Case Study
|

882% More Installs at 64% Lower CPI with Meta Ads

+882%

App Installs

+299

Installs per $1K

–64%

Decrease in CPI

The Challenge

Podz needed to increase installs while bringing CPI down. Early performance showed higher costs and limited volume.

The objective was steady scale with tighter cost control, without relying on short-term spikes.

The Precision Growth Framework

Our Solution

We ran a simple operating system focused on repeatable inputs.

1) Weekly testing cadence
We set a consistent rhythm for testing creative angles, hooks, formats, and placements. One primary variable per test, clear success criteria, and fast decisions.

2) Creative refresh built into the plan
We produced and rotated new creative continuously to prevent fatigue. Winners were rebuilt into variations, then re-tested and scaled.

3) Budget discipline
Spend moved toward ads and ad sets that produced installs efficiently. Underperformers were paused quickly, and learnings fed directly into the next test cycle.

4) Reporting loop that drove production
Performance data informed what we made next. This kept creative output aligned with what was converting in-market.

No items found.

Results

March 2025

‍$6,966.20 spent, 1,181 installs, $5.90 CPI

This was the baseline. The account was generating installs, but efficiency left limited room to scale. The priority was to identify which creative angles and delivery settings could lower CPI without reducing volume.

Campaign snapshot showing $6,966 spend, 1,181 installs, and a $5.90 blended CPI.

September 2025

‍$18,172.07 spent, 5,821 installs, $3.12 CPI

By September, spend had scaled and CPI fell at the same time. This was driven by a consistent testing cadence and a steady creative refresh cycle.

Winning themes were not left untouched.

They were rebuilt into variations and re-tested to extend performance. Underperformers were removed quickly so budget stayed concentrated on what produced installs efficiently.

Campaign snapshot showing $18,172 spend, 5,821 installs, and a $3.12 blended CPI.

January 2026

‍$24,721.06 spent, 11,596 installs, $2.13 CPI

By January, the campaign system was producing higher volume at a lower blended CPI.

The creative pipeline and reporting loop enabled ongoing improvements without relying on one-off spikes.

Budget allocation continued to favor proven ads and audiences, while new creative concepts were introduced to maintain momentum and avoid fatigue.

Campaign snapshot showing $24,721 spend, 11,596 installs, and a $2.13 blended CPI.

‍Performance change from March 2025 to January 2026:

  • CPI decreased 64% ($5.90 → $2.13)
  • Installs increased 882% (1,181 → 11,596)
  • Spend increased 255% ($6,966.20 → $24,721.06) while efficiency improved
  • Installs per $1,000 spent increased 177% (170 → 469)

These results show two outcomes achieved at the same time: increased delivery and improved cost efficiency.

The improvement was sustained across multiple points in time, supported by repeatable execution rather than a single short-term lift.

Our best performing creatives

‍

"These results were not luck. They came from a proven system: test, learn, iterate, repeat. Each cycle tightened performance and kept results consistent."
Rebekka Goz, Account Manager at Strataigize
Podz Family Organizer App

Conclusion

Podz performance improved because the inputs were consistent. The team ran a structured testing cadence, maintained ongoing creative iteration, and made budget decisions based on what drove installs efficiently.

Over time, this created compounding gains: stronger creative response, tighter delivery, and a lower blended CPI as scale increased.

This approach also made performance more manageable. Instead of reacting to fluctuations, the account operated with a predictable cycle: launch tests, measure results, scale what works, rebuild winners into new variants, and replace what slows down.

That system is what supported growth from 1,181 installs in March 2025 to 11,596 installs in January 2026, while reducing CPI from $5.90 to $2.13.

Want to scale acquisition without losing efficiency?‍

Strataigize builds repeatable paid growth systems using structured testing, creative iteration, and performance-led optimization.

‍Book a call with our team to map your next growth cycle.

To learn more, explore other app case studies here.

Scale with Meta Ads
‍Book a call today

Related Case Studies

AI SEO
December 10, 2025

Strataigize Marketing

Strataigize had no organic visibility and zero presence across AI search engines, but within just 30 days, a focused AI SEO initiative generated nearly 600+ AI-driven sessions, 100+ AI citations, multiple brand mentions, and even new leads attributed directly to ChatGPT and other AI search engines.
Strataigize had no organic visibility and zero presence across AI search engines, but within just 30 days, a focused AI SEO initiative generated nearly 600+ AI-driven sessions, 100+ AI citations, multiple brand mentions, and even new leads attributed directly to ChatGPT and other AI search engines.
Paid Ads
November 26, 2025

Freestyle Dance Studio

With a tiny budget of just $220 overall, a small family-run dance studio in El Salvador took on the challenge of marketing through a simple Meta campaign, but the results were anything but small: 350+ inbound WhatsApp messages, 50 free trial class bookings, 16 new monthly subscribers at about $80 each, and 25+ January appointments after classes were already full. Running at only $5/day with one video, one static, and one Instagram post, the WhatsApp-driven campaign worked so well they had to pause ads while preparing for their Christmas show.
With a tiny budget of just $220 overall, a small family-run dance studio in El Salvador took on the challenge of marketing through a simple Meta campaign, but the results were anything but small: 350+ inbound WhatsApp messages, 50 free trial class bookings, 16 new monthly subscribers at about $80 each, and 25+ January appointments after classes were already full. Running at only $5/day with one video, one static, and one Instagram post, the WhatsApp-driven campaign worked so well they had to pause ads while preparing for their Christmas show.
Paid Ads/Strategy/App User Acquisition
November 25, 2025

Pet Health App

The client initially limited targeting to English-speaking countries, which generated installs but at a higher-than-ideal cost. After shifting the strategy to optimize for in-app registrations and expanding targeting to a worldwide audience, performance improved dramatically, driving 838 registrations at $1.47 each, reducing install costs, and increasing overall user quality. With refreshed creative assets and stronger optimization signals, the campaign now outperforms industry standards, supported by positive feedback from the client, who noted the immediate improvement in both cost efficiency and user value.
The client initially limited targeting to English-speaking countries, which generated installs but at a higher-than-ideal cost. After shifting the strategy to optimize for in-app registrations and expanding targeting to a worldwide audience, performance improved dramatically, driving 838 registrations at $1.47 each, reducing install costs, and increasing overall user quality. With refreshed creative assets and stronger optimization signals, the campaign now outperforms industry standards, supported by positive feedback from the client, who noted the immediate improvement in both cost efficiency and user value.