Tag: performance

  • Taxi AppMarket Expansion

    Taxi AppMarket Expansion

    How we helped a taxi app expand into new markets in Eastern Europe and Latin America — achieving $0.5 per install and $4.5 per first order.

    1%

    CR in install

    $0.5

    Cost per install

    $4.5

    Cost per first order

    Objective

    Scale a taxi app into new geographic markets efficiently

    The client — an established taxi app — had proven product-market fit in their existing markets and was ready to expand. The goal was to enter new markets in Eastern Europe and Latin America, driving app installs and converting new users into their first completed rides as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

    Entering new markets for a ride-hailing app comes with a unique challenge: you need to build critical user mass fast enough for the marketplace to function, while keeping acquisition costs low in geographies where brand recognition starts at zero.

    Solution

    Dual-channel launch strategy: Google UAC + Meta app promotion

    Rather than relying on a single platform, we deployed a two-channel approach from day one — using Google and Meta in parallel to maximize reach and compete for installs across different audience segments and placements.

    Launch on both main channels simultaneously, then shift budget toward conversion optimization after gathering initial market data in each region.

    Google UAC

    Universal App Campaigns targeting app installs across Search, Display, YouTube, and Google Play. Optimized for first-open and first-order events.

    Meta App Promotion

    Facebook and Instagram app install campaigns using Advantage+ audience targeting to reach likely riders in each new market.

    The campaign ran in a structured three-phase approach to maximize learning and efficiency:

    Phase 01

    Search Campaigns

    High-intent keyword targeting to capture businesses actively looking for cloud solutions and infrastructure providers.

    Phase 02

    Search Campaigns

    High-intent keyword targeting to capture businesses actively looking for cloud solutions and infrastructure providers.

    Phase 03

    Performance Max

    AI-driven campaigns reaching potential clients across Google’s full inventory — Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, and Maps.

    • Separate campaign structures per market — Eastern Europe and Latam treated independently
    • Parallel Google + Meta spend to maximize coverage and competitive pressure
    • Conversion event ladder: install → first open → first order
    • Post-learning phase shift to conversion optimization for CPO reduction

    Performance Results

    Google Ads overview · Feb 1 – Mar 31, 2023

    7.6M

    Clicks across all campaigns

    468K

    Conversions tracked

    593.6M

    Total impressions

    $0.27

    Average CPC

    1.3%

    Average CTR

    $2.04M

    Total ad spend managed

    Outcome

    What this case proves

    Entering a new market as a ride-hailing app is a race against the clock — you need users before you have brand, and revenue before you have loyalty. This campaign showed that a structured dual-channel approach, with a deliberate phase shift from installs to conversion optimization, can compress that timeline significantly.

    At $0.5 per install and $4.5 per first order, the campaign delivered market entry economics that justify rapid geographic scaling. The combination of Google’s intent-driven UAC and Meta’s interest-based app promotion proved effective at covering different audience segments simultaneously — reducing reliance on any single platform and protecting against algorithm volatility.

    The phased optimization model — launch broad, collect signals, then switch to conversion goals — is now a repeatable playbook for any new market entry in the mobility space.

  • Cloud Platform Advertising

    Cloud Platform Advertising

    How we scaled B2B cloud leads across Europe and the USA using Search, Performance Max, and GDN campaigns.

    0.1%

    CR in purchase

    $196

    CPO

    599

    Total purchases

    Objective

    Launch Google Ads for a Cloud Platform and reach new B2B clients

    The client offered cloud infrastructure solutions targeting business customers across two major geographies — Europe and the United States. The core goal was to generate qualified leads and drive measurable purchase conversions through Google’s paid advertising ecosystem.

    The B2B cloud market is competitive with high CPCs and long sales cycles. Success required both precise targeting and creative differentiation across multiple campaign types.

    Solution

    Multi-format Google Ads strategy with custom audience signals

    We built a comprehensive paid media structure combining three core Google Ads formats to cover the full funnel — from intent-driven search to broad awareness and retargeting.

    Classic Search + Performance Max + GDN working together — each format serving a distinct role in the customer journey.

    Search Campaigns

    High-intent keyword targeting to capture businesses actively looking for cloud solutions and infrastructure providers.

    GDN with Custom Intent

    Custom intent audiences based on competitor and category keywords to reach decision-makers mid-research.

    Performance Max

    AI-driven campaigns reaching potential clients across Google’s full inventory — Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, and Maps.

    Discovery Campaigns

    Visually native ads in Google feeds targeting prospects by interests and purchase behavior in the B2B tech segment.

    Creative strategy focused on testing multiple banner formats and messaging angles to identify what resonated most with B2B buyers at different stages of the funnel.

    • Different banner sizes and creative concepts tested simultaneously
    • Multiple communication styles — technical, value-driven, and ROI-focused
    • Separate strategies for European markets and USA to match local pricing expectations
    • Continuous bid optimization to improve CPO over the campaign period

    Performance Results

    Key metrics ·
    Nov 2022 – Feb 2023

    48.7K

    Clicks generated across all campaigns

    595

    Total conversions tracked

    4M

    Total impressions across
    Europe + USA

    $12.27

    Average CPC across
    all campaigns

    1.2%

    Average CTR across
    the full campaign mix

    $597K

    Total ad spend managed

    Outcome

    What this case proves

    Advertising cloud infrastructure to B2B buyers is a high-stakes, high-CPС environment where generic campaigns quickly drain budget without results. This campaign demonstrated that a structured, multi-format approach — combining intent capture with audience-level targeting — can generate consistent purchases even in a niche with long decision cycles.

