I'm trying to transition from $10-$50/day campaigns to ones that bring in a LOT more, so I've been setting up some higher volume campaigns that have broader appeal. So I finally have a few high volume campaigns that are running at break-even or near break-even. I realize now that this is a blessing and a curse. Blessing because if I can make it work then it's more $$$ than I'm used to making per campaign, but also a curse because I cannot for the life of me figure out where to start and I feel like I'm spinning around in circles when it comes to optimization; and in the meantime on the days that the campaigns are negative I'm bleeding more money that I'm used to spending on "testing." My traffic source is contextual btw. It seems like nothing I do will work to bring it into profitability, and when I try to change up angles or make completely different ads they just bomb. CTR is about 4-5% btw. Is it an absolute no-no to walk away from campaigns like this? The only thing I know for sure will help are entry and exit pops, but I'm trying to keep it clean and avoid getting banned from my traffic sources. Do you guys have any general advice on how you'd approach a campaign like this? Thx
So, we know you're running contextual and your CTR is only 4-5%. Based off of that info I would say you need better creatives and shoot for 10% CTR. Focus on the headline. Make sure it's all about whoever you're targeting self interest. If people don't see what's in it for them they will just pass. Without knowing anything else that's the best general advice I can offer.
It's all about creating a system. There's 1,000 different things you can test, but I like to apply Pareto's principle (80/20) rule and focus on the ones that matter most. Some ideas to get you started...
- Offers. Split test different offers in the vertical. Split test the SAME OFFER among different networks (they have different tracking, some scrub, etc.). Ask for higher payouts.
- Landing Pages. Test direct linking vs. landing pages. For the landing page test out different "styles.' On the landing page test out different headlines, images, bullet points
- Angles / ads.
- Traffic Source stuff. I don't know your traffic source, but they have their own things to test. PPV = targets. Google = Keywords. Mobile = Carriers / devices/ os / etc.
Most important thing is to make sure your tracking is setup properly. Also make sure you get enough "data" before you make any decisions.
There's no right and wrong way to go about optimizing. Everyone's very secretive. Just try, fail, learn, try again.
Hey guys, thanks again for the tips. I guess I just needed to sit back, relax, and take things step by step. I made a new set of landers, split up my traffic into individual URLs, and am in round 2 of optimization. I'm already in the green and will keep my fingers crossed that it stays that way!