Such framing not only addresses the immediate feature but also connects it to a desirable business outcomeâincreasing sales by capturing every call.
Tip #4 - Contrast: The Psychology Behind Decision-Making in SaaS
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Mastering the subtle technique of drawing contrasts does more than just emphasize a product's strengths;
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It vividly contrasts the potential customers' current challenges with the brighter prospects that the right solution can offer.Â
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Fundamentally, selling through contrast means outlining the challenges or limitations customers currently face and comparing these with the transformative benefits the product can provide.
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The effectiveness of this strategy lies in its ability to magnify the perceived value of a solution, making the switch or become not just logical but, essentially, inevitable.
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Crafting Compelling Contrasts:
Creating compelling contrasts requires a deep understanding of the customer's current struggles and how they align with the unique capabilities of the SaaS solution.Â
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This involves asking probing questions that uncover pain points and limitations of current tools or processes and demonstrating how the product not only addresses these issues but also offers additional, unforeseen benefits
Tip #5 - The Art of Show vs Tell
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Transcend beyond the superficial allure of adjectives like "fast," "easy," or "better," which, while enticing, often fall short of conveying the true essence and capability of a product.
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Demonstrating Value Through Evidence:
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The key lies in demonstrating value through clear, undeniable evidence.Â
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For instance, showcasing a time-lapse video of creating a 25-email sequence in 15 minutes delivers a powerful, visual affirmation of the tool's efficiency.
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This method not only captures attention but also dispels doubts by providing a visual benchmark for the tool's capability.
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The Synergy with Earlier Strategies:
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"Show, don't tell" beautifully complements earlier discussed strategies like focusing on outcomes and creating contrast.Â
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It provides the tangible proof that underpins these approaches, ensuring that the marketing message is not just heard but felt and understood.
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The landing page below has a short video demonstrating the value to prospects.
Tip #6 -Â Increase Conversion by Selling Indirectly
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The ability to sell outcomes indirectly is not just a tactic; it's an art form.Â
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The essence of this approach lies in the subtle but powerful shift from telling prospects about the benefits of a product to showing them the tangible impact it can have on their operations, revenue, or efficiency.Â
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Direct claims often invite skepticism, whereas indirect suggestions inspire imagination and belief.
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The Power of Indirect Selling:
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Direct selling, especially when it involves bold claims like being the "number one CRM for a niche," tends to be met with skepticism.
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Prospects are bombarded with similar claims daily, making them numb to such assertions.Â
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The challenge, therefore, is to engage their imagination and lead them to the conclusion that your product is the superior choice without explicitly stating it.
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This involves painting a picture of the outcomes in a way that the prospect can see themselves achieving these results with your product.
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Practical Example:
Consider the scenario of a dental practice missing callsâand thereby potential businessâoutside of office hours.âÂ
Instead of merely stating that an AI receptionist tool can save them money and time, the narrative is constructed around the loss incurred when calls go unanswered.
By quantifying the potential loss (e.g., "every missed call could cost you a thousand dollars"), the message effectively highlights the cost of inaction.Â
ââThis approach leverages the fear of loss, a potent motivator, making the solution offered by the product not just desirable but necessary.
âAnother innovative approach is using analytics and user feedback mechanisms within the product itself to remind users of the value they're missing by not upgrading.
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Tip #7 - Showcasing the Crucial 20% That Truly Resonates
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The effectiveness of a landing page can significantly influence a company's conversion rates.Â
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Simplicity is one of the most important components of a successful landing page, yet it is often overlooked.
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Rather than bombarding potential customers with every detail and feature of the product, present just enough information to pique interest and guide visitors to the next step.
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The primary goal of a landing page is not to sell the product in its entirety but to entice visitors with a compelling overview that encourages them to explore further.
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Say more with less:
- Show, Don't Overwhelm: overloading a page with information can deter potential leads.
â - Simplify the Decision-Making Process: by offering a snapshot rather than a deep dive, companies can make it easier for prospects to decide and engage further with the product.Â
â - Address Key Objections Proactively: incorporating elements that address key objections can transform a passive viewer into an active lead.
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Every potential customer comes with a set of preconceived notions and concerns that could hinder their willingness to engage with a product.Â
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Successful landing pages anticipate these objections and address them upfront.
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 This proactive strategy serves two purposes:Â
- Reassures visitors that their concerns are recognizedÂ
- Positions the company as attentive and customer-centric.
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For instance, if a common objection is the perceived complexity of integrating a new software tool into existing workflows, a landing page might feature testimonials from users who found the process straightforward and supported.Â
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This kind of social proof can alleviate concerns and motivate visitors to take the next step.
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Practical Example:
âConsider a SaaS product designed to enhance project management.Â
Instead of listing every feature and tool available, focus on showcasing how it simplifies project tracking, enhances team collaboration, and leads to better project outcomes.
Use visuals and brief case studies to demonstrate the benefits.Â
This method not only captures interest but also sets the stage for visitors to discover more by trying the product themselves.
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The Role of the Landing Page in the Sales Process:
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The landing page itself is not the end goal but a means to an end.Â
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The ultimate objective is to guide visitors toward making a decision.Â
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So, the landing page should be designed with this goal in mind, ensuring that the call-to-action (CTA) is clear, compelling, and aligned with what visitors are seeking.
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This concept extends to product-led growth companies, where even free products require a degree of selling.Â
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In this context, the landing page must convincingly communicate the value of trying the product, addressing any barriers to action, such as time investment or skepticism based on past experiences with similar tools.
