
1."We've tried SEM few times - it's not working."
Usually, that means one of four things went wrong.
The foundations were broken. Channels amplify what’s already there. If positioning, the offer or the funnel leaks, paid traffic just makes the leak bigger.
It was a poor experiment. Spreading $2k across 5 channels in 3 weeks isn’t a tactic; it’s a lottery ticket.
The algorithm wasn’t respected. Google Ads can capture existing demand today, but only if you work with search volume, data thresholds and “learning mode” triggers, not against them.
It was judged by the wrong yardstick. A new channel can’t be compared to a mature one. Look at the trend first, then marginal vs. blended CAC, tracked by cohort and spend level.
Finaly, SEM & SEO should work together, use holdout tests to measure true incrementality, especially on branded campaigns.












