Escaping the Retainer Treadmill: Why Agencies Are Switching to a Pay Per Lead Model
Escaping the Retainer Treadmill: Why Agencies Are Switching to a Pay Per Lead Model
Written by

Rafael Hernandez
5 min read
5 min read
5 min read



In this post:
In this post:
In this post:
Section
Section
Section

Published:
Dec 20, 2025

See How My Agency Can Help You Turn Clicks Into Clients
See How My Agency Can Help You Turn Clicks Into Clients
We blend AI-driven testing with proven performance strategy to attract qualified traffic and turn it into revenue—fast, trackable, and scalable.
Facebook & Instagram Ads — reach customers where they scroll
Google Ads — capture people actively searching for you.
Website Design — turn visitors into buyers with high-converting sites
AI Automations — save hours and never miss a follow-up
Email Marketing — nurture leads and close sales on autopilot
SEO — get found by customers searching for what you sell
We blend AI-driven testing with proven performance strategy to attract qualified traffic and turn it into revenue—fast, trackable, and scalable.
Facebook & Instagram Ads — reach customers where they scroll
Google Ads — capture people actively searching for you.
Website Design — turn visitors into buyers with high-converting sites
AI Automations — save hours and never miss a follow-up
Email Marketing — nurture leads and close sales on autopilot
SEO — get found by customers searching for what you sell
Key Takeaways
Switching to a pay per lead model allows agencies to own their data and ad accounts, creating a more valuable asset for future exit strategies.
A performance based marketing agency benefits from consolidated data, allowing for faster optimization and better algorithm learning compared to fragmented client accounts.
Vertical-specific strategies, such as pay per lead marketing for mortgage or insurance, allow for streamlined operations and higher profit margins.
Automating the sales process with AI tools ensures that leads are contacted instantly, solving the critical "speed to lead" issue that plagues most retainer clients.
Switching to a pay per lead model allows agencies to own their data and ad accounts, creating a more valuable asset for future exit strategies.
A performance based marketing agency benefits from consolidated data, allowing for faster optimization and better algorithm learning compared to fragmented client accounts.
Vertical-specific strategies, such as pay per lead marketing for mortgage or insurance, allow for streamlined operations and higher profit margins.
Automating the sales process with AI tools ensures that leads are contacted instantly, solving the critical "speed to lead" issue that plagues most retainer clients.
Switching to a pay per lead model allows agencies to own their data and ad accounts, creating a more valuable asset for future exit strategies.
A performance based marketing agency benefits from consolidated data, allowing for faster optimization and better algorithm learning compared to fragmented client accounts.
Vertical-specific strategies, such as pay per lead marketing for mortgage or insurance, allow for streamlined operations and higher profit margins.
Automating the sales process with AI tools ensures that leads are contacted instantly, solving the critical "speed to lead" issue that plagues most retainer clients.
Escaping the Retainer Treadmill: Why Agencies Are Switching to a Pay Per Lead Model
The traditional agency model is broken. For decades, marketing firms have relied on monthly retainers, trading their time and effort for a fixed fee. While this provides some predictability, it often creates a "hamster wheel" where you are constantly chasing new clients to replace the ones who churn. This is the retainer treadmill, and it is exhausting. Today, forward-thinking agency owners are shifting toward a pay per lead model, a strategy that transforms a service business into a scalable asset.
By pivoting to pay per lead, you stop acting as a fractional employee for your clients and start operating as a true business partner who delivers tangible results. This shift not only stabilizes revenue but also significantly increases agency valuation by allowing you to own the data, the funnel, and the outcome.
The Problem with the Retainer Model
The retainer model feels safe, but it is fraught with hidden dangers. When you act as a traditional advertising agency in California, you typically manage separate ad accounts for every client. This fragmentation prevents you from leveraging data at scale. You are essentially renting your skills rather than building an asset.
When you sell services, you are often viewed as a commodity. Clients scrutinize your hours and question your fees if they do not see immediate ROI. In contrast, selling leads vs services changes the conversation entirely. You are no longer selling the process; you are selling the result. This aligns incentives perfectly. If you generate leads, you get paid. If you do not, you fix the system until you do.
Furthermore, running a marketing agency in Los Angeles on a retainer basis often means dealing with "bad" clients who demand endless revisions and meetings. A pay per lead approach eliminates this friction. You define the lead parameters, and if the lead meets the criteria, the transaction is complete.
Why the Pay Per Lead Model is Superior
The core advantage of pay per lead is control. Instead of logging into fifty different client ad accounts, you utilize a consolidated ad account structure. This allows you to feed data into a single master pixel data source. The algorithms used by platforms like Meta and Google thrive on volume. By aggregating data from multiple clients within the same niche, your pixel gets smarter, faster.
For example, a Facebook advertising agency focusing on a single vertical can leverage millions of data points to optimize targeting. This creates a moat around your business. A competitor starting from scratch with a new pixel cannot compete with your seasoned pixel that knows exactly who converts.
Additionally, pay per lead contracts are often simpler. They focus on volume and quality rather than hours worked. This clarity improves agency operational efficiency because your team focuses solely on hitting CPL (cost per lead) targets rather than managing client emotions.
Operational Efficiency and Scaling
To make pay per lead marketing work, you must choose your battles wisely. Generalist agencies struggle here. Success requires vertical specific marketing. You need to pick a niche where demand is high and value is clear.
High-Value Niches
Some of the most lucrative areas for this model include mortgage lead generation, life insurance lead gen niches, and personal injury marketing. In these industries, the value of a single customer is high, justifying a substantial cost per lead.
Once you have your niche, you need the right tech stack. Lead distribution software is essential for routing leads to buyers in real-time. You are no longer just running ads; you are managing a marketplace. This requires high volume media buying capabilities and a deep understanding of lead generation unit economics. You must know your numbers: what is your cost per lead calculation, and what can you sell it for?