Tip #8 - Minimizing Risk to Maximize Conversion
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Removing perceived risk is often more straightforward and impactful than detailing the outcome.Â
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This approach centers on simplifying the decision-making process for potential users by alleviating their concerns and highlighting ease of use.
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The Challenge of Clarifying Outcomes:
Clarifying the outcome a product or service offers can be a complex task, requiring precise language and a deep understanding of the audience's needs and expectations.
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It involves not just stating what the product does, but also communicating its value in a way that resonates with potential users.Â
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This can be particularly challenging when dealing with innovative or complex solutions where the benefits are not immediately apparent.
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Easing the Path to Conversion:
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Contrary to the complex process of defining outcomes, mitigating risk for the user often follows a more straightforward path.
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It involves clear, actionable steps that directly address common concerns and barriers to entry.Â
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Possible actions include:
- Enhancing Call to Actions
- Addressing Objections Proactively
- Showcasing Practical Examples
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Removing risk transforms the decision-making process from a calculation into an opportunity.
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When potential users feel that they have nothing to lose and everything to gain, the barrier to taking the next step lowers significantly.Â
Tip #9 - How to Find Those âAha Momentsâ
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Identifying â Aha Momentsâ requires a deep understanding of the user experience, often achieved through collaboration with teams directly interacting with customers, such as sales and support.
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Once identified, these moments should be prominently featured on the landing page.
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This could involve detailed case studies, interactive demos, or succinct bullet points that directly address common questions or concerns.
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For instance, if a product offers unprecedented ease of use, showing a quick video of someone setting up a complex task in minutes can be incredibly persuasive.
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Practical Example:
Illustrating how a product can solve a problem in a way that no other can, such as automating a task that typically takes hours into just a few clicks, can instantly communicate its value.
Practical examples not only aid in understanding but also help potential users envision themselves benefiting from the product.
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Tip #10 - The Three Pillars for an Effective Landing Page
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Creating an effective landing page is like constructing a building.
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It requires a solid foundation and supportive pillars to ensure stability and function.Â
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There are three critical pillars that, when thoroughly crafted and harmonized, can significantly enhance the page's effectiveness and conversion rates.Â
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These pillars are:Â
- Results: the promise of value
- Perceived Superiority: standing out from the competition
- Risk Mitigation: lowering the barriers to adoption
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This approach ensures that every element of the landing page works in harmony to support the ultimate goal:
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Driving conversions and achieving business objectives.
Bonus Tip: Enhance Your Mental ReferenceÂ
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Just as artists draw from a vast mental library of images and concepts to create something novel and breathtaking, landing page designers and copywriters must build their own collection of inspirational references.Â
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This mental database enables them to recognize and apply successful elements from various sources, combining them in innovative ways that resonate with their specific audience.
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How to build your mental reference:Â
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- Curate Examples: actively seek out and save examples of landing pages, ads, copy, and designs that catch your attention. some text
- Tools like Pinterest or dedicated design inspiration websites can be invaluable.
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- Tools like Pinterest or dedicated design inspiration websites can be invaluable.
- Analyze What Works: don't just collect examples; study them.some text
- Â What makes a particular landing page effective?
- Â How does it engage its audience?
- Â How are the visuals and copy aligned to convey a compelling message?
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- Learn from Various Industries: broaden your horizons by exploring successful landing pages across different sectors.
â - Stay Updated: the digital landscape is ever-evolving, and so are the trends in landing page design and copywriting. Keeping up-to-date with the latest trends ensures your mental reference is not only vast but also relevant.
Conclusion:
In crafting effective landing pages, the key lies in simplicity, clarity, and focusing on the product's true value.
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By enticing users with outcomes rather than overwhelming them with features, addressing their concerns upfront, and demonstrating the tangible benefits they stand to gain, companies can significantly boost conversions.
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This holistic approach, from spotlighting product essence to leveraging contrast and indirect selling, transforms landing pages from mere entry points into powerful catalysts for customer engagement and success.
Resources for Mastering B2B Advertising
If youâre serious about mastering B2B advertising then you definitely need to join 1,000+ B2B marketers leveling up their paid advertising skill sets in AdConversion.Â
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â Â Have workbooks, resources, and templates.
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We believe every marketer should know how to scale paid ads so they can:
- Â Scale their ideas
- Level up their careers
- Make a positive impact
Click Here to Join 1,000+ B2B Marketers Today and start leveling up your advertising skill set.
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People Also Ask
How can I effectively measure the success of my landing page optimizations?
Utilize analytics tools to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) like conversion rates, bounce rates, and average session duration. A/B testing different elements can also provide insights into what changes resonate with your audience.
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What are common pitfalls to avoid during landing page optimization?
Avoid cluttered designs, slow load times, and unclear calls-to-action. Ensuring mobile responsiveness and aligning content with user intent are also crucial to prevent high bounce rates.
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How often should I update or test my landing pages?
Regularly review performance metrics and conduct A/B tests, especially when introducing new products or campaigns. Continuous optimization helps maintain relevance and effectiveness.
â
What role does SEO play in landing page optimization?
Incorporating relevant keywords, optimizing meta tags, and ensuring fast load times can improve search engine rankings, driving more organic traffic to your landing page.
â
How can I personalize landing pages for different audience segments?
Use dynamic content to tailor messages based on user demographics, behavior, or referral sources, creating a more personalized and engaging experience.
