Recently, a client came to Rhoads Creative with a familiar issue: the data is impressive, yet the results are lacking. This scenario perfectly captures the saying, “the math ain’t mathing.” At first glance, the numbers looked remarkable, better than most campaigns we encounter, but they didn’t generate the needed leads for the business. Their previous agency suggested a substantial increase in investment. But the actual issue wasn’t the figures; it was the strategy itself.

Strong Metrics, Weak Results

The client’s performance data looked like a success story:

• Click-Through Rate (CTR): 21.42%
• Conversion Rate: 15.42%
• Cost Per Lead: $89.27

The Real Problem: Not Enough Reach

Those performance metrics are undeniably strong. This campaign seemed effective on paper. However, it only garnered 281 impressions and 60 clicks monthly. The narrow targeting meant the campaign wasn’t engaging nearly enough people. No matter your metrics, with just 60 site visitors each month, it would never produce substantial results.

A genuinely data-driven approach is essential here. Oftentimes, impressive numbers may disguise the truth; agencies might emphasize high CTRs or robust conversion rates to instill confidence in clients, even if these metrics don’t genuinely signify business growth. This approach allows the campaigns to seem successful without making a real difference where it counts.

In this case, rather than merely suggesting a budget increase, we focused on redesigning the campaign to enhance reach and ensure cost efficiency. By broadening the targeting criteria and reassessing the campaign’s structure, we significantly increased impressions and conversions while maintaining a lower cost per lead.

While the CTR and conversion rate may decrease when the audience is expanded, the overall result is a considerable increase in lead volume and return on investment.

What We Changed: Strategy Over Spend

Here’s how that shift looks in practice:

Our Approach: Why Strategy Always Comes First

This scenario is a strong reminder that effective marketing extends beyond merely pursuing metrics in isolation. While performance statistics are valuable, they mean little if the reach is insufficient to create an impact. The essential factor is understanding the relationship between those numbers and knowing when to adjust strategies. At Rhoads Creative, we excel at recognizing when the math ain’t mathing, and creating customized strategies to address it. Achieving results relies on a comprehensive view rather than just a single standout percentage. If your campaigns look good on paper but aren’t delivering where it counts, it might be time for a smarter approach.

Let’s talk. We’ll bring the strategy, so your results can finally start adding up.