Running online ads can be one of the fastest ways to grow your business — but if you’re not careful, it can also be one of the fastest ways to waste money.
At Online Daddy Digital, we’ve seen businesses spend thousands of naira on ads that never bring results — not because their products are bad, but because their ad strategy is broken.
Here are 5 common mistakes you might be making (and how to fix them):
1. Boosting Posts Instead of Running Proper Campaigns
If you’ve ever hit the “Boost Post” button, you’re not alone. It’s the easiest way to promote content — but also the least effective.
Boosting gives you limited control over your audience, objective, and budget.
How to Fix it:
Use Meta Ads Manager or Google Ads Dashboard instead. These tools let you set clear goals — like traffic, leads, or sales — and target your ideal audience more precisely.
2. Targeting Everyone
Another unserious way is to target everyone without thinking about how it affects the ad or the business. It’s okay to target “everyone” when you are running a page like or follow campaign, but it isn’t right for any other objective. When your ad is for everyone, it’s for no one.
Many businesses fail because they target too broadly — wasting money on people who will never buy.
How to Fix it:
Define your ideal customer persona. Narrow your audience by interests, behaviors, and demographics that align with the people most likely to take action.
3. Ignoring Data and Analytics
You can NEVER go wrong with data. In my honest opinion, this is another way mortals can feel divine. All I’m saying is that you can’t improve what you don’t measure, and this is too common with brands as many brands run ads blindly and never check their performance data.
How to Fix it:
Track key metrics like CTR (click-through rate), CPC (cost per click), and conversions.
Install Meta Pixel or Google Tag Manager to measure what really matters — not just impressions, but actions.
Data Analytics will give you more wings than Redbull
4. Poor Ad Creatives and Copy
It is worth noting that a Paid ad professional is not a magician. If all ad settings have been put in place but there are no good visuals (Video or Image), the ad WILL NOT perform well. Therefore it is important to get good visuals ready for your Ads.
Your visuals and words are your first impression.
A blurry image, too much text, or a boring headline can kill your ad before it even starts.
How to Fix it:
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- Use high-quality visuals that reflect your brand.
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- Write short, emotional headlines.
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- End every ad with a clear call-to-action (e.g., Shop Now, Sign Up, or Learn More).
5. No Retargeting Strategy
Human behaviors are very dynamic, and it is worth noting that not everyone who sees an ad the first time will buy. Despite the presence of Data analytics, human behaviors can be very unpredictable – Though data analysis helps very significantly with this.
Most people won’t buy the first time they see your ad — and that’s perfectly normal. But if you’re not retargeting them, you’re leaving money on the table.
How to Fix it:
Set up a retargeting campaign for people who’ve visited your website, added items to cart, or engaged with your posts.
These warm audiences are much more likely to convert.
Running ads that convert isn’t about luck — it’s about strategy, testing, and optimization.
ODD
At Online Daddy Digital, we help brands create ad campaigns that deliver real results — not just clicks. Whether you’re new to online ads or want to improve your ROI, our team is here to help you make smarter marketing decisions.
