Case Study: Top Converting VPN Offers 2021

With the world now more “digitally induced” than ever, it’s safe to say that VPN offers are and will remain a top converting vertical in the coming months. According to the VPN Adoption Index, overall VPN downloads reached 277 million back in 2020, and the sector is likely to grow by another 27% as we move through 2021.

So, in a bid to carve out awesome returns on VPN traffic, we’re going to compare and contrast two recently run offers (for ExpressVPN and NordVPN). We’ll shed light on 4x different campaign setups, the optimization tactics that make them effective, and the profit margins on each. 

So, let’s get straight into it, starting with…

ExpressVPN Campaign #1: (Pop-Under)

So, campaign #1 digs into Adcash supply Pop-Under. The campaign brings in higher traffic using CPA Target Bidding along with some other cool platform features.

Campaign setup overview:

Offer Type:	VPN
Offer:	Express VPN (Netflix design landing page).
Targeting Region:	UK
Ad Format:	Pop-Under (landing page)
OS:	Desktop
Bid Type:	CPA Target Bidding (with a $30 CPA goal)
Website thematic targeting	Arts & Entertainment related websites only

The creatives go to a landing page that uses NETFLIX as an overriding selling point. The visuals entice audiences to make the most of the lockdown with an endless online entertainment library. 

Why does Pop-Under deliver strong traction?✏️

An ultra-effective way to bring in higher campaign click-throughs. These ads appear in a new tab behind the active browser, keeping disturbance to a minimum. With a quick and visually appealing display, they stay top of mind. Not sold? Here are 5 Reasons Why Pop-Unders are so Effective.

ExpressVPN Campaign 1 Results

Note: The information below is based on a series of statistics with no manual optimization. Ie. CPA Target Bidding was used from the start of the campaign to the end.

Campaign Period:	January 1 to May 31, 2021
Overall Impressions:	3 659 847
Overall Sales:	150
Conversion Rate:	0.004%
Total Spend:	$974.24
Total Cost Per Conversion:	$6.49 (78.37% cheaper than the initial $30 target)
Total Revenue Earned	$4 500
Total Profit Generated:	$3 525.76
Return on Investment (ROI):	361.89%

 

Tell Me About CPA Target Bidding!

This groundbreaking feature automatically optimizes your campaign’s traffic and performance metrics while maximizing your conversions. 

As an advertiser, you’ll set your original CPA target for the campaign you’re setting up. From there, the Target Bidding feature will automatically test your campaign on Adcash supply to secure a lower cost (CPA) than what you’ve set as your campaign CPA Target.

This is done through a series of machine learning algorithms that can identify the best bid for each impression by adjusting to traffic performance changes/fluctuations on the fly. This all happens in the blink of an eye and takes out the guesswork in exchange for top automation. 

Express Campaign #2: (Interstitial Ads)

Campaign setup overview:

Offer Type:	VPN
Offer:	ExpressVPN (geared to Netflix subscriptions).
Targeting Region:	UK
Ad Format:	Interstitial
OS:	Desktop
Bid:	CPA Target Bidding (with a $30 CPA goal)
Website thematic targeting:	Arts and Entertainment Websites (only)

Okay, so same offer. Same targets and the same bid point, but with a bit of Interstitial Ingenuity thrown in for good measure. But why Interstitial Ads? Why do we like them, and why should you care? 

Interstitial Ads 101 ✏️

Known for their broad reach and fixed delay in exit times, Interstitials get your ad higher visibility than other traditional formats. The visuals are eye-catching and draw attention half the time. Find out why Interstitials are the Ultimate Cure for Banner Blindness. 

ExpressVPN Campaign 2 Results

Note: The information below is based on a series of statistics with no manual optimization. Ie. CPA Target Bidding was utilized from the start of the campaign to the end. 

Campaign Period:	January 1 to May 31, 2021
Overall Impressions:	673 289
Overall Sales:	34
Conversion Rate:	1.35%
Total Spend:	$426. 60
Total Cost Per Conversion:	$12. 54 (58.20% cheaper than the initial $30 target)
Total Revenue Earned:	$1 020
Total Profit Generated:	$593.40
Return on Investment (ROI)	139.09%

With Express VPN concluded, we’ll tackle a similar campaign setup with NordVPN.

NordVPN Campaign #1: (Pop-Under)

Let’s compare the same campaign setups geared to Pop-Under and CPA Target Bidding to see which VPN providers carry better traction in the consumer’s mind.

