Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out, I'm happy to give you some initial thoughts and guidance on what to expect from your first ad campaign as an aspiring entrepreneur.
You probably should manage your expectations...
First off, managing expectations is super important. It's really tempting to think you'll get rich quick. You won't. Building a successful ad campaign is a process of constant learning and refinement. It's like trying to find the right key for a lock. You might try a few that don't work before you find the one that clicks. That means you'll probably waste a bit of money initially figuring out what *doesn't* work. Honestly, that's completely normal and a necessary part of the learning curve. Think of it as paying for data, not necessarily paying for sales right away.
I remember one software client who came to us. We reduced their Cost Per User Acquisition from £100 to £7 by split testing and optimising their campaigns on Meta and Google Ads. It takes time to dial things in, to figure out the right targeting, the right messaging, and the right creatives. It's not an exact science, it's more of an iterative process.
We'll need to look at budget...
Now, let's talk about budget. This is another area where a lot of entrepreneurs make mistakes. Going in too low, especially at the start, is a surefire way to waste your time and money. You need enough data to actually learn something meaningful from your campaigns. Think of it like this: if you're only putting in a tiny amount of money, you're only getting a tiny amount of data back. And with a tiny amount of data, it's impossible to draw any reliable conclusions.
What constitutes a sufficient budget? Well, it depends on what you're selling and what your profit margins look like. But as a general rule of thumb, I'd say you probably want a daily budget that's at least equal to the cost of your product or service. Maybe even double that, just to give yourself a few bites at the apple. For example, if you're selling something that costs £50, you probably want a daily budget of at least £50, maybe even £100. This will give you enough data to start seeing some trends and figuring out what's working and what's not. Don't think you can pay 5 quid and get anything meaningful going.
I recall another client who had a limited budget when launching their software. They started with Meta Ads and achieved 5082 software trials at $7 cost per trial. A sufficient budget is crucial to gather meaningful data and optimise campaigns effectively.
I'd say you need to think of it as an investment...
Think of your initial ad spend as an investment in learning. You're not just paying for ads, you're paying for data. You're paying to find out what works and what doesn't work. And that information is incredibly valuable. Once you know what works, you can scale up your campaigns and start seeing some real returns.
You'll need a long term approach...
Finally, remember that building a successful ad campaign is a long-term game. It's not something that happens overnight. It takes time, effort, and a willingness to experiment. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results right away. Just keep learning, keep testing, and keep refining your campaigns. Eventually, you'll find a winning formula.
This is the main advice I have for you:
| Recommendation | Actionable Steps |
|---|---|
| Manage Expectations | Understand that building a successful campaign takes time and involves learning through testing. View initial ad spend as an investment in data. |
| Set a Realistic Budget | Ensure your daily budget is sufficient to gather meaningful data. As a rule of thumb, aim for a daily budget equal to or double the cost of your product/service. |
| Adopt a Long-Term Perspective | Recognize that building a successful campaign is a long-term process that requires continuous learning, testing, and refinement. |
I've worked with quite a few companies and entrepreneurs like you who are getting started with their paid ads and want help navigating the ad landscape. I've seen first-hand the difference it can make to have expert guidance when trying to start your first campaign. If you feel like you're not sure where to start, want some help getting your budget and expectations right or you'd like someone to take a look at your approach, it might be worth considering working with experts. We offer a free initial consultation where we review your strategy, which could be really helpful to give you a taste of the expertise you'd see going into your project if you decide to work with us.
Regards,
Team @ Lukas Holschuh
