I’ve been messing around with different ad setups in iGaming networks for a while now, and one thing that constantly trips me up is figuring out how to get better results without spending more. Honestly, it feels like a bit of trial and error, especially when you’re trying to balance click-through rates (CTR) and customer acquisition costs (CAC).

At first, I didn’t even know where to start. Like many people, I would throw campaigns out there, hope for the best, and then get frustrated when the numbers didn’t match up. My CTR was mediocre, and the CAC kept creeping higher. It was confusing because some campaigns seemed like they should have performed well on paper, but in reality, the results were underwhelming.

One thing I realized after some digging is that targeting makes a massive difference. I used to rely mostly on basic geo-targeting and general interest categories. It worked okay, but I wasn’t seeing the kind of ROI that made it worth the time. So I started experimenting with more refined targeting strategies. I looked at things like device type, time of day, user behavior patterns, and even platform-specific engagement trends.

What really clicked for me was noticing patterns in the data that weren’t obvious at first glance. For example, certain types of players responded better to specific creative formats or messaging styles, and they converted faster. When I started narrowing my audience based on these patterns, my CTR started to creep up, and CAC started dropping. It felt like I was finally speaking the right language to the right people, rather than shouting at everyone and hoping someone listened.

Another tip that helped was testing smaller audience segments before going all-in. Instead of targeting huge groups and wasting money, I would try micro-segments and see how they performed. It wasn’t a huge overhaul—just small tweaks to targeting parameters—but the effect was noticeable. I felt like I was fine-tuning my campaigns rather than blindly guessing.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect overnight. There were campaigns that looked promising but didn’t convert the way I thought they would. But tracking everything carefully and making adjustments based on real performance instead of assumptions made a huge difference. Also, I found it helpful to take some cues from guides and resources online. One that actually gave me some useful pointers on targeting strategies is this guide to improve CTR with better iGaming targeting. It’s not a magic fix, but it helped me frame my approach more clearly.

Looking back, the main thing I learned is that improving CTR and reducing CAC isn’t about big flashy changes—it’s about understanding your audience better and making small, thoughtful adjustments. Even minor tweaks to targeting can have a ripple effect on how your campaigns perform. And while it takes some patience and testing, once you start seeing patterns, it becomes way easier to predict what works.

If you’re struggling like I was, I’d suggest starting with the data you already have. Look at what types of users clicked, which ones converted, and how your creatives performed. Then, try adjusting targeting around those insights instead of going broad. It might feel slow at first, but over time, it really pays off.

At the end of the day, this kind of trial-and-error learning is part of running campaigns in an iGaming ad network. You won’t get it perfect the first time, but taking a curious, experimental approach—and paying attention to the small details—can make a bigger difference than you might expect.