Campaign setup overview:

Offer Type:	VPN
Offer:	NordVPN (standard design landing page).
Targeting Region:	UK
Ad Format:	Pop-Under (landing page)
OS:	Desktop
Bid Type:	CPA Target Bidding (with a $45 CPA goal)
Website thematic targeting:	Arts & Entertainment related websites only

Vibrant, eye-catching, and to the point, campaign #1  uses a special “65% discount” as the main selling point, and a countdown window to the offer ends. Both are great tactics to drive urgency and conversion potential. 

NordVPN Campaign 1 Results

Note: The information below is based on a series of statistics without manual optimization. Ie. CPA Target Bidding was utilized from the start of the campaign to the end. 

Campaign Period:	January 1 to May 31, 2021
Overall Impressions:	5 987 463
Overall Sales:	214
Conversion Rate:	0.003%
Total Spend:	$1 356.32
Total Cost Per Conversion:	$6.33 (93.94% cheaper than the initial $45 target)
Total Revenue Earned:	$9 630
Total Profit Generated:	$8 273.68
Return on Investment (ROI):	610.01%

 

NordVPN Campaign #2: (Interstitial Ads)

Moving into Interstitial once more, this campaign utilizes the CPA Target Bidding Feature and the same tracking features as the case for ExpressVPN.

Campaign setup overview:

Offer Type:	VPN
Offer:	NordVPN (standard design landing page).
Targeting Region:	UK
Ad Format:	Interstitial
OS:	Desktop
Bid Type:	CPA Target Bidding (with a $45 CPA goal)
Website thematic targeting:	Arts & Entertainment related websites only

Highlighting the “2-year deal” on the banner itself entrenches the notion of a stronger value. With an added color scheme that drives action and potential purchase, the above can be a viciously effective combination. 

NordVPN Campaign 2 Results

Note: The information below is based on a series of statistics with no manual optimization. Ie. CPA Target Bidding was utilized from the start of the campaign to the end.

Campaign Period:	January 1 to May 31, 2021
Overall Impressions:	1 432 567
Unique Clicks:	8 796
Overall Sales:	145
Click-through Rate (CTR)	0.61%
Conversion Rate:	0.76%
Total Spend:	$961.99
Total Cost Per Conversion:	$6.63 (85.27% cheaper than the initial $45 target)
Total Revenue Earned	$6 525
Total Profit Generated:	$5 563.01
Return on Investment (ROI):	578.28%

So there you have it. Two similar campaigns split across different yet equally effective ad formats. The results speak for themselves and, over just five months, brought in over $17 900 USD for all involved.

The online advertising game is a lot easier than you might think. In fact, all of the above results we achieved by simply adopting a few key setup tricks.

Always set up the right CPA Target 

The CPA Target will tend to deliver conversions at a lower price than your initial cost. So, trust it! It won’t let you down! Set your bidding higher than you might have done in the past, and if your targeting is accurate (and it ends up converting nicely), you’ll get cheaper conversions every time!

Match your landing page with the right supply source 

When putting together your landing page, ensure you’re tailoring it to the right traffic. In the case of the above two comparisons, it was the Arts and Entertainment sector. Find your niche and target them with unique landing pages and CTA’s. take your landers to the next level with the  Ultimate Guide to Landing Page Optimisation

Set a reasonable daily budget 

If you aim at spending 15$ daily, your chances of getting proper exposure and increased traffic volumes are relatively low. You’ll need to see your campaign as an investment of sorts. A place where, in exchange for resources spent, you’ll be getting back your initial stake PLUS a whole lot more! Send your campaign buy-in through to the CPA Target motherboard and bid according to the going target.  

Blacklist Certain Zones

Regulate your incoming traffic by blacklisting non-converting zones. No one wants to spend time, energy (and money) on non-converting traffic sources, so keep an eye out for and kill what’s not converting. 

Onward! To VPN Victory! 

So, with two more successful VPN campaigns sent out the door and a whole lot more ready and waiting to be converted, the question is. What are you doing to take your VPN Online Advertising to the next level?

Adcash, monthly VPN numbers to date. 

Now you can set up your VPN campaign straight from the Adcash advertiser platform and get access to the best of…

⚙️ High Converting Desktop & Mobile Supply Sources

🦾 Built-In Anti-Fraud Technology

🌱 Automated ROI/ROAS Optimization

🎯 Cutting-Edge Targeting Capabilities and more! 

We’ll see to it that your offers are always top of mind, with cutting-edge targeting algorithms, high-end traffic, and advanced features. Reach out to us anytime right here. 

All the best on the road ahead, and please leave a message in the box below if you have anything comments, suggestions, or similar. We love hearing from you and wish you every success along the way.

Bye for now.