From an overview of our November performance metrics, to creative trends shaping the landscape of Meta marketing, the following snapshot speaks to a month of innovation and growth in the world of paid social advertising.
In November, paid social performance presented a mixed bag of challenges and opportunities.
- Rising CPMs: These skyrocketed from $8.50 in October to $19 by late November, significantly increasing advertising costs.
- Falling CPCs: Despite the CPM spike, CPC dropped to a low of $0.85. This suggests that engagement with ads improved throughout the month, likely due to more targeted campaigns or seasonal shopping behaviour.
- Spending and Revenue Trends: November ad spend rose 22% MoM, and 15% YoY. Despite this increased investment, revenue saw a 40% MoM boost. However, a slight YoY decrease of 1.6% indicates that overall market competition and/or consumer behaviour shifts continue to impact yearly gains.
For advertisers, these insights underscore the importance of adapting to rising CPMs by capitalising on low CPCs with precise targeting, high-converting creative, and strategic budgeting focused on industries showing resilience.
For help maximising your Paid Ads performance, contact your strategist or email us at hello@ph.digital.
Global Paid Social Landscape
During November, several paid social platforms emerged as particularly effective channels for engaging consumers and driving sales:
- Meta’s Advantage+ campaigns helped streamline ad placements and increase ROAS by 3.3x, while Reels saw a 61% increase in ad performance.
- YouTube excelled in showcasing products through video, with 70% of consumers purchasing products after seeing YouTube ads.
- TikTok's ad formats, which integrate seamlessly with user-generated content, drove engagement and conversion by emphasising authenticity and trends.
Recommendations for December and January
Maximise December Sales: With more than 40% of holiday shoppers continuing to purchase after Christmas, focus on campaigns highlighting last-minute availability, gift cards, and post-Christmas deals. Lower competition and CPMs post-holiday make this period a cost-effective opportunity to extend sales.
Leverage Video Content: Reels remain high-performing ad formats. Use short, engaging videos to showcase products, particularly for categories like fashion, beauty, and tech.
Plan for January Sales: January represents another key period for consumer spending, particularly as shoppers redeem gift cards or seek deals during post-holiday promotions. Use data from November and December to retarget engaged audiences with personalised offers.
By staying agile and focusing on tailored, data-driven strategies, retailers can capitalise on the unique dynamics of the holiday and post-holiday shopping periods.
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