    The USA segment achieved a notably lower CPO of $196, outperforming the overall average and highlighting the value of geo-specific strategy and creative localization.

    By combining classic Search precision with the reach of Performance Max and the contextual relevance of custom-intent GDN, we built a system that scaled without sacrificing efficiency — delivering 599 purchases over four months of active optimization.

  • Search Engine for Flights, Hotels & Train Tickets

    Search Engine for Flights, Hotels & Train Tickets

    How we drove 167K+ app installs and 6,754 first purchases across three countries using cashback creatives and region-specific targeting.

    167798

    First opens of installed app

    $1.52

    Cost per install

    $42

    Cost per first purchase

    167,798

    First purchases

    Objective

    Drive app installs, first opens, and ticket purchases across three distinct markets

    The client — a travel search aggregator for flights, hotels, and train tickets — needed to grow their mobile user base and convert new installs into active buyers. The campaign focused on four core events: app installs, first opens, engagement actions (tapping the ticket search button), and direct ticket purchases from partner providers.

    The challenge was geographic: three target regions with different user behaviors, price sensitivities, and travel habits demanded individual approaches rather than a one-size-fits-all strategy.

    Target Markets

    Three regions, three unique creative strategies

    Rather than running a single global campaign, we developed region-specific creatives and messaging for each market — adapting tone, offer mechanics, and visual language to local expectations.

    Poland

    Price-conscious travelers, strong rail culture, high app adoption

    Brazil

    Mobile-first market, flight-dominant, cashback incentives resonate strongly

    Turkey

    Rapidly growing travel market, high deal sensitivity, competitive CPIs

    Solution

    A/B creative testing built around cashback and coupon mechanics

    The central hypothesis: travel app users respond better to tangible financial incentives than to feature-led messaging. We built the creative strategy around two primary offer types — cashback on first purchase and coupons for the first 3 bookings — and tested them head-to-head.

    Cashback on the first purchase vs. coupon on the first 3 purchases — tested across all three markets with region-specific creative execution.

    First-Purchase Cashback Creative

    Primary incentive tested at a higher cashback rate. Focused on the immediate reward of booking the first ticket through the app.

    3-Purchase Coupon Creative

    Lower per-booking discount spread across three purchases to drive repeat engagement and build habitual use of the app.

    Google UAC (Universal App Campaigns)

    Automated app install campaigns across Search, Display, YouTube, and Google Play — optimized toward download and first-open events.

    Purchase Optimization Layer

    Secondary campaign objective targeting in-app purchase events, using Mobile App (Google Play) and third-party app attribution sources.

    • Unique creatives developed for Poland, Brazil, and Turkey — no cross-region asset reuse
    • App campaign optimization split between Download goal and Purchase goal
    • Primary and secondary conversion source tracking (Google Play + third-party app analytics)
    • Ongoing creative rotation to prevent fatigue across a 4M+ impression volume

    Performance Results

    Campaign overview · Google Ads dashboard

    4M

    Total clicks across all campaigns

    212K

    Total conversions
    tracked

    $1.52

    Average cost
    per conversion

    $325K

    Total campaign spend

    Outcome

    What this case proves

    Travel app growth requires more than volume — it requires the right incentive, delivered in the right market, at the right moment in the user journey. This campaign demonstrated that cashback and coupon mechanics, when tested rigorously and adapted for local contexts, can drive both install efficiency and downstream purchase activity simultaneously.

    At $1.52 per install and $42 per first purchase, the campaign achieved strong unit economics across three geographically distinct markets — validating the multi-region, multi-creative approach as a scalable model for travel app acquisition.

    167,798 first opens and 6,754 completed purchases prove that the gap between install and transaction can be closed when the offer is compelling and the creative speaks the local language.

  • While everyone debates Google vs Meta, the highest ROI often comes from places nobody talks about

    While everyone debates Google vs Meta, the highest ROI often comes from places nobody talks about

    Most companies rely on Google, Meta, Microsoft. It’s predictable and feels safe. But in reality, you’re paying premium prices just to stay in the game. Here’s what I’ve learned after 9+ years running international performance across Tier-1, LATAM, Africa, Asia and MENA:

    👉🏻 Alternative channels often deliver disproportionate ROI — when tested correctly.

    – Reddit,
    – Quora,
    – Taboola,
    – Kwai
    – Snapchat and even smaller regional networks aren’t “niche”.

    They’re underpriced 📉

    Why they work?

    1️⃣ Less competition → lower auction pressure
    2️⃣ Different attention patterns → higher engagement
    3️⃣ Cleaner intent signals → better scaling

    It’s not about abandoning Google or Meta. It’s about not limiting your growth to the channels everyone is already fighting over 🚀

    At GEAR Ads:

    We help businesses escape saturated auctions and find the places where their customers actually pay attention 🎯

    Which alternative channels have surprised you the most? Always curious about real-world results!