Even the best marketing strategies can be haunted by underperforming ads, ghosted leads, or content that leaves you in the audience graveyard. October is the perfect time to shine a light on what’s lurking in your campaigns and make sure nothing is cursing your results. This month we’re sharing tips to identify and fix the scary mistakes in paid digital, email, content, and customer acquisition so you can turn marketing tricks into revenue treats.
IT’S TIME TO BANISH UNDERPERFORMING ADS
Don’t let your ad spend turn into a graveyard of wasted impressions. As experts, we understand the importance of monitoring active campaigns for any zombie ads that aren’t performing. Some things we do to avoid doomed campaigns:
- Spot the ghosts: Regularly audit campaigns for high CPCs, low CTRs, or poor conversion rates to optimize for success.
- Revive results: Test new creatives, refresh ad copy, and tighten audience targeting to avoid slumps in results.
- Banish the dead weight: Pause underperforming placements and shift budget toward proven winners.
Tip: Advertisers who A/B test creative monthly see up to 30% higher ROI on paid campaigns. Allotting additional budget for A/B testing, particularly in the beginning of any campaign, can help expedite success.
CAST A SPELL WITH STRONGER EMAIL SUBJECT LINES
Want to hear a scary truth? Over 60% of emails never get opened. Don’t let yours get buried in inboxes unseen. Here are some tips to help create hauntingly memorable email subject lines:
- Add seasonal flair: Timely, relevant references to holidays can help catch your audience’s attention. Use puns or urgency-based language (e.g. “Don’t ghost this offer!”).
- Keep it human: Personalization still beats trickery–use names, segments, and smart timing.
- Beware of spam traps: Too many emojis or all caps can send your emails straight to the crypt (aka junk folder).
Try this: A/B test subject lines with small list segments first. Then send the winning version to your full audience or use those learnings for future email campaigns.
AVOID THESE HAUNTING CONTENT MISTAKES
One of the scariest changes in digital marketing this year? How AI is reshaping content visibility. With Google’s AI Overviews and tools like ChatGPT summarizing search results, fewer users are clicking through to actual pages. If your content isn’t written with AI in mind, it could vanish into the shadows.
To stay visible, focus on clarity, structure, and authority. Use concise headings, bullet points, and schema markup so AI models can easily understand and surface your information. Prioritize original insights, expertise, and human perspective–all things AI can’t replicate or summarize easily.
Bottom line: Don’t let your content get ghosted by the algorithms. Write for humans first, but optimize for the machines that are now deciding who gets seen.
CALL UPON THE GHOSTED LEADS
Not all cold leads are gone for good. Reawaken interest with:
- Re-engagement campaigns offering new insights, tools, or resources (not just discounts).
- Dynamic retargeting that shows relevant content based on past behavior.
- Human follow-up with a quick, personalized message can do more than a dozen automated emails.
Fun fact: Re-engaging lapsed leads can cost up to 5x less than acquiring new ones.
A Message From Steve Lendino, CEO at YPM
When it comes to digital marketing, even the best campaigns can get haunted by underperforming ads, ghosted leads, or strategies that just won’t come back to life. That’s where YPM steps in. Think of us as your digital Ghostbusters, tracking down what’s haunting your performance and clearing the way for stronger results.
We don’t shy away from data or the unknown, we actually run toward it. By uncovering insights, optimizing campaigns, and keeping a pulse on emerging trends (like AI-driven search), we help your business stay fearless in a fast-changing digital world.
So this October, if your marketing feels a little spooky, don’t panic. Call in the team that knows how to turn fright into fuel and keep your brand’s story alive and thriving.
