Fox and Owl staring at a complicated machine with lots of gears.

Why Most LinkedIn™ Ads Flop (And How to Avoid Costly Mistakes)

LinkedIn™ ads don’t work.”

That’s what he told me, arms crossed, frustration clear on his face.

“They don’t work right from the start,” I clarified.

That didn’t help. He wanted immediate results. Clicks, leads, deals—yesterday.

The LinkedIn™ Ads Problem: Expecting Instant Success

Here’s the issue: too many businesses expect LinkedIn™ ads to perform like a vending machine. Insert budget, press the button, and out come conversions.

It doesn’t work that way.

He wanted high conversions, but his campaign setup looked like this:

  • No audience research: He had never mapped out his ideal client.
  • One creative—no testing: His nephew had designed a single “brilliant” ad.
  • No retargeting: He expected cold prospects to convert immediately.
  • No alignment with organic content: He saw ads as a substitute for organic reach, not a complement.

When I explained why this approach was doomed, he waved me off. “Thanks for nothing.” And that was that.

Fox and owl playing a slot machine.

Why LinkedIn™ Ads Fail Without Strategy

His frustration was understandable. LinkedIn™ ads can be powerful. But throwing money at them without a clear strategy is like pouring water into a bucket with holes.

Compare that with another client of mine. Same platform. Same goal—generating leads.

But a completely different approach.

A LinkedIn™ Ads Strategy That Works

For this client, we built a structured campaign that delivered over 10 high-quality sign-ups for a premium masterclass.

Each lead cost under €80. Here’s what we did:

  • 🇦🇹 Targeted the right audience: We ran ads in Austria, where her brand had authority.
  • 💡 Built awareness first: Thought leadership ads established credibility before pitching anything.
  • 🎯 Retargeted engaged users: Instead of pushing cold ads, we re-engaged those who interacted with her content.

Fox and owl cross-testing ad visuals.

Why did it work?

  1. She was a recognized authority in her industry.
  2. She knew her audience and what mattered to them.
  3. We worked closely with LinkedIn™’s ad manager to optimize performance.

No magic. No overnight success. Just a smart strategy and the patience to let it work.

Key Takeaway: Ads and Organic Go Hand-in-Hand

The biggest difference? She put in the effort before spending a single euro on ads.

Paid and organic are not separate. They work together. Organic builds trust. Paid amplifies the message.

If you expect ads to do all the heavy lifting, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

⚡ If you’re ready to make LinkedIn™ ads work for you, let’s talk. Send me a message.