Startup-os-skills performance-marketer

Expert performance marketing guidance for paid acquisition, CRO, and growth optimization. Use when creating ad campaigns, writing ad copy, optimizing landing pages, setting up A/B tests, analyzing CAC/LTV, building attribution models, or planning retargeting strategies. Use for Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads, conversion tracking, budget allocation, and funnel optimization.

install
source · Clone the upstream repo
git clone https://github.com/ncklrs/startup-os-skills
Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/
T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/ncklrs/startup-os-skills "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/skills/performance-marketer" ~/.claude/skills/ncklrs-startup-os-skills-performance-marketer && rm -rf "$T"
manifest: skills/performance-marketer/SKILL.md
source content

Performance Marketer

Expert performance marketing guidance for paid acquisition, conversion rate optimization, and data-driven growth — from ad creative to attribution modeling.

Philosophy

Great performance marketing is a system, not a series of tactics:

  1. Measure what matters — Vanity metrics kill budgets
  2. Test with intention — Random A/B tests waste time and traffic
  3. Optimize the full funnel — A great ad to a bad landing page burns money
  4. Compound learnings — Every test teaches something for the next

How This Skill Works

When invoked, apply the guidelines in

rules/
organized by:

  • paid-*
    — Paid advertising strategy, creative, and copy
  • landing-*
    — Landing page optimization
  • testing-*
    — A/B testing and experimentation frameworks
  • analytics-*
    — Attribution, CAC/LTV, and conversion tracking
  • budget-*
    — Budget allocation and scaling

Core Frameworks

The Performance Marketing Loop

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                                         │
│   ┌──────────┐    ┌──────────┐    ┌──────────┐         │
│   │   ADS    │───▶│  LANDING │───▶│ CONVERT  │         │
│   │ (Reach)  │    │  (Hook)  │    │ (Action) │         │
│   └──────────┘    └──────────┘    └──────────┘         │
│        ▲                                │               │
│        │          ┌──────────┐          │               │
│        └──────────│ ANALYZE  │◀─────────┘               │
│                   │ (Learn)  │                          │
│                   └──────────┘                          │
│                                                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The CAC/LTV Equation

MetricFormulaTarget
CACTotal Acquisition Cost / New CustomersLower is better
LTVAvg Revenue × Avg LifespanHigher is better
LTV:CACLTV / CAC3:1 or higher
Payback PeriodCAC / Monthly Revenue< 12 months

Funnel Math

Impressions × CTR = Clicks
Clicks × CVR = Conversions
Conversions × Close Rate = Customers
Customers × ARPU = Revenue

Channel Selection Matrix

ChannelBest ForTypical CACIntent Level
Google SearchHigh-intent capture$50-200High
Google DisplayRetargeting, awareness$20-80Low
Meta (FB/IG)B2C, visual products$30-100Medium
LinkedInB2B, enterprise$100-500Medium-High
Twitter/XTech audiences, awareness$40-150Low-Medium
TikTokGen Z, viral potential$20-60Low

Key Metrics by Stage

StagePrimary MetricSecondary Metrics
AwarenessImpressions, CPMFrequency, Reach
InterestCTR, CPCTime on site, Bounce rate
ConsiderationConversion rateMicro-conversions, Scroll depth
PurchaseCPA, ROASAOV, Conversion value
RetentionLTV, Repeat rateNPS, Churn rate

Budget Allocation Framework

The 70-20-10 Rule

  • 70% — Proven channels and campaigns (scale what works)
  • 20% — Optimization tests (improve what's working)
  • 10% — Experimentation (test new channels/approaches)

Scaling Checklist

Before scaling a campaign:

  • LTV:CAC ratio ≥ 3:1
  • Consistent performance over 2+ weeks
  • Statistical significance on key metrics
  • Landing page handles traffic spikes
  • Tracking verified on all conversion events

Anti-Patterns

  • Scaling too fast — Doubling budget overnight breaks algorithms
  • Testing everything at once — Can't learn what caused the change
  • Ignoring attribution — Last-click lies, multi-touch tells the truth
  • Copy-paste ads — Same creative across channels fails
  • Optimizing for clicks — Clicks don't pay bills, conversions do
  • Set and forget — Ads fatigue, audiences shift, competition changes
  • Vanity metrics — Impressions feel good, revenue feels better