Owning the Asset: Valuation and Exit Strategy
One of the biggest downsides of a standard advertising agency in Los Angeles is the lack of exit value. If you leave, the clients leave. However, a pay per lead agency builds intellectual property. By owning the funnel and the data, you create a transferable asset.
Investors looking at an agency exit strategy prefer businesses with proprietary assets over service-based firms. A system that generates predictable revenue through owned channels is worth a significantly higher multiple than a roster of retainer contracts that could be cancelled on thirty days' notice. This is why transitioning to a performance based marketing agency is not just an income play; it is a wealth-building play.
Automating the Follow-Up
Generating the lead is only half the battle. The other half is conversion. Many clients complain that leads are "weak" simply because they do not call them fast enough. Research from the Harvard Business Review indicates that firms that try to contact potential customers within an hour of receiving a query are nearly seven times as likely to qualify the lead. To solve this, successful pay per lead agencies are integrating ai appointment booking agents and speed to lead automation.
These systems contact the lead within seconds of submission via SMS or voice, qualifying them and booking an appointment on your client's calendar. This creates a "pay per appointment" or "pay per closed deal" tier, which commands even higher fees. By controlling the follow-up, you remove the variable of client incompetence from the equation.
Is Pay Per Lead Right for You?
Shifting to this model requires a mindset shift. You move from being a fractional employee vs business partner to a data provider. You need capital to float ad spend before you get paid, and you need the confidence to bet on your own performance.
However, for a Los Angeles ad agency looking to break through revenue plateaus, the risks are worth it. Scalable agency systems are built on products, not people. When you package your leads as a product, you can sell to an unlimited number of buyers without hiring a linear number of account managers.
If you are running Facebook ads California campaigns for clients, try testing a PPL offer. Pitch a pay per lead sales pitch to a new prospect: "I will generate 50 leads for you. You only pay for the ones that meet these criteria." It is an irresistible offer that separates confident agencies from the rest.

