/ads:budget
Run a budget allocation and bidding strategy audit using 24 checks to analyze spend efficiency, identify wasted budget, validate bidding strategies, and provide specific reallocation recommendations.
Quick Start
/agileflow:ads:budget <account-data> # Full budget auditWhat It Checks
The audit applies 24 deterministic checks across 4 categories:
| Category | Weight | Checks | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Allocation | 35% | 8 | Spend distribution, top-performer focus, funnel stages |
| Bidding Strategy | 30% | 8 | Strategy alignment, conversion data, target metrics |
| Scaling & Pacing | 20% | 4 | Budget growth rates, pacing consistency, learning phase |
| Platform Mix | 15% | 4 | Diversification, attribution, platform strength alignment |
Output
You receive:
- Budget Score (0-100)
- Category breakdown with individual scores
- Specific findings with severity levels
- Dollar reallocation recommendations - Not just "move budget" but "move $X from Campaign A to Campaign B"
- Industry benchmarks for your business type
- Platform minimum validation across 6 platforms
- Scaling rule compliance check
Account Data Needed
Provide:
- Monthly spend by platform
- Campaign-level budgets
- Performance metrics (CPA, ROAS, conversions)
- Bid strategies in use
- Industry and target metrics
Example format:
Google Ads: $6K/month
- Brand campaign: $2K, CPA $30
- Non-brand: $3K, CPA $45
- Performance Max: $1K, ROAS 1.8:1
Meta Ads: $4K/month
- Prospecting: $2.5K, CPA $40
- Retargeting: $1.5K, ROAS 2.5:1
Platform Budget Minimums
These minimums MUST be enforced:
| Platform | Campaign Minimum | Ad Set/Group Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ads | $10/day | $5/day |
| Meta Ads | $20/day | $10/day |
| $50/day | $25/day | |
| TikTok | $50/day campaign | $20/day ad group |
| Microsoft | $10/day | $5/day |
Scaling Rules
- Max 20% budget increase per week - Gradual scaling prevents budget waste
- Only scale after learning phase exits - Campaigns need 2-4 weeks of optimization
- 3x Kill Rule - Pause campaigns with CPA > 3x target immediately
- Minimum 2 weeks data before making major changes
Industry Benchmarks
SaaS
| Metric | Good | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPA (Lead) | <$50 | $50-150 | >$150 |
| ROAS | >5:1 | 3:1-5:1 | <3:1 |
E-commerce
| Metric | Good | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROAS | >4:1 | 2:1-4:1 | <2:1 |
| CPA (Purchase) | <$30 | $30-80 | >$80 |
Local Services
| Metric | Good | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPL | <$25 | $25-75 | >$75 |
| CPC | <$3 | $3-8 | >$8 |
Example Usage
Basic Audit
/agileflow:ads:budget "Spending $10K/month. Google $6K (CPA $40), Meta $4K (ROAS 2:1). Google is doing better, allocate more there."
# Returns: Budget Score with specific reallocation recommendationsWith Detailed Data
/agileflow:ads:budget
# Paste detailed monthly breakdown with all campaign performance data
# Returns: Full budget audit with dollar-specific recommendationsExpected Improvements
By following the reallocation recommendations:
- 5-15% improvement in overall ROAS/CPA within 2-4 weeks
- Elimination of budget waste on underperforming campaigns
- Faster scaling of top performers while respecting platform limits
- Better platform mix based on actual performance, not assumptions
When to Run
- Monthly - Monitor budget health and allocation efficiency
- After campaign launches - First 3-4 weeks after new campaigns
- When metrics change - If CPA or ROAS shifts significantly
- Quarterly review - Comprehensive budget strategy review
- Before budget increases - Ensure current allocation is optimal before adding spend
Tips
- Bring real numbers - Use actual CPA/ROAS data for accurate recommendations
- Include all platforms - Full picture gives better recommendations
- Track conversions - Budget audit needs conversion data to be accurate
- Follow 70/20/10 rule - 70% proven campaigns, 20% testing, 10% experimental
Related Commands
/ads:audit- Full multi-platform audit (includes budget)/ads:google- Google-specific budget checks/ads:meta- Meta-specific budget checks/ads:plan- Campaign planning with budget allocation