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10 Insider Tips on Event Promotion From $1M+ In Ad Spend
Looking to boost registrations for your next event?
Iâve been a part of a team that has driven 10,000+ registrations for events like Ascend, and Innovation Day.Â
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Here are my top 10 event promotion best practices for increasing registrations through paid ads.
(In no particular order, they all matter)Â
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Tip #1: The Four-Stage Framework for Event Marketing
- Tip #2: Utilizing Partnerships & Internal Networks
- Tip #3: Mastering Segmentation & EfficiencyÂ
- Tip #4: Remarketing Mastery: Capitalizing on Targeted Engagement
- Tip #5: Cross-Channel Integration
- Tip #6: Geo-Targeted Ads: Precision Marketing for Event Success
- Tip #7: Gamification: Turning Engagement into a Competitive Advantage
- Tip #8: Display Advertising & Maximizing Visibility
- Tip #9: Remarketing Campaigns: Sharpening the Focus for Better ROI
- Tip #10: Mastering ROI: The North Star of Marketing Success
- Conclusion
- Resources for Mastering B2B Advertising
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Tip #1: The Four-Stage Framework for Event Marketing
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Maximizing ROI on event marketing demands more than just throwing money at promotions.
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It requires a carefully structured budget across four critical stages:Â
- Pre-Event
- Event-Day
- Post-Event
- Repurpose-Phase
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Letâs break down each stage.
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1/ Pre-Event: The Hype Machine:
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The goal here is to generate buzz and build anticipation. It's about investing wisely in creating brand awareness with assets like videos, static images, that get people excited and start conversations.
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The aim? To discover what truly resonates with your audience.
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2/ During the Event Day: Capturing Attention:
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As the event unfolds, there's a golden opportunity to keep marketing with timely emails and live updates.Â
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It's not just about informing; it's about keeping the engagement needle moving by reminding attendees of the value they're getting, right as it happens.
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3/ Post-Event: Leveraging Assets:
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Post-event, the focus shifts to capitalizing on the event's content.Â
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Recorded sessions and dedicated landing pages become key tools in extending the event's lifecycle.Â
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How? By marketing these assets to both attendees for reinforcement and to those who missed out, providing them a chance to engage.
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4/ After The Event - The Repurpose Phase:
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Finally, we enter the "Repurpose-Phase," where content from the event transcends its original context.Â
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This is where smart marketers reuse and recycle event content in ads or promotions for future events, turning one-time efforts into long-term assets.
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Budget distribution:
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Whatever your budget may be, the principle remains the sameâallocate strategically.Â
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Invest heavily in the âPre-Event Phaseâ to find your audience's pulse and save a portion for the "Repurpose Phase" to fuel future events.
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This staggered approach not only maximizes exposure at each stage but also ensures that registrations and engagement peak when it matters most.
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Practical Budgeting Example
With a $1,000 budget, consider allocating $600 towards the Pre-event phase to test and refine your marketing approach.Â
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Reserve $200 for live engagement during the event, and use the remaining $200 to promote your post-event content and seed future events, ensuring your marketing efforts continue to bear fruit long after the event has concluded.
Tip #2: Utilizing Partnerships & Internal Networks
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When your marketing budget seems like a drop in the ocean, it's time to get creative with what you have.Â
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Even with $5,000 in hand, there's a wealth of untapped potential lying within your LinkedIn connections and internal team networks.
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Strategic Content Sharing:Â
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Kickstart your campaign by encouraging your team to engage with your event posts on LinkedIn.Â
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This simple action can significantly boost your visibility, pushing the algorithm into recognizing your content's importance.
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Influencer Collaboration:Â
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Whether it's through LinkedIn, Instagram, or niche forums like Reddit, reaching out to influencers with a teaser of your event will extend your reach beyond your immediate circle.
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Pro-tip:
Offer influencers engaging assets like short videos to make sharing easier and more appealing. The goal is to make your event resonate within their networks, amplifying your message through trusted voices in the community.
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How to Craft Influencer Outreach:
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Semrush: When faced with promoting an event with limited resources, leveraging Semrush to identify key content creators in your domain can be a game-changer.Â
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Once you find out which websites are most suitable, cold emails to these targeted individuals proposing collaboration opportunities can open doors to new audiences.
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LinkedIn Strategies: Joining LinkedIn groups and engaging with active members can also unearth opportunities for partnership.Â
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It's about finding mutual benefits, even if it comes with a price tag.Â
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Influencers typically have set rates, so budget accordingly. However, when reaching out directly to content creators or platforms, there's more room for negotiation.Â
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Boosting Organic Posts: Another proven method is enhancing your LinkedIn posts organically through employee engagement before opting for paid promotions.
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Remember, it's not just about spending money but making every dollar work smarter.
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Example of Boosting an organic post for LinkedIn
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For additional tips on promoting events, check out this LinkedIn post by AdConversion.
Tip #3: Mastering Segmentation & EfficiencyÂ
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Letâs start with critical pitfalls to steer clear of.
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Broad targeting equals wasted effort.
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Dial into the specifics of your audience to ensure your content reaches the right eyes and ears.
- âSegmentation is Non-negotiable: Specificity in targeting not only enhances engagement but also optimizes your budget by focusing on the most promising prospects.
- âCreativity within Constraints: Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. "Good Enough" can often be your best starting point. Launch with what you have, then adapt and improve.
