A fast-growing consumer app wanted to scale paid social while driving more efficient conversions — especially app downloads and subscriptions.

Core paid social ads were performing well, but the brand was hitting a ceiling with reach and CPA efficiency. They needed a way to break through.

The Strategy

We layered in our Affiliate Content Network, a curated affiliate content approach, to complement and amplify performance on social.

Instead of just hitting users with standard ads, we introduced high-converting article formats across trusted third-party content:

  • Competitor comparisons
  • “7 Reasons” style listicles
  • Customer reviews
  • Expert breakdowns

These articles were valuable resources built to convert, and they brought in a different kind of user. Our network reached audiences that core ads missed entirely.

Results

The strategy delivered scale and improved overall efficiency:

  • Blended CPA improved 18% YoY
  • Paid social spend scaled 382%
  • SCN consistently matched or beat core ads on performance
  • Both campaigns lifted each other — a rare win-win in media mix modeling

Instead of cannibalizing results, the affiliate content brought in net-new app users and pushed the ceiling on social growth.

Want to turn paid social into a scalable, efficient growth engine?
Let’s talk about how content-layered strategies like this can amplify what’s already working.