Escaping the Retainer Treadmill: Why Agencies Are Switching to a Pay Per Lead Model
The traditional agency model is broken. For decades, marketing firms have relied on monthly retainers, trading their time and effort for a fixed fee. While this provides some predictability, it often creates a "hamster wheel" where you are constantly chasing new clients to replace the ones who churn. This is the retainer treadmill, and it is exhausting. Today, forward-thinking agency owners are shifting toward a pay per lead model, a strategy that transforms a service business into a scalable asset.
By pivoting to pay per lead, you stop acting as a fractional employee for your clients and start operating as a true business partner who delivers tangible results. This shift not only stabilizes revenue but also significantly increases agency valuation by allowing you to own the data, the funnel, and the outcome.
The Problem with the Retainer Model
The retainer model feels safe, but it is fraught with hidden dangers. When you act as a traditional advertising agency in California, you typically manage separate ad accounts for every client. This fragmentation prevents you from leveraging data at scale. You are essentially renting your skills rather than building an asset.
When you sell services, you are often viewed as a commodity. Clients scrutinize your hours and question your fees if they do not see immediate ROI. In contrast, selling leads vs services changes the conversation entirely. You are no longer selling the process; you are selling the result. This aligns incentives perfectly. If you generate leads, you get paid. If you do not, you fix the system until you do.
Furthermore, running a marketing agency in Los Angeles on a retainer basis often means dealing with "bad" clients who demand endless revisions and meetings. A pay per lead approach eliminates this friction. You define the lead parameters, and if the lead meets the criteria, the transaction is complete.
Why the Pay Per Lead Model is Superior
The core advantage of pay per lead is control. Instead of logging into fifty different client ad accounts, you utilize a consolidated ad account structure. This allows you to feed data into a single master pixel data source. The algorithms used by platforms like Meta and Google thrive on volume. By aggregating data from multiple clients within the same niche, your pixel gets smarter, faster.
For example, a Facebook advertising agency focusing on a single vertical can leverage millions of data points to optimize targeting. This creates a moat around your business. A competitor starting from scratch with a new pixel cannot compete with your seasoned pixel that knows exactly who converts.
Additionally, pay per lead contracts are often simpler. They focus on volume and quality rather than hours worked. This clarity improves agency operational efficiency because your team focuses solely on hitting CPL (cost per lead) targets rather than managing client emotions.
Operational Efficiency and Scaling
To make pay per lead marketing work, you must choose your battles wisely. Generalist agencies struggle here. Success requires vertical specific marketing. You need to pick a niche where demand is high and value is clear.
High-Value Niches
Some of the most lucrative areas for this model include mortgage lead generation, life insurance lead gen niches, and personal injury marketing. In these industries, the value of a single customer is high, justifying a substantial cost per lead.
Once you have your niche, you need the right tech stack. Lead distribution software is essential for routing leads to buyers in real-time. You are no longer just running ads; you are managing a marketplace. This requires high volume media buying capabilities and a deep understanding of lead generation unit economics. You must know your numbers: what is your cost per lead calculation, and what can you sell it for?

Owning the Asset: Valuation and Exit Strategy
One of the biggest downsides of a standard advertising agency in Los Angeles is the lack of exit value. If you leave, the clients leave. However, a pay per lead agency builds intellectual property. By owning the funnel and the data, you create a transferable asset.
Investors looking at an agency exit strategy prefer businesses with proprietary assets over service-based firms. A system that generates predictable revenue through owned channels is worth a significantly higher multiple than a roster of retainer contracts that could be cancelled on thirty days' notice. This is why transitioning to a performance based marketing agency is not just an income play; it is a wealth-building play.
Automating the Follow-Up
Generating the lead is only half the battle. The other half is conversion. Many clients complain that leads are "weak" simply because they do not call them fast enough. Research from the Harvard Business Review indicates that firms that try to contact potential customers within an hour of receiving a query are nearly seven times as likely to qualify the lead. To solve this, successful pay per lead agencies are integrating ai appointment booking agents and speed to lead automation.
These systems contact the lead within seconds of submission via SMS or voice, qualifying them and booking an appointment on your client's calendar. This creates a "pay per appointment" or "pay per closed deal" tier, which commands even higher fees. By controlling the follow-up, you remove the variable of client incompetence from the equation.
Is Pay Per Lead Right for You?
Shifting to this model requires a mindset shift. You move from being a fractional employee vs business partner to a data provider. You need capital to float ad spend before you get paid, and you need the confidence to bet on your own performance.
However, for a Los Angeles ad agency looking to break through revenue plateaus, the risks are worth it. Scalable agency systems are built on products, not people. When you package your leads as a product, you can sell to an unlimited number of buyers without hiring a linear number of account managers.
If you are running Facebook ads California campaigns for clients, try testing a PPL offer. Pitch a pay per lead sales pitch to a new prospect: "I will generate 50 leads for you. You only pay for the ones that meet these criteria." It is an irresistible offer that separates confident agencies from the rest.