- âROI vs. ROE: While ROI (Return on Investment) reigns supreme, don't overlook the ROE (Return on Effort).Â
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Evaluate the potential returns against the effort required. Sometimes, the simplest strategies yield the best results without exhaustive planning and resource allocation.
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Pro-tip:
- Launching event promotion comes with its share of delays and edits. Start early and simplify.Â
- Overcomplicating creative requests can bottleneck the process, jeopardizing your timeline.Embrace minimalism in your initial creative assets.Â
- Focus on refining the message rather than getting lost in the design details. There will be room to iterate and enhance based on real-world feedback.
Tip #4: Remarketing Mastery: Capitalizing on Targeted Engagement
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After laying the groundwork with audience segmentation, remarketing emerges as the strategic follow-through that ensures your message continually reaches those most likely to act.
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Itâs about reconnecting with website visitors, video-view watchers, image interactors, etc.Â
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Reaching to those who demonstrated interest but haven't yet taken the desired action.
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By targeting these engaged users with specific, relevant ads, the probability of conversion (registration) significantly increases.
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If you want a crash course on remarketing check out this 35-page blueprint on How to Build a Multichannel B2B Remarketing Strategy by Silvio Perez.Â
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Tip #5: Cross-Channel Integration
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Using just one platform for event promotion is like whispering in the midst of a loud crowd.
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The essence of cross-channel integration lies in presenting a unified brand narrative across various platforms.Â
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From LinkedIn's precise targeting capabilities to the broad reach of YouTube and the personal touch of Meta's networks, each channel plays a critical role in amplifying your event's visibility.
â
Pro tip:Â Check this article to learn how to get LinkedIn-like targeting on YouTube ads for B2B.
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Platform-Specific Strategies: A Closer Look:
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YouTube: Leveraging YouTube for its vast audience and cost-effective view rates turns your event promotion into an engaging visual narrative.
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Here, remarketing shines, allowing you to reconnect with interested viewers through compelling video content.
- âLinkedIn: With unmatched segmentation options, LinkedIn stands out for B2B event promotion. Tailoring your message to reach specific professional demographics ensures your event resonates with the right audience.
- âMeta: Often underestimated in B2B contexts, Meta (Facebook and Instagram) offer a unique space for testing and remarketing. Here, the personal intersects with the professional
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Navigating the Creative Challenge:
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A common hurdle in cross-channel marketing is content creation, especially video for platforms like YouTube.Â
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The solution? Creativity and repurposing. Utilize existing assets, from high-engagement talks to website walkthroughs, and repurpose them into new video content with minimal effort.
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Think of content as modular components that can be assembled and reassembled to suit different platforms.
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A blog post can transform into an infographic, a webinar clip, or a social media snippet, maximizing your content's reach and lifespan.
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Tip #6: Geo-Targeted Ads: Precision Marketing for Event Success
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For events that offer both in-person and virtual attendance options, geo-targeted ads stand out as a proven tactic.Â
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By targeting potential attendees within a specific radius of the event location, you ensure that your advertising dollars are spent on those most likely to attend in person.
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Example of Metaâs radius targeting:
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Measuring the Impact of Geo-Targeted Campaigns:
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Leveraging tools like Gradual allows for detailed tracking of event registrations, distinguishing between virtual and in-person sign-ups.Â
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This segmentation is key in evaluating the effectiveness of geo-targeted campaigns, providing insights into lead quality and audience relevance.
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Creative and Tactical Considerations:
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While geo-targeting primarily focuses on the pre-event phase, its implications for brand visibility are vast.Â
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Creative tactics, such as mobile digital billboards, can also play a role in maximizing local awareness, even in relation to competitors' events.
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Pro-tip
- For events with significant local interest, consider augmenting your digital geo-targeting with physical advertising moves.Â
- This can create a buzz around your event and ensure your brand remains top-of-mind among your target audience.
Tip #7: Gamification: Turning Engagement into a Competitive Advantage
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Gamification: A strategy to break through the noise!
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By switching up event promotion into an interactive and competitive experience, you not only capture attention but also foster a sense of community and excitement around your event.
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Practical Example
- Offering a free drone to the attendees with the most referrals turns the event sign-ups into an engaging competition.Â
- This not only increases exposure but also incentivizes participants to become advocates for the event, effectively turning them into an extension of the sales team.
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Operationalizing Gamified Content:
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Using tools like Gradual, attendees receive a virtual ticket upon registration, complete with a unique referral link for sharing on social platforms.Â
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This system not only simplifies sharing but also tracks referrals back to the source, enabling a competitive leaderboard to emerge.
Tip #8: Display Advertising & Maximizing Visibility
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Stepping beyond traditional advertising channels can lead to remarkable visibility.Â
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Display advertising, mainly used through Google Display Network or programmatic ads, holds untapped potential when approached through direct publisher partnerships.
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Direct Publisher Engagement:Â
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The strategy here isnât just to place ads but to place your event promotions on websites specifically relevant to your niche.Â
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By using tools like SEMRush to identify these niche publishers and reaching out directly, you can secure ad placements that speak directly to an engaged audience.
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The Operational Dynamics:
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Differentiating from the wide net cast by typical display networks, focusing on publisher partnership involves negotiating directly with site owners.Â
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This can range from pop-up ads to dedicated ad slots on their site, leveraging their audience for your eventâs gain.
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Reducing Variables for Success:Â
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The common pitfalls of display advertising come from an overwhelming array of variables. From ad dimensions and placements to the diversity of websites.Â
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By choosing a direct partnership with publishers, you drastically reduce these variables, focusing on what matters most: context and audience relevance.
