Our Social Media Advertising Process
Every Contextread engagement follows the same five-stage process, whether it's a single campaign or a full-funnel strategy. Here's exactly what happens at each stage, what you'll get, and what we need from you.
Five Stages, Every Time
No long onboarding, no guesswork. Here's what happens after you get in touch.
Audit & Account Setup
We review existing accounts or set up new ones with proper tracking and conversion goals.
Campaign Strategy
We plan targeting, budgets, and creative direction based on your goals and audience.
Launch Campaigns
We build and launch campaigns across the agreed platforms.
Optimise
We test creative, bids, and targeting weekly to improve performance.
Report & Scale
We report on results against agreed KPIs and scale what's working.
How Long Each Stage Actually Takes
Campaigns are typically ready to launch within 5 to 10 working days of tracking being set up. Optimisation then runs on a weekly cycle.
When will I see results?
Paid campaigns usually show initial data within days. Meaningful cost-per-lead improvements typically build over the first 4 to 6 weeks as we optimise.
Deliverables at Each Stage
After Discovery
A short summary of your goals, audience, and the channels we recommend focusing on first.
After Strategy
A written plan covering channels, timeline, and the metrics we'll track together.
During Execution
Live campaigns, published content, or a growing website, depending on the service.
With Every Report
Clear numbers against the goals set at the start, not a wall of unexplained data.
At Review Points
A short call to walk through what's working, what's not, and what changes next.
Ongoing
Updated documentation as your strategy evolves, so nothing lives only in someone's inbox.
What We Actually Work In
No mystery stack. Here's what your project runs on, depending on scope.
Google Ads
For search, display, and shopping campaigns.
Meta Ads Manager
For Facebook and Instagram campaigns.
Google Analytics 4
For conversion tracking and attribution.
Conversion Tracking Tools
For measuring cost per lead and return on ad spend accurately.
What We Actually Need From You
This isn't a hands-off arrangement, but it's not a second job either. Most of your time goes into the discovery call, approving strategy, and reviewing drafts or campaigns before they go live.
What we'll ask for
- ✓ Brand assets and any existing account access
- ✓ Timely feedback on drafts and campaign approvals
- ✓ A short call at each review point
How You'll Hear From Us
One Account Manager
A single point of contact for every part of your project, not a rotating team.
Scheduled Reporting
Regular updates on a fixed schedule, not a single report at the end.
Direct Access
Call or message your account manager directly when something needs attention.
Built Around Your Goals, Not a Copied Campaign
The five stages stay the same, but the platforms, budgets, and targeting are built around your goals and audience, not a copied campaign structure.
See it by industry
Explore how this process plays out for different business types on our Case Studies page.
What This Process Has Delivered
Two examples of this exact process, start to finish.
Elders Wealth
ContextRead strengthened Elders Wealth's organic visibility and lead generation through a focused SEO and performance marketing strategy.
- ✓ 168% increase in organic website traffic
- ✓ 92% growth in ranking keywords
- ✓ 74% increase in qualified leads
- ✓ 41% growth in sales enquiries
Samyakk
ContextRead helped Samyakk increase its digital reach and improve customer acquisition through organic search, paid campaigns and conversion optimisation.
- ✓ 214% increase in organic traffic
- ✓ 151% growth in ranking keywords
- ✓ 127% increase in lead generation
- ✓ 63% growth in online sales enquiries
What Happens When Something Changes Mid-Process
Slow Approvals
Delays on your end push the timeline back proportionally. We'll flag this as soon as it happens.
Scope Changes
New requests get scoped and quoted separately, rather than quietly extending the original timeline.
Underperforming Channels
If something isn't working, we say so at the next review point and recommend a change, not wait it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the social media advertising process take to show results?
Campaigns are typically live within 5 to 10 working days of tracking being set up. Initial data appears within days, with cost-per-lead improving over the first 4 to 6 weeks.
How involved do I need to be in the process?
Most of your time goes into the discovery call and approving drafts or campaigns before they go live. Your account manager handles day-to-day execution.
What if I want to change something mid-process?
Tell your account manager. Strategy and campaigns are reviewed regularly, so changes get built into the next cycle rather than derailing what's already running.
Do you follow the same social media advertising process for every client?
The five stages stay the same, but targeting, budgets, and creative direction are built around your goals, not a copied campaign structure.
Ready to start the process?
Book a discovery call and tell us what you're trying to achieve.