Escaping the Retainer Treadmill: Why Agencies Are Switching to a Pay Per Lead Model
The traditional agency model is broken. For decades, marketing firms have relied on monthly retainers, trading their time and effort for a fixed fee. While this provides some predictability, it often creates a "hamster wheel" where you are constantly chasing new clients to replace the ones who churn. This is the retainer treadmill, and it is exhausting. Today, forward-thinking agency owners are shifting toward a pay per lead model, a strategy that transforms a service business into a scalable asset.
By pivoting to pay per lead, you stop acting as a fractional employee for your clients and start operating as a true business partner who delivers tangible results. This shift not only stabilizes revenue but also significantly increases agency valuation by allowing you to own the data, the funnel, and the outcome.
The Problem with the Retainer Model
The retainer model feels safe, but it is fraught with hidden dangers. When you act as a traditional advertising agency in California, you typically manage separate ad accounts for every client. This fragmentation prevents you from leveraging data at scale. You are essentially renting your skills rather than building an asset.
When you sell services, you are often viewed as a commodity. Clients scrutinize your hours and question your fees if they do not see immediate ROI. In contrast, selling leads vs services changes the conversation entirely. You are no longer selling the process; you are selling the result. This aligns incentives perfectly. If you generate leads, you get paid. If you do not, you fix the system until you do.
Furthermore, running a marketing agency in Los Angeles on a retainer basis often means dealing with "bad" clients who demand endless revisions and meetings. A pay per lead approach eliminates this friction. You define the lead parameters, and if the lead meets the criteria, the transaction is complete.
Why the Pay Per Lead Model is Superior
The core advantage of pay per lead is control. Instead of logging into fifty different client ad accounts, you utilize a consolidated ad account structure. This allows you to feed data into a single master pixel data source. The algorithms used by platforms like Meta and Google thrive on volume. By aggregating data from multiple clients within the same niche, your pixel gets smarter, faster.
For example, a Facebook advertising agency focusing on a single vertical can leverage millions of data points to optimize targeting. This creates a moat around your business. A competitor starting from scratch with a new pixel cannot compete with your seasoned pixel that knows exactly who converts.
Additionally, pay per lead contracts are often simpler. They focus on volume and quality rather than hours worked. This clarity improves agency operational efficiency because your team focuses solely on hitting CPL (cost per lead) targets rather than managing client emotions.
Operational Efficiency and Scaling
To make pay per lead marketing work, you must choose your battles wisely. Generalist agencies struggle here. Success requires vertical specific marketing. You need to pick a niche where demand is high and value is clear.
High-Value Niches
Some of the most lucrative areas for this model include mortgage lead generation, life insurance lead gen niches, and personal injury marketing. In these industries, the value of a single customer is high, justifying a substantial cost per lead.
Once you have your niche, you need the right tech stack. Lead distribution software is essential for routing leads to buyers in real-time. You are no longer just running ads; you are managing a marketplace. This requires high volume media buying capabilities and a deep understanding of lead generation unit economics. You must know your numbers: what is your cost per lead calculation, and what can you sell it for?

Owning the Asset: Valuation and Exit Strategy
One of the biggest downsides of a standard advertising agency in Los Angeles is the lack of exit value. If you leave, the clients leave. However, a pay per lead agency builds intellectual property. By owning the funnel and the data, you create a transferable asset.
Investors looking at an agency exit strategy prefer businesses with proprietary assets over service-based firms. A system that generates predictable revenue through owned channels is worth a significantly higher multiple than a roster of retainer contracts that could be cancelled on thirty days' notice. This is why transitioning to a performance based marketing agency is not just an income play; it is a wealth-building play.
Automating the Follow-Up
Generating the lead is only half the battle. The other half is conversion. Many clients complain that leads are "weak" simply because they do not call them fast enough. Research from the Harvard Business Review indicates that firms that try to contact potential customers within an hour of receiving a query are nearly seven times as likely to qualify the lead. To solve this, successful pay per lead agencies are integrating ai appointment booking agents and speed to lead automation.
These systems contact the lead within seconds of submission via SMS or voice, qualifying them and booking an appointment on your client's calendar. This creates a "pay per appointment" or "pay per closed deal" tier, which commands even higher fees. By controlling the follow-up, you remove the variable of client incompetence from the equation.
Is Pay Per Lead Right for You?
Shifting to this model requires a mindset shift. You move from being a fractional employee vs business partner to a data provider. You need capital to float ad spend before you get paid, and you need the confidence to bet on your own performance.
However, for a Los Angeles ad agency looking to break through revenue plateaus, the risks are worth it. Scalable agency systems are built on products, not people. When you package your leads as a product, you can sell to an unlimited number of buyers without hiring a linear number of account managers.
If you are running Facebook ads California campaigns for clients, try testing a PPL offer. Pitch a pay per lead sales pitch to a new prospect: "I will generate 50 leads for you. You only pay for the ones that meet these criteria." It is an irresistible offer that separates confident agencies from the rest.

FAQs
What is the main benefit of a pay per lead model?
The primary benefit of a pay per lead model is scalability and asset ownership. Unlike retainer models where you rent your time, PPL allows you to own the data and the marketing funnel. This increases your agency's valuation and operational efficiency, as you are not dependent on individual client ad accounts or their internal inefficiencies.
How does a consolidated ad account structure help?
A consolidated ad account structure allows an agency to aggregate data from multiple clients into one master pixel. This provides the advertising algorithms with significantly more data points, leading to faster learning and better optimization. For a Facebook advertising agency, this data advantage is a key competitive differentiator.
Is pay per lead risky for the agency?
Yes, there is financial risk because the agency typically fronts the ad spend. However, this risk is mitigated by high margins and the ability to control the entire funnel. A performance based marketing agency must have strong confidence in its media buying capabilities to succeed, but the rewards often outweigh the initial cash flow constraints.
What niches work best for pay per lead?
High-ticket service industries work best for pay per lead marketing. Sectors like mortgage, solar, life insurance, and personal injury law have high customer lifetime values, allowing them to pay a premium for qualified leads. These verticals also tend to have consistent demand, making them ideal for long-term campaigns.
Do I need special software for pay per lead?
Yes, to manage lead flow effectively, you need lead distribution software. This technology captures leads from your landing pages and routes them to the appropriate buyer in real-time. It is crucial for tracking attribution and ensuring that your cost per lead calculation remains accurate across different buyers and campaigns.

What is the main benefit of a pay per lead model?
The primary benefit of a pay per lead model is scalability and asset ownership. Unlike retainer models where you rent your time, PPL allows you to own the data and the marketing funnel. This increases your agency's valuation and operational efficiency, as you are not dependent on individual client ad accounts or their internal inefficiencies.
How does a consolidated ad account structure help?
A consolidated ad account structure allows an agency to aggregate data from multiple clients into one master pixel. This provides the advertising algorithms with significantly more data points, leading to faster learning and better optimization. For a Facebook advertising agency, this data advantage is a key competitive differentiator.
Is pay per lead risky for the agency?
Yes, there is financial risk because the agency typically fronts the ad spend. However, this risk is mitigated by high margins and the ability to control the entire funnel. A performance based marketing agency must have strong confidence in its media buying capabilities to succeed, but the rewards often outweigh the initial cash flow constraints.
What niches work best for pay per lead?
High-ticket service industries work best for pay per lead marketing. Sectors like mortgage, solar, life insurance, and personal injury law have high customer lifetime values, allowing them to pay a premium for qualified leads. These verticals also tend to have consistent demand, making them ideal for long-term campaigns.
Do I need special software for pay per lead?
Yes, to manage lead flow effectively, you need lead distribution software. This technology captures leads from your landing pages and routes them to the appropriate buyer in real-time. It is crucial for tracking attribution and ensuring that your cost per lead calculation remains accurate across different buyers and campaigns.

Conclusion
Escaping the retainer treadmill is about taking back control. By adopting a pay per lead model, you align your agency with the true goal of marketing: growth. You build assets like consolidated ad account structure and master pixels that belong to you, not the client. You streamline operations through inbound vs outbound for agencies automation and focus on high-value niches.
Whether you are a Facebook ads in Los Angeles specialist or a generalist firm, the path to higher valuation lies in owning the result. Start small, pick a niche, and build your engine. If you found this article helpful and want to dive deeper into optimization strategies, check out our blog for more insights.


Want this done for you? Our team turns Meta & Google ads into profitable, scalable growth using AI-powered strategy. Hire us.
Author:
Rafael Hernandez
|
CEO and Co-Founder of Great Marketing AI
Published:
Dec 20, 2025


About the author
Rafael Hernandez
Rafael Hernandez is the CEO and Founder of Great Marketing AI, an agency built to fuse technical excellence with creative firepower. A UC Berkeley graduate and former Microsoft engineer, Rafael combines world-class marketing with AI-powered systems that turn clicks into clients. He leads with speed, high standards, and a commitment to meaningful results.

About the author
Rafael Hernandez
Rafael Hernandez is the CEO and Founder of Great Marketing AI, an agency built to fuse technical excellence with creative firepower. A UC Berkeley graduate and former Microsoft engineer, Rafael combines world-class marketing with AI-powered systems that turn clicks into clients. He leads with speed, high standards, and a commitment to meaningful results.
Ready to scale your brand to new heights?
If you want to achieve ground-breaking growth with increased sales and profitability with paid ads, then you're in the right place.
About Great Marketing AI
Great Marketing AI partners with forward-thinking companies and high-velocity SMBs to turn their advertising into a scalable growth engine.
We combine machine-learning precision with world-class creative execution to help brands generate predictable, repeatable revenue.
By blending data, systems, and storytelling, we transform digital campaigns from guesswork into growth — turning every dollar of ad spend into lasting momentum.
Case Studies

