/paid-ads

name: paid-ads-strategy
description: When the user wants to plan paid ads strategy, allocate ad budget, or choose paid channels. Also use when the user mentions "paid ads," "paid media," "PPC," "SEM," "web ads," "app ads," "TV ads," "CTV," "OOH," "banner ads," "ad network," "ad alliance," "Taaft ads," "Shopify App Store ads," "Google Ads," "Meta Ads," "PMF testing," "PMF validation," "test product-market fit with ads," "ad spend," "ad budget," "ROAS," "paid acquisition," "Quality Score," or "ad-to-page alignment." For Google Ads execution, use google-ads. For Meta Ads execution, use meta-ads. For landing page alignment, use landing-page-generator.
metadata:
  version: 1.7.0

Strategies: Paid Ads

Guides paid ads strategy: when to use paid acquisition, channel selection, budget allocation, ad-to-landing-page alignment, and cross-platform best practices. Paid ads (Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn, Reddit, TikTok, etc.) deliver immediate reach and targeting; use when PMF is validated and budget allows.

**When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

**Platform-specific execution**: Web: **google-ads**, **meta-ads**, **linkedin-ads**, **reddit-ads**, **tiktok-ads**. App: **app-ads**. TV/Streaming: **ctv-ads**.

Before Starting

**Project context:** Read root `{project}.md` when present and load only the modules relevant to this task. Without Contextus, use available project material or user-provided facts and ask for missing information; do not create a parallel context system.

Gather this context (ask if not provided):

| Area | Questions | |------|-----------| | **Goals** | Primary objective? (Awareness, traffic, leads, sales, app installs) Target CPA/ROAS? Monthly budget? Constraints? | | **Product & offer** | What are you promoting? Landing page URL? What makes it compelling? | | **Audience** | Ideal customer? Problem you solve? What do they search for or care about? Existing customer data for lookalikes? | | **Current state** | Run ads before? What worked/didn't? Pixel/conversion data? Funnel conversion rate? |

Two Modes: PMF Testing vs Conversion-Driven

| Mode | When | Goal | Budget | Metrics | |------|------|------|--------|---------| | **PMF testing** | Pre-PMF; idea validation | Validate demand, messaging, pricing, audience before building | $47–500; small | CTR, sign-up rate, bounce rate; low CTR/high bounce = messaging issue | | **Conversion-driven** | PMF validated | Commercialization; scale; efficient acquisition | Scale; ROAS target | ROAS, CAC, conversion rate |

**PMF testing**: Use paid ads as a **learning tool**—simple landing page, "Join Waitlist" or "Get Early Access" CTA, test ad variations (value props, price points, audiences). No full product needed. See **google-ads** for PMF testing setup.

**Conversion-driven**: Full funnel; conversion tracking; scale budget. Avoid large-scale paid acquisition before PMF—see **cold-start-strategy**.

**Reference**: [Marketing Cactus – Using Google Ads to Test Product-Market Fit](https://mktcactus.com/en/using-google-ads-to-test-product-market-fit-before-launching/)

When to Use Paid Ads

| Condition | Rationale | |-----------|-----------| | **PMF validated** (conversion mode) | Product-market fit confirmed; scale acquisition | | **PMF testing** (validation mode) | Small budget; validate demand, messaging, pricing before building | | **Budget available** | CAC and LTV modeled (conversion); or $47–500 for testing | | **Need speed** | Organic takes months; paid delivers traffic immediately |

When NOT to Use Paid Ads

| Condition | Rationale | |-----------|-----------| | **Pre-PMF + large scale** | Large-scale paid acquisition before PMF wastes budget; use PMF testing mode or cold-start channels first | | **No conversion tracking** | Can't measure ROAS; optimize blindly (PMF testing uses CTR/sign-up) | | **Organic can work** | SEO, content, community may achieve goal at lower cost; see **seo-strategy** |

**Cold start**: For acquisition, use Product Hunt, Reddit, directories, founder-led outbound first. For PMF validation, small-budget Google Ads + landing page is valid. See **cold-start-strategy**, **google-ads**.

Ad Formats by Medium

Paid ads span multiple media beyond web. Choose by product type and audience.

| Medium | Format | Best for | Skill | |--------|--------|----------|-------| | **Web** | Search, Display, Social (landing page) | Websites, SaaS, e-commerce, leads | google-ads, meta-ads, linkedin-ads, reddit-ads, tiktok-ads | | **Display / Banner** | Ad networks, programmatic, banner ads | Brand awareness; retargeting; publisher sites | display-ads | | **App** | App install, in-app ads, App Store/Play Store | Mobile apps; user acquisition (UA) | app-ads | | **TV / Streaming** | CTV, OTT, linear TV | Brand awareness; streaming viewers; 95% ad completion | ctv-ads | | **Directory / Marketplace** | Taaft, Shopify App Store, G2, Capterra | High-intent directory visitors; app/software discovery | directory-listing-ads | | **Out-of-home (OOH)** | Billboards, transit, DOOH | Brand reach; unskippable; real-world exposure | — |

**Web** drives to landing pages; **Display** = banner/network on publisher sites; **App** = install or in-app; **TV/CTV** = awareness or QR/URL; **Directory** = paid placements within Taaft, Shopify App Store, G2, Capterra.

Platform Selection (Web)

| Platform | Best for | Use when | |----------|----------|----------| | **Google Ads** | High-intent search traffic | People actively search for your solution | | **Meta (FB/IG)** | Demand gen, visual products | Creating demand; strong creative assets | | **LinkedIn Ads** | B2B, decision-makers | Job title/company targeting matters; higher ACV | | **Reddit Ads** | Niche communities, discussion-driven | Audience in specific subreddits; authentic, value