10 LinkedIn Ads Mistakes That Waste Your Budget

Even experienced marketers make these mistakes. Avoid them and your campaigns will perform better.

Mistake 1: Targeting too broad or too narrow
Too broad and your message doesn't resonate. Too narrow and you don't get enough reach. Aim for 50,000-300,000 people.

Mistake 2: Not using Lead Gen Forms
Sending people to your website adds friction. Lead Gen Forms convert 2-3x better because they're pre-filled.

Mistake 3: Writing ads for everyone
Generic messages don't work. Write specifically for your target audience's pain points.

Mistake 4: Ignoring mobile
Most traffic is mobile. If your ad or landing page doesn't work on phones, you're losing money.

Mistake 5: Testing too many things at once
Change your headline, image, and audience all at the same time? You won't know what made the difference.

Mistake 6: Not giving campaigns time to learn
The algorithm needs 5-7 days to optimize. Killing campaigns after 2 days wastes your investment.

Mistake 7: Using stock photos that scream "stock photo"
Authentic imagery performs better. Use real people, real products, real screenshots.

Mistake 8: Writing weak calls-to-action
"Learn more" is vague. "Download the free guide" or "Book your demo" is specific and actionable.

Mistake 9: Not tracking conversions properly
If you can't measure what's working, you can't improve. Set up proper tracking from day one.

Mistake 10: Set it and forget it
Even great campaigns eventually fatigue. Review weekly. Refresh monthly. Keep optimizing.

Bonus mistakes:

Not excluding existing customers from acquisition campaigns
Running campaigns without a clear objective
Creating one ad variation (always test at least 2-3)
Ignoring the data and going with gut feeling
Not having a follow-up plan for leads

The good news? These mistakes are all fixable. Recognize them, correct them, and watch your performance improve.

Stirling helps you avoid creative mistakes by generating ad variations that follow best practices. It's like having an expert double-check your work before you launch.

Everyone makes mistakes. Smart marketers learn from them quickly.