NP Digital: 800% Growth & 81% Cost Reduction in 5 Days
When a leading performance-marketing agency (NP Digital) discovered their own Meta ads were under-performing, they partnered with Great Marketing AI.
In just five days we rebuilt their campaigns—better targeting, scroll-stopping creative, and pixel optimization.
The result? 63 conversions (vs 7) + cost per result down from $284.77 to $52.74 + click-through rate up 71.7%.
Albert Preciado: 435% Revenue Surge • 526% Sales Growth
After relying on Instagram “boosts,” Albert’s business was stuck in visibility mode—not high-conversion mode. We stepped in with a full funnel makeover: precise Meta Ads targeting, Hyros tracking, and high-impact creative.
• $373 ,982 in revenue in 3 months = 2.89x ROAS (435% up)
• 6,228 leads (up 289%)
• 338 sales (up 526%)
• 798 qualified calls (up 375%)
• CPA down 41% to $779.71

Turning Steel into Gold” – 1,956% ROI & 20.56× ROAS
When Complex Steel Buildings, a Southern-California custom-steel-structure manufacturer, needed to scale and streamline their lead-generation process, we partnered with them to implement
• A hyper-targeted Meta Ads-based campaign
• Friction-free on-platform lead-capture
• Fully automated follow-up using GoHighLevel
The result: $12.2 K ad spend → $251 K in sales in 6 months (1,956% ROI) with 20.56× ROAS.

Nestor Gutierrez: 11× ROAS • Coaching Offer Launched in Days
With only $1,619 in ad spend, Great Marketing AI generated 105 lead-form submissions, 98 high-quality leads, and closed 9 deals for Nestor—delivering $17,768 in revenue and a Cost-Per-Sale of just $179.92.From an unlaunched offer to a predictable revenue system—built using Meta Ads + streamlined follow-up automation.

KCB Plumbing: 375% More Organic Traffic • 119% Direct Uplift in 90 Days
KCB was spending money on ads—but conversions stagnated. Great Marketing AI rebuilt their digital foundation: rewriting messaging, redesigning the site with conversion in mind, and layering AI-driven CRO best practices.• Direct traffic users up 119.23% in 90 days.
• Organic search users increased 375% in the same period.
• Engaged sessions from organic search jumped 400%; average engagement time up 114.94%.

8.16× ROAS • $14,500 Revenue from Just $1.8K Ad Spend
Faced with no consistent way to attract high-ticket coaching clients, Palomino turned to Great Marketing AI. We built a full-funnel acquisition engine — from precision Meta Ads to AI-powered content and automated lead-nurture workflows.
• 192 qualified opportunities created in the funnel.
• $1,775.70 ad spend → $14,500 in revenue.
• Cost per Sale (CPS): $887.85 — efficient for a premium coaching program.

The Kitchen Store: Website Remodel That Revamped Lead Flow
With 60 years of showroom legacy in Culver City, The Kitchen Store had solid prestige—but their website wasn’t doing it justice. Great Marketing AI stepped in and turned the digital storefront into a real conversion engine.
• Outdated site → full redesign: high-end visuals, mobile optimization, trust elements up front.
• Simplified the buyer journey: prominent CTA “Schedule a FREE Design Consultation,” easier forms, sticky navigation.
• Early wins: more form submissions, deeper engagement, improved handoff from ads to conversion.

NP Digital: 800% Growth & 81% Cost Reduction in 5 Days
When a leading performance-marketing agency (NP Digital) discovered their own Meta ads were under-performing, they partnered with Great Marketing AI.
In just five days we rebuilt their campaigns—better targeting, scroll-stopping creative, and pixel optimization.
The result? 63 conversions (vs 7) + cost per result down from $284.77 to $52.74 + click-through rate up 71.7%.
Albert Preciado: 435% Revenue Surge • 526% Sales Growth
After relying on Instagram “boosts,” Albert’s business was stuck in visibility mode—not high-conversion mode. We stepped in with a full funnel makeover: precise Meta Ads targeting, Hyros tracking, and high-impact creative.
• $373 ,982 in revenue in 3 months = 2.89x ROAS (435% up)
• 6,228 leads (up 289%)
• 338 sales (up 526%)
• 798 qualified calls (up 375%)
• CPA down 41% to $779.71

Turning Steel into Gold” – 1,956% ROI & 20.56× ROAS
When Complex Steel Buildings, a Southern-California custom-steel-structure manufacturer, needed to scale and streamline their lead-generation process, we partnered with them to implement
• A hyper-targeted Meta Ads-based campaign
• Friction-free on-platform lead-capture
• Fully automated follow-up using GoHighLevel
The result: $12.2 K ad spend → $251 K in sales in 6 months (1,956% ROI) with 20.56× ROAS.

