How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Ad Spend

Optimization isn't about spending more. It's about spending smarter. Here's how.

Audit your current spending:

Which campaigns drive the most leads?
Which leads become customers?
What's your cost per acquisition by campaign?
Where are you wasting money?

Cut losers quickly:

If a campaign underperforms for 2 weeks, pause it
Don't throw good money after bad
Reallocate budget to winners
Test new ideas with small budgets first

Bid strategy optimization:

Start with automated bidding
Once you have data, consider manual bidding for control
Adjust bids by audience segment performance
Don't overbid for vanity metrics

Audience refinement:

Exclude non-converters after 2-3 exposures
Add positive attributes from best leads
Remove audience segments with high CPA
Expand winning segments

Schedule optimization:

Analyze when leads convert best
Adjust ad delivery to high-performance times
Pause during low-performing hours
Consider day-parting for B2B (weekdays only)

Geographic optimization:

Review performance by location
Increase bids in high-converting regions
Pause underperforming locations
Test new markets with small budget

Creative optimization:

Rotate creatives to prevent fatigue
Kill underperformers quickly
Double down on winners
Refresh monthly

Offer optimization:

Test different lead magnets
Try various price points or trial lengths
Experiment with urgency vs. value
Match offer to funnel stage

Landing page optimization:

Run A/B tests on key elements
Remove friction points
Improve load speed
Simplify forms

Budget reallocation:

Move money from awareness to conversion campaigns if ROI is there
Invest more in retargeting (typically highest ROI)
Fund new tests with 10-20% of budget
Scale winners gradually

Daily optimization checklist:

Check campaigns haven't stopped
Review yesterday's performance
Adjust bids if needed
Pause clear underperformers

Weekly optimization tasks:

Deep dive into metrics
Analyze by audience segment
Review creative performance
Plan next tests

Monthly optimization review:

Calculate true ROI by campaign
Audit overall account health
Refresh fatigued creatives
Plan next month's strategy

Stirling helps optimization by making it easy to test new creative quickly. When you find winning audiences, generate fresh ad variations to keep performance high.

Optimization never ends. The campaigns you set and forget are the ones that waste money. Stay active, stay curious, and your costs will drop while results improve.