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Tip #9: Remarketing Campaigns: Sharpening the Focus for Better ROI
â
We touched on the importance of remarketing in tip #4 but this is such an easy win for most brands that it deserves emphasizing. Since users have interacted with the brand before, remarketing can be ideal for high-intent offers such as "demos" or "free trial". The initial challenge often lies in cultivating a large enough audience size.
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Start by building broad prospecting campaigns to stir interest and engagement across your target demographics. This boosts awareness and seeds your remarketing pool with individuals who have shown an initial interest in your offerings.
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Remarketing should be viewed not just as a conversion approach but as a nurturing mechanism. With the ability to promote a mix of contentâfrom event announcements to demos and trialsâremarketing can support the entire customer journey, especially in B2B contexts where sales cycles are longer.
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If you want a crash course on remarketing check out this 35-page blueprint on How to Build a Multichannel B2B Remarketing Strategy by Silvio Perez.
Tip #10: Mastering ROI: The North Star of Marketing Success
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Knowing your numbers and directly tying marketing efforts to revenue generation and pipeline acceleration is fundamental. The ultimate measure of marketingâs effectiveness lies in its ability to influence revenue.Â
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Every campaign, ad, and event should be scrutinized through the lens of its potential to contribute to the bottom line. This requires a deep understanding of your audience, the sales cycle, and the points at which marketing interventions can make a tangible difference.
â
Operationalizing ROI-Focused Strategies:
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Quantitative Analysis: Adopt a data-driven approach to every marketing initiative.Â
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This means setting clear, measurable objectives upfront, rigorously tracking performance, and continually refining tactics based on empirical evidence of what works.
- âStrategic Alignment: Ensure that marketing activities are fully aligned with broader business goals. Collaboration with sales, product development, and customer success teams can provide valuable insights that help tailor marketing efforts for maximum impact on revenue and pipeline progression.
- âCultivating a Business Mindset: Transitioning from a pure marketing perspective to thinking like a CEO involves a broader appreciation for how marketing activities contribute to the overall health and growth of the business.Â
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Itâs about seeing beyond immediate metrics to understand the strategic importance of marketing as a driver of long-term success.
Conclusion
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In this article, we covered 10 actionable tips for promoting your next successful event through paid ads.
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Just to highlight a few key points, we talked about the 4 pillars of event promotion and how to distribute your budget in each phase, utilizing partnerships & internal networks, audience segmentation, and thinking like an investor to maximize your return on investment (ROI) and return on effort (ROE).
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Each of the 4 event planning stages plays an important role, from generating buzz and capturing live attention to extending the event's influence and repurposing its content for future efforts. The power of partnerships, strategic content sharing, and influencer collaborations cannot be overlooked. Itâs an effective way of broadening reach without proportionally increasing spend.Â
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Remarketing and audience segmentation are essential for converting initial interest into conversions (registrations), while cross-channel integration expands your digital footprint to reach your audience on all key platforms.Â
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I hope you got a ton of insights from this article and wish you fruitful results for your next events.Â
Resources for Mastering B2B Advertising
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If youâre serious about mastering B2B advertising then you definitely need to join 1,000+ B2B marketers leveling up their paid advertising skill sets in AdConversion.Â
â
âHereâs 4 reasons why you should consider joining. Every one of our on-demand courses are:
â Â 100% free access.
â Â Taught by vetted industry experts.
â Â Have workbooks, resources, and templates.
â Â Less than 10 minutes per lesson.
â
We believe every marketer should know how to scale paid ads so they can:
- Â Scale their ideas
- Level up their careers
- Make a positive impact
Click Here to Join 1,000+ B2B Marketers Today and start leveling up your advertising skill set.
Takes < 90 seconds to sign up (seriously we timed it đ)
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People Also Ask
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How can I effectively measure the success of my event promotion campaigns?
Utilize key performance indicators (KPIs) like registration numbers, attendance rates, engagement levels during the event, and post-event feedback. Tools like Google Analytics and social media insights can help track these metrics.
â
What are some common pitfalls to avoid in event promotion?
Avoid neglecting audience segmentation, underestimating the importance of follow-up communications, and failing to allocate sufficient budget across all promotional phases. Ensuring a balanced approach can prevent these issues.
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How can I leverage user-generated content to enhance event promotion?
Encourage attendees to share their experiences on social media using a dedicated event hashtag. Feature this content in your promotional materials to build credibility and engage potential attendees.
â
What role does influencer marketing play in promoting events?
Collaborating with industry influencers can expand your eventâs reach and add credibility. Influencers can share event details with their followers, potentially increasing registrations.
â
How can I ensure a seamless transition from online promotion to on-site engagement?
Maintain consistent messaging across all platforms and provide clear information about the event schedule, location, and activities. Utilize event apps or social media groups to keep attendees informed and engaged before and during the event.
