How We Cut PPC Costs By 52% While Increasing Leads
Last quarter, we completely transformed a client's PPC performance. Here's the exact strategy we used to slash costs while doubling their lead volume.
The Starting Point
Our client was spending $12,000 monthly on Google Ads with a cost per lead of $89. Their conversion rate was stuck at 2.1%, and they were burning through budget on low-quality traffic.
Strategy 1: Negative Keyword Surgical Strike
We identified 847 negative keywords that were bleeding budget. This single change reduced wasteful spending by 34% in the first week.
Strategy 2: Intent-Based Ad Group Restructuring
We reorganized their campaigns around user intent rather than product features. High-intent keywords got separate ad groups with tailored messaging.
Strategy 3: Landing Page Temperature Matching
We created landing pages that matched the "temperature" of each keyword. Cold traffic got educational content, warm traffic got comparisons, hot traffic got direct offers.
Strategy 4: Dayparting and Geo-Optimization
Analysis showed 73% of quality leads came from specific times and locations. We concentrated budget during these peak performance windows.
Strategy 5: Smart Bidding with Custom Audiences
We implemented Google's smart bidding but fed it custom audience data from CRM and website behavior. This increased bid accuracy by 89%.
The Results
- Monthly spend reduced from $12,000 to $5,760
- Cost per lead dropped from $89 to $42
- Conversion rate increased from 2.1% to 4.8%
- Lead quality score improved by 156%
The key insight: Success comes from precision, not volume. By focusing budget on high-intent moments, we dramatically improved efficiency.