Search

Your Ads Are Burning Cash—Here’s Why (And How to Fix It)

Macy Ordoña
Mar 5, 2025
3 min read

Here’s the truth; If you’re running ads and still not making sales, you’re not “unlucky”—your strategy sucks.

It’s a hard pill to swallow, but digital ads don’t fail because “people just aren’t buying”—they fail because they were set up wrong from the start. If you’ve ever looked at your ad spend and wondered, "Where did all that money go?" this is for you.

Let’s break down the biggest ad money-wasters—and how to fix them before you drain another peso/dollar.

Guessing Instead of Using Data

72% of small business owners admit they “guess” their ad targeting instead of using real data. (Source: HubSpot)

Most brands don’t actually know who their audience is—so they blindly throw money at broad interest groups, hoping Facebook or Google will magically figure it out.

Why this is killing your budget:

If your targeting is off, your ads are reaching people who will never buy from you.
Poor targeting = low relevance score = higher cost per click (CPC) and low conversion rates.
You’re paying for curious scrollers, not ready-to-buy customers.

The Fix:

Use your own data—check your past customer behavior, Google Analytics insights, and Meta pixel data.
Run lookalike audiences based on actual customers, not random interests.
A/B test audiences and see which ones convert before scaling your budget.

The Wrong KPIs—Chasing Likes Instead of Sales

Only 22% of businesses track the right KPIs for paid ads. (Source: CXL)

Many businesses celebrate likes, shares, and comments—but none of these metrics pay the bills. If your ad got 1,000 likes but zero conversions, that’s a failed ad.

What you should track instead:

CTR (Click-Through Rate): Are people clicking, or just scrolling past?
Conversion Rate: Out of the people who clicked, how many actually bought?
ROAS (Return on Ad Spend): For every $1 spent, how much revenue did you make?

The Fix:

Stop running engagement-based campaigns if your goal is sales.
Optimize for conversions, not likes—use pixel tracking and event-based optimization.
Retarget warm audiences instead of dumping money into cold, broad targeting.

You’re Getting Clicks, But No Conversions

70% of online shoppers abandon their cart. (Source: Baymard Institute)

Ever had an ad blow up in clicks, but no one actually buys? That’s not a traffic problem—it’s a conversion problem.

Common reasons this happens:

Your landing page sucks—slow load times, confusing navigation, or no clear CTA.
Your offer isn’t compelling—people don’t see enough value to buy.
You’re attracting the wrong audience—they clicked out of curiosity, not intent.

The Fix:

Check your landing page bounce rate. If more than 70% leave instantly, something is wrong.
Make your offer irresistible—discounts, urgency, or free trials can help.
Ensure your CTA (Call-to-Action) is clear—if people have to “figure out” what to do next, they’ll leave.

Stop Boosting Posts and Praying for Sales

Boosted posts have 60% lower conversion rates than properly structured ad campaigns. (Source: WordStream)

Facebook LOVES when businesses hit the “Boost” button—because it’s basically paying for impressions, not results.

Why this is a mistake:

Boosted posts lack targeting precision—Meta decides who sees your ad.
They’re optimized for reach, not conversions—great for visibility, bad for sales.
No funnel strategy—most people seeing a boosted post aren’t ready to buy yet.

The Fix: