How a Simple Creative Pivot Cut Cost per Engaged Session ~37% in One Month

We hit a classic plateau: scale was fine, efficiency wasn’t. A simple creative pivot—replacing static image ads with influencer-led UGC—drove a ~37% drop in cost per engaged session (C/PES) month-over-month, while holding traffic volume steady.

The Hypothesis: People Prefer People

Static images inform; people persuade.
Creator-led videos with benefit-driven messaging, social proof, and a next-step CTA are more likely to:

1. Win the scroll

2. Build trust faster

3. Drive deeper site behavior that fuels retargeting

3 Tactical Shifts That Cut C/PES ~37%

1. Creative Mix → Influencer-First

• Shifted the majority of spend from branded statics to UGC

• Prioritized 1–2 second hooks and on-screen captions

• Kept a rotating promo-forward variant in every flight (e.g., “VIP Welcome”, “Free Shipping”)

2. Optimization Event → Deeper Engagement

• Moved away from basic landing-page views

• Optimized toward scroll depth, product search, and time on page

• Rewarded high-quality sessions vs. quick bounces

3. Retargeting → Proof + Offer

• Retargeted warm visitors with catalog/PDP-style creatives

• Used trust-based headlines, UGC quotes, and limited-time offers

The Result: 3× Efficiency, 37% Lower C/PES

Influencer UGC traffic consistently outperformed branded static images:

• ~3× better efficiency in driving engaged sessions

• Overall C/PES dropped ~37% MoM

• Volume remained stable—no artificial discounting needed

Quick Takeaways You Can Apply

• Audit by C/PES, not CTR—most statics won’t hold up

• Reallocate ≥60% of prospecting budget to creators for 14 days

• Optimize beyond clicks—reward real engagement

• Retarget with proof and purpose—not just frequency