Over the next few weeks we’re going to go deeper into the role of validation and calibration in marketing measurement. This is the third post in a series of posts derived from our recent webinar. Catch the full event on demand here, also read the first and second posts in the series.
Case studies shared during the webinar by Will Burghes, Head of Professional Services at Rockerbox, and Eli Hile, Senior Director of Data and Analytics at Tombras, highlighted how validation can uncover inefficiencies, refine strategies, and drive measurable impact. These real-world examples emphasized the importance of moving beyond attribution assumptions to gain a clearer picture of what’s truly driving performance.
Burghes recounted a striking example involving a major advertiser investing heavily in both brand and non-brand search campaigns. While attribution models painted a rosy picture of performance across the board, validation testing told a different story.
The Impact:
These insights allowed the advertiser to reallocate budgets, reducing overspend on brand search and doubling down on the high-performing non-brand campaigns. “This differentiation helped maximize the effectiveness of their search strategy,” explained Burghes. “Instead of treating all search campaigns the same, they prioritized investments where they could generate genuine incremental results.”
Hile offered a counterpoint with a case study showcasing how brand search can yield unexpected results depending on competitive dynamics and brand recognition.
The Impact:
The insights validated the client’s continued investment in brand search but with a more balanced approach. “While the incrementality wasn’t as high as non-brand search, it was still significant enough to justify a calibrated budget allocation,” Hile explained. “This example underscores the importance of testing—assumptions about what works and what doesn’t can vary dramatically across industries and competitors.”
By leveraging validation methodologies, marketers can gain the clarity needed to optimize their spend and align strategies with true performance drivers. These examples are a powerful reminder of the potential hidden in the data—waiting to be uncovered with the right approach.