Case Studies

Real Numbers, Real Clients

We measure success in business outcomes -- not impressions, not clicks, not "engagement." Here is what that looks like.

Enterprise Fintech Client

From Zero to Best-in-Class CAC in 90 Days

A financial services company specializing in business lending needed a Google Ads program built from the ground up. No existing campaigns, no historical data, no conversion tracking -- a blank slate requiring full-stack paid media architecture.

The Challenge

The client had never run paid search. There was no campaign structure, no keyword research, no conversion tracking, and no historical performance data to build from. The team needed a partner who could architect the entire system -- strategy, structure, measurement, and ongoing optimization -- from day one.

The approved budget was significant -- six figures for 2026. That level of spend demands precision from the start. Every dollar spent without proper tracking or structure is a dollar wasted, and the gap between "running ads" and "running a system" compounds quickly at scale.

What We Built

We started with strategy, not tactics. Before a single ad went live, we built the foundation:

  • Campaign architecture -- Structured search campaigns with tight thematic ad groups, negative keyword hierarchies, and audience layering for financial services intent signals.
  • Conversion tracking -- Full GA4 implementation with custom events, Enhanced Conversions for Google, and proper attribution window configuration for the financial services buying cycle.
  • Keyword strategy -- Deep research into business lending, working capital, and financial services search behavior. Surgical match type strategy with aggressive query sculpting from day one.
  • Bid optimization -- Started with manual CPC to build data, then transitioned to target CPA bidding once the conversion model had sufficient signal.
  • Landing page alignment -- Ensured every ad pointed to conversion-optimized landing experiences with messaging continuity from search query through form submission.

The Results

Performance improved every month. Not because we got lucky, but because the structural approach compounds -- each month's data informed the next month's optimization.

Metric Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Trend
Conversions Baseline +289% +243% vs Month 1 3x growth sustained
Spend Test budget Scaled 4x Optimized allocation Scaled with performance
CAC Strong baseline +26% (scale-up expected) -22% vs Month 2 Best-in-class by Month 3
CTR 10%+ 16%+ 12%+ Strong across all months
CPC Low baseline +80% (expanded targeting) -22% M/M Optimized down month over month
Conv Rate <1% 4.5%+ 4.5%+ 13x improvement from launch
Reach Baseline +79% +114% vs Month 1 Growing reach with efficiency

The 90-Day Arc

Month 1

Foundation and Learning

Campaign launched from scratch. Focused on building conversion data, validating keyword hypotheses, and establishing baseline metrics. Strong proof of concept with minimal test spend -- solid CAC and positive unit economics from day one.

Month 2

Scaling and Signal

Budget scaled 4x as Month 1 data proved the model. Conversions jumped 289%. CAC rose 26% as we expanded targeting -- expected during scale-up. CTR hit 16%+ as ad copy resonated at higher volumes.

Month 3

Optimization and Efficiency

This is where structural marketing shows its value. Using two months of accumulated signal, we optimized aggressively: CAC dropped 22% to best-in-class levels, CPC fell 22%, and conversion rate held above 4.5%. The system was compounding.

Why It Worked

This was not a matter of finding the right keywords or writing clever ad copy. The results came from the structural approach:

  • Measurement first. Conversion tracking was built and verified before a single dollar was spent. No flying blind.
  • Signal pooling. Every day's data informed the next day's optimization. We did not wait for monthly reports to make decisions.
  • Capital discipline. We started small, proved the model, then scaled. Budget followed performance, not the calendar.
  • Continuous iteration. Bid adjustments, negative keyword additions, audience refinements, and ad copy tests ran continuously -- not in isolated "testing sprints."

Current Status

The campaign continues to perform with a significant approved annual budget. Performance is exceeding all targets, and the structural model we built in Q1 continues to compound as more data feeds the optimization engine.

Entertainment Company (Confidential)

30-Day Stabilization: Multi-Channel Recovery

An entertainment company with significant marketing spend needed a rapid stabilization across email, SEO, paid media, and PR. In 30 days, we delivered measurable cash contribution improvements through a coordinated multi-channel approach.

2x ROAS on paid media
+14% Email deliverability improvement
6-fig Revenue from SEO cleanup
5-fig Saved from PR contract audit

The engagement revealed inefficient vendor relationships (PR firm audit yielded five-figure savings), email deliverability issues reducing revenue (improved 14%), and paid media ROAS below 1x (brought to 2x within 30 days). The 30/90/180-day framework we applied has since become our standard engagement model.

Want results like these?

We work with companies who understand that marketing is not a cost center -- it is a growth engine. If that sounds like you, let us talk.

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