Is Your Paid Ad Campaign Ghosting You? (A Dating Analogy for SMBs)

If you’re spending money on Google Ads or Meta campaigns and wondering, “Is this even working?” — you’re not alone.

Running paid media is a lot like dating. It starts with attraction, but only works if there's honesty, alignment, and real potential.

So here’s how to tell if your campaign is worth committing to — or if it’s wasting your time (and money).

💋 1. "Swipe left, right or click"

Are You Creating the Right Attraction Signals?

In dating, first impressions matter. If you don’t grab their attention upfront, you don’t get the chance to go further.

In marketing, that first impression is your ad creative, copywriting, and CTR (click-through rate. If people aren’t clicking, you're either invisible or unappealing.

What to do:

• Improve ad relevance by aligning headlines with search intent

• Test multiple ad creatives per ad group (especially on Meta)

• Use emotional hooks, urgency, and clear CTAs that reflect user pain points

✅ A great first impression builds interest. Just like a good opening line, your ad needs to earn that click.

🥂 2. The First Date

Are You Getting the Right Signals to Move Forward?

You got the click — now what? A first date without chemistry doesn’t go anywhere. Same goes for a visit to your landing page that ends in a bounce.

Watch for non-conversion signals like scroll depth, button clicks, add to cart, or time on page. These show if the user is genuinely engaged.

What to do:

• Track micro-conversions using Google Tag Manager

• Use heatmaps (e.g. Hotjar or Clarity) to see where users engage or drop

• Make your CTA visible above the fold and mobile-first

✅ If they’re not scrolling, clicking, or staying, they’re not into you — and it’s time to make the page more appealing. If there wasn't a kiss (even on the chick), maybe its not the right match.

🪞 3. Honesty

Does Your Offer Match What You Promised?

Saying one thing in your dating profile and showing up completely different? Red flag.

That’s what happens when your ad says one thing and the landing page doesn’t deliver. The offer must be consistent across the user journey.

What to do:

• Ensure message match between ad and landing page

• Use consistent language, visuals, and CTAs

• Don’t bait with one promise and switch to another — trust dies fast

  
  

✅ Honesty builds trust. So make sure your ad and page are telling the same story. Did you feel the trust when you said "good night"?

💘 4. Are We Even a Match?

Do They Actually Fit Your Ideal Customer Profile?

If you keep going on bad dates, maybe it’s not them — it’s your filter.

Same with ads. You might be driving clicks, but are they qualified leads?

What to do:

• Use geo-targeting and custom audiences

• Refine search intent using better keywords and exclusions

• Match offer type to buyer stage: Quote request vs. awareness content

✅ You have a good sense of your perfect match. Just like finding the right partner, finding the right audience requires filtering for alignment and long-term potential.

💍 5. Serious Relationship or Just Netflix and Ads?

Is Your Agency Actually Committed to Your Growth?

Some agencies are like serial daters. They do the minimum, keep the reports coming, but avoid hard conversations or real strategy.

You deserve a performance marketing agency that treats your business like a long-term relationship.

What to do:

• Ask what they’re optimizing for: Is it just CTR? Or real business KPIs?

• Do they test creatives? Are they auditing the full funnel?

• Are you getting insights — or just spreadsheets?

✅ If your agency isn't invested in the relationship, it might be time to swipe left.

Final Thought: Don’t Let Your Paid Ads Ghost You

Paid ads are like dating. You need real signals, honest expectations, aligned interests, and a partner that’s committed to making it work.

At Adsangler, I work directly with every client to ensure we’re not just running campaigns — we’re building growth machines.

PS - I have a reach experience with dating in NYC before marrying my dear wife exactly 17 years ago.

👋 Want a (business) partner who doesn’t ghost you?

(sorry but we don't offer dating counseling)

👉 Book a strategy call👉 Or take the 5-minute assessment

Because when you grow — I grow. (And yes, I’ll text you back.)