Scaling Sign-Ups and User Acquisition

for Call of Duty x Intel Gaming Campaign

Gaming Case Study Intro:

The collaboration between Call of Duty and Intel for a PC gaming processor launch presented a unique opportunity to drive user engagement and database growth through a high-impact sweepstakes campaign. The goal was clear: increase relevant sign-ups by 30% while maximizing quality traffic and user acquisition. Leveraging historical campaign data, advanced media strategies, and competitive insights, we exceeded expectations, delivering an 80%+ lift in sign-ups, tripling traffic volume, and driving a 68% increase in user acquisition (UA).

Challenges

Targeting Inefficiencies:

Previous campaigns struggled with audience segmentation, leading to wasted ad spend on non-relevant users.

Attribution & Optimization:

Difficulty in predicting which media channels and bidding models would yield the highest ROI.

Creative Stagnation:

Prior campaigns relied on static ad formats with limited optimization based on performance data.

Budget Allocation:

Suboptimal budget distribution across platforms led to inconsistent engagement and CPA fluctuations.

Solution: Data-Driven Media Strategy

To overcome these challenges, a multi-pronged approach was executed:

#1: Audience Segmentation Overhaul

Predictive Attribution Modeling:

Leveraged AI-driven analytics to identify high-converting audience subsets.

Behavioral Targeting:

Focused on gamers actively engaging with Call of Duty content across platforms.

Created micro-segments based on past

Lookalike Expansion: campaign converters to refine targeting.

Bidding & Budget Optimization

Predictive Bidding:

Applied machine-learning bid adjustments based on real-time intent signals.

Dynamic Budget Shifting:

Shifted spend towards high-performing geos and time slots, reducing CPA by 35%.

Competitive Creative Testing

A/B Testing Variants:

Launched multiple ad variations (video, carousel, interactive formats) to determine optimal engagement drivers.

Gamified Messaging:

Introduced interactive CTAs encouraging participation with Call of Duty-themed incentives.

Strategy Comparison: Why Strategy A Outperformed Strategy B

The new strategy significantly outperformed the old by prioritizing audience refinement, real-time budget optimization, and interactive creative elements.

Strategy A

Old Approach (Generic Audience, Static Ads)

+20%Sign-Ups Growth

65% RelevantTraffic Quality

+30% UAUser Acquisition Impact

Strategy B

New Approach (Segmented Audiences, Dynamic Ads, Predictive Bidding)

+80%Sign-Ups Growth

90% RelevantTraffic Quality

+68% UAUser Acquisition Impact

Results & Impact

The campaign delivered breakthrough performance across key metrics:

Sign-Ups: Targeted 30% growth → Achieved 80%+ increase

Traffic Volume: More than tripled, with 90%+ relevance

User Acquisition: Surged 68%

Cost Efficiency: Reduced CPA by 35% through smart budget allocation

Industry Insights

Personalized Audience Targeting Drives Conversion:

The success of this campaign reinforces the importance of precise audience segmentation and predictive attribution modeling.

Interactive & Dynamic Ad Formats Improve Engagement:

Gamified creatives saw 2x engagement rates compared to static ads.

Agile Budget Allocation Boosts ROI:

Real-time bid adjustments based on audience intent led to significant cost savings and efficiency.

Industry Trends & Market Relevance

AI-Driven Advertising:

Predictive bidding and AI-powered audience insights are shaping the future of paid media.

Privacy-First Targeting:

The rise of first-party data strategies is making contextual and behavioral targeting more critical.

Gamification in Marketing:

Brands leveraging interactive and immersive ad experiences are seeing significantly higher engagement and conversion rates.

Scalability Assessment:

Expanding Success to Global Markets

Geo-Specific Customization:

Future expansions should tailor creatives to regional gaming cultures.

Multi-Platform Integration:

Extending this strategy across Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Discord communities can further enhance reach.

Localization Strategy:

Translating and adapting messaging can sustain engagement across non-English-speaking markets.

Lessons Learned

Deep Data Analysis Enhances Targeting:

Historical insights should guide segmentation for optimal efficiency.

Real-Time Optimization Wins:

Dynamic budget adjustments proved essential in maximizing ROI.

Engaging Ad Formats Drive Higher Conversions:

Interactive elements significantly lifted campaign performance.

Next Steps & Recommendations:

Implement Always-On Retargeting:

Nurture high-intent users with personalized follow-up ads.

Leverage First-Party Data:

Strengthen direct user relationships to navigate data privacy changes.

Expand Gamification Strategies:

Continue testing interactive ad formats for higher engagement.

Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways:

This campaign exemplifies how strategic audience segmentation, real-time bidding, and engaging creative formats can significantly elevate paid media performance. By leveraging data-driven insights and agile optimizations, we not only met but far exceeded campaign objectives. The success of this initiative highlights the importance of adaptability in paid media strategies, as well as the increasing relevance of gamification and AI-driven targeting. Businesses seeking to maximize audience engagement and campaign efficiency can apply these insights to refine their own digital marketing strategies.

Key Takeaways:

Data-Driven Targeting is Essential: AI-powered segmentation and predictive modeling drastically improve conversion rates.

Gamified and Interactive Ads Perform Better: Engaging ad formats lead to significantly higher participation and brand recall.

Budget Flexibility Enhances Performance: Dynamic budget shifts based on real-time performance data can maximize cost efficiency.

Retargeting Drives Sustained Engagement: Always-on retargeting helps nurture leads and increase conversions over time.

Personalization is the Future of Paid Media: Highly tailored messaging improves ad relevance and audience response.

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