Ad network support can feel like a mystery box. Sometimes it's a gift. Sometimes it's not so helpful, and at worst, it’s a heavy-handed sales pitch. Whether you're running ads on Google, Meta, Microsoft, or another platform, chances are you've encountered network reps or seen their suggestions show up in your account. These relationships can be incredibly useful, but it’s important to understand their purpose and limitations.

I’ve noticed several recent articles and posts focusing on brand marketing—highlighting its importance and the risks businesses face when they don’t invest in it (i.e. Nike’s recent sales dip). While these pieces emphasize why brand marketing matters, they don’t always mention the valuable role performance marketing plays (let alone, how). This can leave readers with the impression that it’s an either/or choice. So, I wanted to pause and break things down a bit more clearly.

We’ve all tapped “Ask App Not to Track”, and with the growing adoption of privacy-first tools, it’s no surprise that ad tracking and campaign optimization have become more complex. These changes limit how much data platforms like Meta can collect via the pixel, breaking the link between ad exposure and user actions like purchases or sign-ups. As a result, it's become harder to attribute results, build accurate audiences, and optimize campaigns. That’s where CAPI and Advantage

Running paid ads can be a great way to grow your business. But here’s something many overlook: if your website isn’t ready to convert visitors into customers, you could be wasting money. Here’s what you really need to focus on to make sure your website helps (not hurts) your paid media investment.

At Working Planet, we believe data should do more than sit in dashboards—it should drive better decisions and better business outcomes. That’s why when one of our clients mentioned their ideal customers tend to have higher net worths, we didn’t just nod and move on. We worked with their sales team to operationalize that insight. The results? Record-breaking post-marketing net profit, more qualified leads, and better return on ad spend.

Last week, our team did a deep dive into recent test results—sharing wins, misses, and insights from across our client campaigns. While...