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10 Tips to Boost B2B SaaS Marketing Beyond Ad Platforms
Are you looking to drive a greater return from your paid ads? Â
The answer often lies outside of the ad platforms themselves.Â
Here are 10 actionable tips to improve ad performance outside the ad managers.Â
Letâs dive into it! đ
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Tip #1: Unleash the Power of GA4âs Page Path Report
- Tip #2: Leverage Multiple Data Sources to Measure Performance
- Tip #3: Work with the Product or Service Team to Design Lead Magnets
- Tip #4: Meet with Sales & Customer Success for Insights
- Tip #5: Get Hands-on with Your Product or Service
- Tip #6: Dive Into CRM Metrics for a Holistic View
- Tip #7: Get Regular Insights from the Sales team
- Tip #8: Link Marketing Efforts to Business Results
- Tip #9: Incorporate Leading Indicators into Your Success Metrics
- Tip #10: Practice PatienceÂ
- Conclusionâ
- Resources for mastering B2B advertising
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Tip #1: Unleash the Power of GA4âs Page Path Report
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Have you ever wondered how visitors wander around your site before hitting that sweet 'convert' button?Â
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In B2B, it's pretty rare for someone to convert after just one page visit. So, imagine discovering that a whopping 90% of your future clients check out your pricing page before deciding you're the one.Â
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That's your cue! With this intel, you can strategically place pricing info where it matters most, like in your ads or on key landing pages. It's all about making that path to conversion as smooth as possible.
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GA4's Page Path report is like a treasure map showing you the most popular pit stops.
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You can access the page path report by signing into your GA4 account, on the left-hand side, click on âexploreâ and select the pre-made template called âpath explorationâ.Â
In the example below, we can see out of 1,958 page views, we had 17 form submissions âÂ
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Bonus tip from episode insights:
Tools like Hotjar can be like a pair of X-ray glasses for your website. They let you peek into how users navigate your pages, showing you exactly where they bounce off or get hooked. This information can help tweak your landing page by identifying unaddressed user concerns or areas for expansion.
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Tip #2: Leverage Multiple Data Sources to Measure Performance
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Effective marketing decisions require more than just ad platform insights.Â
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The in-platform metrics are a great starting point, but what you gain out of it is quite limited.Â
â
You can get the initial results for optimization such as CTR, CPC, frequency, open rate, or impression share depending on the channel, but the true source of data would have to be combined with CRM data.
â
By bringing together data from Google Analytics 4 and your CRM, you can create a multidimensional view of your campaigns' effectiveness.
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This is more important than ever before with the deprecation of third-party cookies.Â
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Bonus tip from episode insights:
Ideally, you would have at least 3 supporting data points to back up recommendations.Â
This is especially true for recommendations that will require a major lift.Â
Tip #3: Work with the Product or Service Team to Design Lead Magnets
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A lead magnet involves providing valuable content in return for information such as a name, email address, job title, and company name.
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To stand out, we need to create offerings that genuinely attract and provide value to our audience, moving beyond ebooks and webinars to create lead magnets that are both informative and irresistible.
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Rather than offering an e-book that your prospect may or may not find valuable, try offering resources or workshops that speak to the prospectâs unique pain points.
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This shift not only aligns with consumer preferences but also sets the stage for more meaningful interactions.
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Now, the question still remains: "Do content lead magnets contribute to the pipeline?"
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For most B2B SaaS companies, less than 5% of content actually leads to pipeline conversions.Â
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The most effective conversions come from meetings that address the prospect's real issues without any intention of selling them something (absolutely no hidden agendas!).
Tip #4: Meet with Sales & Customer Success for Insights
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Use the insights from the Sales and CS team to fine-tune your strategy, offers, audience, ad copy, or any key piece of information that might be misaligned with current campaigns.
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Understanding customer pain points, questions, and feedback directly can guide you in creating content that resonates deeply and addresses real needs.
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Sales and CS teams possess in-depth knowledge about the demographics, pain points, and motivations of existing customers.
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Marketers can leverage this information to refine buyer personas, ensuring that marketing messages and content resonate effectively with target audiences.
Tip #5: Get Hands-on with Your Product or Service
â
Thereâs no substitute for experiencing what youâre marketing firsthand.Â
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Dive into demos, use the product daily, or participate in the service being offered.Â
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This deep dive helps you understand the nuances and unique selling points from a user's perspective.
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Understanding the core value of the product or services will help you communicate the value proposition when writing your ad copy.
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It also provides your clients with a fresh perspective to fill any potential gaps.Â
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If you are not sold on the product/service, then how can you sell it to someone else?
Tip #6: Dive Into CRM Metrics for a Holistic View
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Regularly reviewing CRM data helps you see the real-world impact of your campaigns.
â
This feedback loop is crucial for making data-driven decisions that can improve campaign performance and ROI over time.Â
â
3 key metrics you should always consider as a B2B Marketer:
- Pipeline-to-spend ratio
- Average time to close
- Average deal size
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If you have not already, request CRM access from your clients so you have context around the key metrics and speak the same language as your clients.Â
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As a marketer, you must connect all activities directly to revenue since that's ultimately what matters most to businesses.
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It will make clients see you as a strategic partner in their business.
Tip #7: Get Regular Insights from the Sales team
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Adding on to tip #4, the sales teamâs daily interactions with prospects and customers are a treasure of insights that can refine your marketing approach.
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Often, marketing and sales operate in silos, even though they're both working towards the same goal.Â
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Having a monthly or quarterly meeting with your main point of contact (POC) can help close the gap, but if that is not possible then download the CRM notes to make necessary adjustments to your campaigns.Â
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Bonus tip from episode insights:
If you've got a substantial list of prospects who passed on your offering due to specific reasons (ex: product gaps), you can build an audience list of these closed lost customers and run ads against them when you roll out a new product feature that addresses those concerns.
