Published by isobel.regan@dontpanicprojects.com
Published Date 10.11.2023 
In the competitive realm of digital marketing, results speak the loudest. It’s with great pride that Ruby Digital announces our win for the Best Low Budget PPC Campaign at the Global Digital Excellence Awards. As a homegrown South African agency that has been navigating the digital landscape since 2011, this award is a testament to our commitment to delivering results, no matter the size of the budget.
Our approach is simple: we focus on the goals and visions of our clients. This philosophy has propelled us to the forefront of the industry, earning us the rank of the No.1 SEO Agency in South Africa and fostering a comprehensive range of services from PPC to social media, email marketing, and beyond. Our dedication is further reflected in our vibrant company culture, recognised with a 95% culture score, and our status as a Google Partner and a HubSpot Partner.
Winning the Best Low Budget PPC Campaign in our first GDEA entry isn’t just an accolade for us. It’s a benchmark that underscores our expertise in crafting strategies that maximise every amount spent. We’re humbled and motivated by this recognition, and it serves as a reminder of what we can achieve through innovation, adaptability, and unwavering dedication to our clients.
Find out more about the strategic thinking that led to our nomination in our previous GDEA awards blog post. Join us as we share the insights from our award-winning campaign, the story of our client partnership, and the strategic decisions that led to this moment. We’re not just celebrating a win – we’re (hopefully!) setting the stage for even greater achievements at future GDEAs.
How We Entered the GDEA Awards
Entering the Global Digital Excellence Awards was much more than just a competition for Ruby Digital – it was a chance to test of our mettle in the digital marketing arena, benchmark our skills, and to measure the impact of our work against some of the brightest minds in the industry.
More importantly, it was an opportunity to validate our strategies, to learn, and to grow. Whether we emerged victorious or not, the process was invaluable. It provided us with a platform for unbiased feedback and a chance to elevate our standards even higher.
Our choice of client for the award entry, boutique firm Gillian & Co, allowed us to showcase our ability to deliver exceptional results on a limited budget. We crafted a PPC campaign that was as efficient as it was effective, demonstrating that with the right expertise, even modest budgets can yield substantial returns.
With a budget of just $100 monthly plus a management fee, our objective was to amplify ROI far beyond the baseline. Our target? The fashion-conscious student demographic across South Africa.
Employing Performance Max campaigns, we finely tuned our audience targeting, honing in on women aged 18 to 55, without excluding potential male shoppers. We deployed a mix of strategic remarketing, use of Google’s Merchant Centre, and diverse ad testing across multiple networks to maximise reach and engagement.
The outcome was remarkable – yielding an 11.89x return on ad spend, and a 676.86% leap in ROI. Conversions soared by 569.35%, proving that even with a tight budget, innovative tactics can drive significant e-commerce growth.
Our Takeaways
At Ruby Digital, one of our core beliefs is that we should always remain lifelong learners. Every opportunity, win or lose, is a stepping stone to greater knowledge and expertise. The GDEA was no exception. The feedback we received was not only affirming but also constructive.
One judge’s comment encapsulated the essence of our efforts: “Impressive campaign – clearly a huge amount of work and thought went into this, to a level I would expect from a much larger campaign.” This remark was not just a compliment but a recognition of our dedication and our unwavering pursuit of excellence.
As we reflect on the significance of this achievement, our gratitude extends beyond the bounds of the award itself. It’s a privilege to participate in an event that sets the global benchmark for digital marketing excellence. Winning the Best Low Budget PPC Campaign award is a big milestone for Ruby Digital. It reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class strategies and solutions that drive our clients’ success.
And in the words of our CEO & Founder, Justin Lester: “This award is a symbol of what we stand for at Ruby Digital. It’s a result of the collective effort, creativity, and client-focused determination that our team brings to the table every day. We are honoured by this recognition, and it serves as an inspiration for us to push the boundaries even further. We are already channeling the insights gained into refining our craft, ensuring that we bring even more value to our clients and continue setting new standards for the industry.”
With our eyes set firmly on the horizon, Ruby Digital is already gearing up for the 2024 GDEA. This victory has set a precedent, and our aim is not just to meet it but to surpass it. The journey of learning never ends, and we are excited about the prospects that lie ahead!
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