Nestor Gutierrez: 11× ROAS • Coaching Offer Launched in Days
With only $1,619 in ad spend, Great Marketing AI generated 105 lead-form submissions, 98 high-quality leads, and closed 9 deals for Nestor—delivering $17,768 in revenue and a Cost-Per-Sale of just $179.92.From an unlaunched offer to a predictable revenue system—built using Meta Ads + streamlined follow-up automation.

KCB Plumbing: 375% More Organic Traffic • 119% Direct Uplift in 90 Days
KCB was spending money on ads—but conversions stagnated. Great Marketing AI rebuilt their digital foundation: rewriting messaging, redesigning the site with conversion in mind, and layering AI-driven CRO best practices.• Direct traffic users up 119.23% in 90 days.
• Organic search users increased 375% in the same period.
• Engaged sessions from organic search jumped 400%; average engagement time up 114.94%.

8.16× ROAS • $14,500 Revenue from Just $1.8K Ad Spend
Faced with no consistent way to attract high-ticket coaching clients, Palomino turned to Great Marketing AI. We built a full-funnel acquisition engine — from precision Meta Ads to AI-powered content and automated lead-nurture workflows.
• 192 qualified opportunities created in the funnel.
• $1,775.70 ad spend → $14,500 in revenue.
• Cost per Sale (CPS): $887.85 — efficient for a premium coaching program.

The Kitchen Store: Website Remodel That Revamped Lead Flow
With 60 years of showroom legacy in Culver City, The Kitchen Store had solid prestige—but their website wasn’t doing it justice. Great Marketing AI stepped in and turned the digital storefront into a real conversion engine.
• Outdated site → full redesign: high-end visuals, mobile optimization, trust elements up front.
• Simplified the buyer journey: prominent CTA “Schedule a FREE Design Consultation,” easier forms, sticky navigation.
• Early wins: more form submissions, deeper engagement, improved handoff from ads to conversion.

NP Digital: 800% Growth & 81% Cost Reduction in 5 Days
When a leading performance-marketing agency (NP Digital) discovered their own Meta ads were under-performing, they partnered with Great Marketing AI.
In just five days we rebuilt their campaigns—better targeting, scroll-stopping creative, and pixel optimization.
The result? 63 conversions (vs 7) + cost per result down from $284.77 to $52.74 + click-through rate up 71.7%.
Albert Preciado: 435% Revenue Surge • 526% Sales Growth
After relying on Instagram “boosts,” Albert’s business was stuck in visibility mode—not high-conversion mode. We stepped in with a full funnel makeover: precise Meta Ads targeting, Hyros tracking, and high-impact creative.
• $373 ,982 in revenue in 3 months = 2.89x ROAS (435% up)
• 6,228 leads (up 289%)
• 338 sales (up 526%)
• 798 qualified calls (up 375%)
• CPA down 41% to $779.71

Turning Steel into Gold” – 1,956% ROI & 20.56× ROAS
When Complex Steel Buildings, a Southern-California custom-steel-structure manufacturer, needed to scale and streamline their lead-generation process, we partnered with them to implement
• A hyper-targeted Meta Ads-based campaign
• Friction-free on-platform lead-capture
• Fully automated follow-up using GoHighLevel
The result: $12.2 K ad spend → $251 K in sales in 6 months (1,956% ROI) with 20.56× ROAS.

Nestor Gutierrez: 11× ROAS • Coaching Offer Launched in Days
With only $1,619 in ad spend, Great Marketing AI generated 105 lead-form submissions, 98 high-quality leads, and closed 9 deals for Nestor—delivering $17,768 in revenue and a Cost-Per-Sale of just $179.92.From an unlaunched offer to a predictable revenue system—built using Meta Ads + streamlined follow-up automation.

KCB Plumbing: 375% More Organic Traffic • 119% Direct Uplift in 90 Days
KCB was spending money on ads—but conversions stagnated. Great Marketing AI rebuilt their digital foundation: rewriting messaging, redesigning the site with conversion in mind, and layering AI-driven CRO best practices.• Direct traffic users up 119.23% in 90 days.
• Organic search users increased 375% in the same period.
• Engaged sessions from organic search jumped 400%; average engagement time up 114.94%.

8.16× ROAS • $14,500 Revenue from Just $1.8K Ad Spend
Faced with no consistent way to attract high-ticket coaching clients, Palomino turned to Great Marketing AI. We built a full-funnel acquisition engine — from precision Meta Ads to AI-powered content and automated lead-nurture workflows.
• 192 qualified opportunities created in the funnel.
• $1,775.70 ad spend → $14,500 in revenue.
• Cost per Sale (CPS): $887.85 — efficient for a premium coaching program.