Tip #8: Link Marketing Efforts to Business Results
â
Awareness campaigns might not deliver immediate conversions, but their role in nurturing leads and supporting the customer journey is crucial.Â
â
Work with other Marketing team members to build case studies and analytics to illustrate how awareness campaigns contribute to overall business goals.
â
A compelling way to validate the impact of awareness campaigns is to assess the performance disparity between remarketing campaigns and cold audience initiatives.Â
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For example, showing a significantly lower cost per demo from prospects with prior brand exposure can justify the investment for awareness campaigns.
Tip #9: Incorporate Leading Indicators into Your Success Metrics
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By understanding what early success looks like, you can refine your strategies in real time, ensuring your marketing efforts are always moving in the right direction.Â
â
These leading indicators could be top-of-funnel metrics such as:
- Clickthrough rate (CTR)
- Cost per click (CPC)
- Engagement rate
â
Leading indicators are vital for navigating the complex B2B landscape, offering the insights needed to steer your marketing efforts toward success, even when immediate sales results are not visible.
Tip #10: Practice PatienceÂ
â
B2B sales cycles are naturally longer than B2C, requiring a mindset that values persistence and long-term strategy over instant results.
â
By analyzing attribution data and understanding the nuances of traffic sources, you can refine the strategies.Â
â
The key is to establish a robust measurement system and integrate leading indicators to track progress.
â
Recognize and celebrate the small milestones along the way to keep morale high and maintain focus on the long-term goals.
Conclusion
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Yielding results for your B2B SaaS marketing is not about quick wins; it's a marathon, not a sprint.Â
â
Deeply understanding your product, closely aligning with sales and customer success teams, and strategically utilizing a variety of data sources lay the foundation for sustainable success.
â
Real growth comes from consistently applying insights, adjusting based on performance indicators, and staying committed to your long-term vision.Â
â
Here's to marketing smarter, not harder, and seeing your efforts pay off!
Resources for mastering B2B advertising
If youâre serious about mastering B2B advertising then you definitely need to join 1,000+ B2B marketers leveling up their paid advertising skill sets in AdConversion.Â
âHereâs 4 reasons why you should consider joining. Every one of our on-demand courses are:
â Â 100% free access.
â Â Taught by vetted industry experts.
â Â Have workbooks, resources, and templates.
â Â Less than 10 minutes per lesson.
We believe every marketer should know how to scale paid ads so they can:
- Â Scale their ideas
- Level up their careers
- Make a positive impact
Click Here to Join 1,000+ B2B Marketers Today and start leveling up your advertising skill set.
Takes < 90 seconds to sign up (seriously we timed it đ)
â
People Also Ask
How can I effectively measure the impact of these non-advertising strategies on my overall marketing performance?
Utilize analytics tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as website traffic, lead generation, and conversion rates. Implement UTM parameters to monitor the effectiveness of specific campaigns and assess their contribution to your marketing goals.
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What are some common challenges when integrating these strategies, and how can I overcome them?
Challenges may include aligning cross-departmental goals, ensuring consistent messaging, and accurately attributing results. Overcome these by fostering collaboration between teams, maintaining clear communication channels, and employing comprehensive attribution models to understand the impact of each strategy.
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How can I ensure that the insights gathered from sales and customer success teams are effectively incorporated into my marketing campaigns?
Establish regular meetings with sales and customer success teams to share insights and feedback. Create a centralized repository for this information and integrate it into your marketing content and strategies to ensure alignment with customer needs and preferences.
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What are some best practices for designing lead magnets that resonate with my target audience?
Develop lead magnets that address specific pain points or challenges faced by your target audience. Ensure they provide actionable value, are easily accessible, and align with your brandâs expertise. Formats like e-books, whitepapers, and webinars can be particularly effective.
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How can I maintain patience while waiting for these strategies to yield results, especially under pressure to demonstrate immediate ROI?
Set realistic expectations by establishing short-term milestones that lead to long-term goals. Communicate the anticipated timeline and benefits to stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of sustainable growth over quick wins.
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B2B Advertising in 2024: The Definitive Guide
Today Iâm going to give you a crash course in B2B advertising.
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In this comprehensive guide Iâll cover:
- What is B2B advertising?
- 7Â ways B2B differs from B2C
- 20 B2B Terms and Metrics you need to know
- Top 3 B2B Revenue Models
- B2B ad examples by revenue model
- How to create a B2B advertising strategy
- The Five Stages Model
- The Best B2B Ad Channels
- Advice from 20 B2B Advertising Experts
So if you need to get up-to-speed on B2B as quickly as possible, youâll love this guide.Â
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Letâs get started đĽ
What Is Business-to-Business Advertising?
B2B advertising is the process of any paid marketing efforts directed toward influencing multiple individuals within a company for a purchase decision (known as a buying committee) vs a single consumer. Â
7 Differences between B2B and B2C Advertising:
- Longer sales cycles (3 - 36 months)
â - Larger average deal sizes (< $1,000 - $250,000+)
â - More stakeholders involved in the purchase decision (ex: c-suite, finance)Â
â - Focus on impacting the entire buyer's journey not just the first conversion (unlike B2C).Â
â - Smaller audiences (< 300,000) with a focus on reaching the right person and company vs B2C with broad audiences ( > 300,000) as more people can purchase your product.Â
â - B2B requires strategic alignment between marketing and sales as youâre joining forces (inbound and outbound) to win accounts. Â
â - B2B supports multiple revenue models, the big three being; product-led, sales-led, and hybrid. Whereas e-commerce is solely product-led.Â
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Check out more examples in the article:Â B2B vs B2C Advertising: 8 Differences & Examples You Need To Know.
