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Image by Glenn Carstens-Peters

Álvaro Martínez Mateu

This is my professional blog, where I share my knowledge about Paid Media and Digital Marketing, along with the trends that shape this field.  I hope you find what I have written useful.

To analyze the performance of an advertising account, it is essential to follow a structured process that begins with an initial observation and, based on the findings, allows for a deeper investigation into each layer of the account.


The first question to resolve is whether there are recent anomalies that justify a thorough review. To do this, it is crucial to evaluate the general data—typically from the last 14 days—and detect changes in performance that go beyond normal variations, seasonal fluctuations, holidays, or expected market trends. Once a potential deviation is identified, the investigation should address different levels:


Strategic Review


This involves analyzing campaign structure, segmentation, and budget allocation. It is essential to verify whether the bidding strategy is still aligned with the objectives and if the budget is efficiently distributed across the key stages of the funnel.


Performance Evaluation Over Different Periods


Comparing trends helps determine whether issues are circumstantial or part of a broader pattern. This includes checking metrics such as CTR, CPC, ROAS, and conversions across different time frames.


Audience and Creative Diagnostics


Identifying which audiences and ads are delivering the best results and why. This includes detecting audience overlap, keyword cannibalization in search, or patterns of creative fatigue in paid social.


Campaign Structure and Segmentation


Analyzing whether campaigns align with the buying cycle and whether each stage of the funnel is properly addressed. Segmentation should be specific in most cases, avoiding unnecessary budget dispersion in audiences that do not convert.


Optimization of Automated Rules

Automations can be beneficial or not, depending on their configuration. It is necessary to review whether active rules are adjusted to current data and whether they are truly improving performance or creating unnecessary restrictions.


Compliance and Approvals Status


Checking for rejected ads, account quality, and policy compliance is crucial to prevent disruptions in ad investment.


A good advertising account analysis is an iterative process that requires a combination of strategic vision and technical analysis. It is not just about identifying problems but understanding the context and defining corrective or improvement actions that have a real impact on the business.


What other aspects do you consider relevant?

In Paid Media, creatives serve as the visual touchpoints that shape your audience’s first impression. Requesting the right creatives from the design team is not just about formats—it’s about understanding how each type of creative supports specific funnel objectives, such as driving conversions, retention, or awareness, aligning with the customer’s decision-making cycle.

🔍 4 Types of Creatives in Paid Media:

Social Proof and Human Element

When the goal is to build trust, creatives that feature customer testimonials or show the product being used in a real-life context are invaluable. These creatives establish an emotional connection and enhance credibility.

Final Result and Transformation

Images that depict a "before and after" or highlight the final result provide clarity and a visual promise. These work well for products or services that significantly transform the customer’s experience.

Problem Hook + Solution

Presenting a problem and offering a clear, visual solution captures attention and often improves click-through rates. This direct approach highlights how your product or service addresses specific needs.

FOMO and Special Offers

Urgency and exclusivity create impact. Using creatives that emphasize limited-time promotions or special incentives can be the key to accelerating conversions during high-competition periods.

🎯 How to Request Creatives from the Design Team

To maximize the impact of creatives in your campaigns, the first step is to clearly define your audience segments and the specific objectives of each campaign. Before making a request, consider:

The Target Audience

What truly motivates your customers? A "Social Proof" creative is ideal for audiences that need reassurance, while a "Problem Hook + Solution" creative is more effective for those looking to solve a specific problem.

The Right Format

Is a short video, an image carousel, or a static image more effective? The format choice is critical and should be based on how your audience consumes content. A great tip is to analyze what other companies are advertising.

Once these needs are identified, communicate them clearly to the design team. Be sure to include details such as specific dimensions, mobile-friendly text, and the visual approach that best conveys your campaign’s message. Precision in the details saves time and improves the final quality of the creatives.

🛠️ Conclusion: High-Performing Creatives Are Planned, Not Left to Chance

Producing strategically designed creatives—aligned with data-driven insights, clear objectives, and brand consistency—will significantly improve results. With proper planning and clear communication with the design team, you can enhance campaign performance while strengthening your brand message with your audience. A well-chosen creative is one of your main differentiators in the digital space.

In this content, a massive paid media budget is defined as any budget exceeding €100,000 per month. The strategies and tips provided apply to all budgets above this threshold, with a particular emphasis on significantly larger budgets that may far exceed this amount. As the budget increases, the importance of these strategies becomes even more critical.


Running paid media campaigns with large budgets opens up a whole new dimension of opportunities and challenges. These types of budgets demand carefully calculated strategies to maximise results and minimise risks. In this post, we’ll explore some key strategies to optimise these campaigns and drive greater success.


Broaden Targeting for Scalability

Large budgets require broader audiences. Excessive or hyper-specific segmentation leads to audience fatigue and limits scalability. Instead, use more open or broader interest-based targeting and allow algorithmic tools, such as Meta’s Advantage+ audiences, to dynamically optimise reach. This ensures access to a wider pool of potential customers and reduces stagnation in ad performance.


Combat Creative and Offer Fatigue

High exposure frequency accelerates creative fatigue. Frequently refreshing creatives—sometimes multiple times a week—is essential. Diversify formats and styles to maintain stable engagement metrics. Simultaneously, periodically adjust offers or create new ones to maintain relevance. Vary discounts, include guarantees, or introduce novel incentives to keep audiences engaged.


Leverage Speed in Testing

Large budgets provide the unique advantage of fast learning cycles. With accelerated data accumulation, hypotheses regarding creatives, audiences, or offers can be tested rapidly. Having a detailed and pre-planned testing strategy ensures efficient experimentation and minimises time wasted on decision-making.


Adjust ROAS Expectations

Scalability inevitably impacts efficiency. As algorithms exhaust the most qualified prospects, campaigns will reach less responsive segments. A decline in Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) is natural, so focusing on the business’s absolute returns rather than percentage efficiency reframes this challenge as a growth opportunity.


Simplify Campaign Structures

While it can be tempting to overcomplicate campaigns, simplicity ensures better budget allocation and clearer analysis. Focus on top-performing creatives, products, and audiences. Regular audits of campaign structures help prevent inefficiencies and maintain optimal resource allocation.


High Standards for Tracking

At this scale, advanced tracking solutions become indispensable. Multichannel campaigns require clear attribution. Tools like Hyros, or equivalent solutions, provide additional insights, helping decision-makers assess the real performance of campaigns across complex funnels.


Proactive Management

High budgets demand high vigilance. Even minor inefficiencies can turn into significant losses. Frequent monitoring, combined with an agile response system, ensures issues such as ad disapprovals or delivery inconsistencies are quickly resolved.


Strategic Collaborations with Influencers

For very large budgets, especially those exceeding €1M per month, collaborations with influencers can enhance results. Celebrities or recognisable figures bring credibility and expand the reach and engagement of campaigns. For mid-range budgets (€25/day or less), micro-influencers are often a more cost-effective and targeted alternative.


Personalised Ads for Market Segments

Breaking down your target market into smaller strategic sub-segments and creating ads with creatives, copy, and offers tailored to their specific needs improves relevance and engagement. This is particularly effective in service industries or diverse product lines where personalisation boosts conversions.


Final Thoughts

Scaling paid media campaigns to very high levels requires precision, vision, and adaptability. It’s a balancing act of leveraging the advantages of scale while mitigating the associated risks. For industry professionals, staying agile and data-driven is key to unlocking the full potential of these campaigns.

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