The Kitchen Store: Website Remodel That Revamped Lead Flow
With 60 years of showroom legacy in Culver City, The Kitchen Store had solid prestige—but their website wasn’t doing it justice. Great Marketing AI stepped in and turned the digital storefront into a real conversion engine.
• Outdated site → full redesign: high-end visuals, mobile optimization, trust elements up front.
• Simplified the buyer journey: prominent CTA “Schedule a FREE Design Consultation,” easier forms, sticky navigation.
• Early wins: more form submissions, deeper engagement, improved handoff from ads to conversion.

NP Digital: 800% Growth & 81% Cost Reduction in 5 Days
When a leading performance-marketing agency (NP Digital) discovered their own Meta ads were under-performing, they partnered with Great Marketing AI.
In just five days we rebuilt their campaigns—better targeting, scroll-stopping creative, and pixel optimization.
The result? 63 conversions (vs 7) + cost per result down from $284.77 to $52.74 + click-through rate up 71.7%.
Albert Preciado: 435% Revenue Surge • 526% Sales Growth
After relying on Instagram “boosts,” Albert’s business was stuck in visibility mode—not high-conversion mode. We stepped in with a full funnel makeover: precise Meta Ads targeting, Hyros tracking, and high-impact creative.
• $373 ,982 in revenue in 3 months = 2.89x ROAS (435% up)
• 6,228 leads (up 289%)
• 338 sales (up 526%)
• 798 qualified calls (up 375%)
• CPA down 41% to $779.71

Turning Steel into Gold” – 1,956% ROI & 20.56× ROAS
When Complex Steel Buildings, a Southern-California custom-steel-structure manufacturer, needed to scale and streamline their lead-generation process, we partnered with them to implement
• A hyper-targeted Meta Ads-based campaign
• Friction-free on-platform lead-capture
• Fully automated follow-up using GoHighLevel
The result: $12.2 K ad spend → $251 K in sales in 6 months (1,956% ROI) with 20.56× ROAS.

Nestor Gutierrez: 11× ROAS • Coaching Offer Launched in Days
With only $1,619 in ad spend, Great Marketing AI generated 105 lead-form submissions, 98 high-quality leads, and closed 9 deals for Nestor—delivering $17,768 in revenue and a Cost-Per-Sale of just $179.92.From an unlaunched offer to a predictable revenue system—built using Meta Ads + streamlined follow-up automation.

KCB Plumbing: 375% More Organic Traffic • 119% Direct Uplift in 90 Days
KCB was spending money on ads—but conversions stagnated. Great Marketing AI rebuilt their digital foundation: rewriting messaging, redesigning the site with conversion in mind, and layering AI-driven CRO best practices.• Direct traffic users up 119.23% in 90 days.
• Organic search users increased 375% in the same period.
• Engaged sessions from organic search jumped 400%; average engagement time up 114.94%.

8.16× ROAS • $14,500 Revenue from Just $1.8K Ad Spend
Faced with no consistent way to attract high-ticket coaching clients, Palomino turned to Great Marketing AI. We built a full-funnel acquisition engine — from precision Meta Ads to AI-powered content and automated lead-nurture workflows.
• 192 qualified opportunities created in the funnel.
• $1,775.70 ad spend → $14,500 in revenue.
• Cost per Sale (CPS): $887.85 — efficient for a premium coaching program.

The Kitchen Store: Website Remodel That Revamped Lead Flow
With 60 years of showroom legacy in Culver City, The Kitchen Store had solid prestige—but their website wasn’t doing it justice. Great Marketing AI stepped in and turned the digital storefront into a real conversion engine.
• Outdated site → full redesign: high-end visuals, mobile optimization, trust elements up front.
• Simplified the buyer journey: prominent CTA “Schedule a FREE Design Consultation,” easier forms, sticky navigation.
• Early wins: more form submissions, deeper engagement, improved handoff from ads to conversion.

About Rafael Hernandez
Rafael Hernandez is the CEO and Founder of Great Marketing AI, an agency built to fuse technical excellence with creative firepower.
A UC Berkeley graduate and former Microsoft engineer, Rafael combines world-class marketing with AI-powered systems that turn clicks into clients.
He leads with speed, high standards, and a commitment to meaningful results.


How Can We Help You?
Our Clients
Trusted by 100+ happy customers worldwide
















Learn more about Great Marketing AI →
FAQ
Have any questions?
Your burning questions, answered swiftly and succinctly.
Hire Us
FAQ
Have any questions?
Your burning questions, answered swiftly and succinctly.
Hire Us
FAQ
Have any questions?
Your burning questions, answered swiftly and succinctly.