20 B2B Terms and Metrics you Need to Know
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One of the first things you realize when you get into B2B is how much jargon there is! MQL, SQL, ACV, ARR, and the list goes on!Â
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In order to make sure you understand the language, hereâs 20 B2B terms and metrics you need to know:
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Unfortunately there are many more terms youâll need throughout your B2B career đ and every company creates their own (itâs a constant struggle) but these 20Â will give you a solid foundation. For a great list of b2b terms check out our B2B Advertising Glossary.
Top 3 B2B Revenue Models
If youâre working in B2B there are three common revenue models youâll likely work with.Â
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If your job is to promote this organization, understanding the revenue model is key as it will change everything from how you approach your strategy, the offers you choose, channels, and more.Â
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B2B Ad Examples by Revenue Model:
Sales Led
Product Led
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âHow to build a full-funnel B2B Advertising Strategy â
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Now that you know how B2B differs from B2C.
â
How do you build a full-funnel B2B advertising strategy?
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Full-funnel refers to building a strategy that covers all touch points along the customer journey.Â
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This means advertising to individuals who are (e.g. Eugene's Schwartz Stages of Awareness):
â
- Unaware = have no clue they even have a problem in the first place (ex: blissfully mismanaging customer relationships)
- Problem Aware = know they have a problem but are not sure how to solve it (ex: realize managing customer relationships is important but don't know how).
- Solution Aware = need help deciding on the right solution (ex: should I use Google Sheets, a filing cabinet đ or a CRM?).Â
- Product Aware = know of your brand/product but not sure if you're the best option (ex: comparing CRM software; Salesforce vs HubSpot vs Pipedrive).
- Offer Aware = know of your brand and exactly how you can help but need some nudging (ex: pricing discounts, better contract terms, customer references).
- Most Aware = Existing customers, familiar with your brand and working with you (ex: referral program).
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Understanding your prospects' stage of awareness allows you to create messaging, and offers that better resonate with where they are in the customer journey.Â
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It helps to have a model (think of it like a map) to make complicated topics simple.Â
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Weâre going to use The Five Stages model covered in our course Building a Paid Media Program.
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Hereâs how it works:
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Based on the stage; the outcome, awareness level, offers, tactics, and KPIs differ.
- Outcome = the end goal you're trying to achieve in each stage.
- Awareness = the familiarity level of your brand/product/solution. Â
- Offers = what you're providing your target audience in each stage.
- Tactics = how you're going to actually execute your strategy per stage.
- KPIs = how you're going to measure success in each stage.Â
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Let's dive into examples for each stage so you really understand!
The Five Stages Model
Stage 1: Create
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Stage 2: Capture
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Stage 3: Accelerate (Sales Led) / Activate (Product Led)
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Stage 4: Revive
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Stage 5: Expand
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The Five Stages model allows you to plan across all the lifecycle stages past initial conversion.Â
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Ultimately no one knows for certain where someone is in their buyer's journey and everyone moves through it at different speeds. Use your best judgment.Â
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If you're confused on which stage someone would be, remember the target audience's level of awareness dictates the stage they fall under.Â
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Which stage should you invest in?Â
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Generally speaking if you want to maximize ROI in the short-term you should work from the bottom of the Five Stages and move towards the top (Expand â Create).
â
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You don't have to build a full-funnel strategy at once, take it one stage at a time.
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Putting The Five Stages into practice
- Decide on which stage you want to focus on based on the outcome youâre after. If you have a smaller budget (ex: < $5,000/month) focus exclusively on one stage first.Â
â - Once youâve decided on the stage fill in your budget, and leading + lagging KPIs. If youâre unsure of what KPIs to select refer to Module 5- Lesson 1 of Building a Paid Media Program.
ââ - Next decide on which channels youâll advertise on to reach individuals in this stage and how youâll target them and exclude the wrong audience. If youâre unsure of what channels to advertise on, refer to Choosing the BEST channels.Â
â - Finally decide on what offers youâre going to promote in these channels for this stage (the offers listed above are only examples to give you ideas). Â
â - If youâre targeting multiple stages repeat steps 1-4 for each.
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Click here to become an AdConversion student and get free access to The Five Stages planning template in Module 2 - Lesson 1Â where we cover how to build your paid media strategy in depth.
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After youâve filled in The Five Stages planning template you now have your strategy in place and can easily move into execution and start assembling your campaigns, creatives, and messaging.Â
What are the BEST B2B advertising channels?
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The obvious answer is where your audience hangs out online!
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But not all channels are equal, some are more effective at certain stages.
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Most channels can be grouped into these 5 primary categories â
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How to decide on the best channel?
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There's four key criteria to consider when deciding on a channel:
â
- Targeting optionsÂ
- Media cost
- Reach
- Policy
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Let's dive into each â
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If the channel youâre considering meets all four of these criteria then you should consider running a test campaign for $100 to get your real average CPC & CPM.
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Recommended Channels by Stage
Based on my experience these channels work best for each stage:
(Use this as inspiration not restriction)
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Let this be a guide to help you get started, take what serves you and abandon the rest.Â
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Test what works for you until proven otherwise.Â
Advice from 20 B2B advertising experts
One of the best parts about being in B2B is the quality of marketers in this space.Â
We asked 20 B2B advertising experts: