
Paid Media: Courting Mobile Customers
How mobile-specific strategy and tactics helped our fintech client maximize their ROI on paid search ads for mobile.
Financial services provider specializing in online bill-paying with 45 billers nationwide in the energy industry
Extending the client’s advertising presence to the devices many customers were already using
Adding mobile to the advertising mix and managing the ads with our usual attention to detail

The right fit
We determined that mobile would probably be a strong ad channel for our client because of its existing presence in their industry. According to research conducted by the Pew Charitable Trusts, by the end of 2014, one-third of U.S. adults had used a mobile device to pay a bill. By the end of 2016, 47% of Americans reported using their mobile phones for payment processing.

Starting small, then optimizing
We introduced ads using Google Calls and Bing Calls in Q2 of 2014, and both channels performed consistently well. We targeted specific geographic areas to match the client’s biller locations and eliminate wasted spend. We also added mobile-specific keywords and calls to action, and managed bids for mobile ads independently of desktop ads.

Growing conversions & revenue
The client consistently increased their investment in mobile for the next few years. In 2017, their investment grew significantly, leading to significantly greater gains. By the end of 2017, mobile ads were responsible for more than 30% of total conversions and total revenue.