Ecommerce: The Hammersley Brothers artwork

Ecommerce: Stop Killing Your Ads

Ecommerce: The Hammersley Brothers · March 12, 2026 · 39 min

Summary

Ecommerce operators often sabotage their ad performance by making impulsive changes based on short-term dips in ROAS or sales. This episode emphasizes the critical need for patience and data-driven decision-making, allowing platforms like Google and Meta sufficient time to optimize. It guides operators on understanding natural business fluctuations and leveraging analytical tools like moving averages to avoid premature campaign adjustments that hinder long-term growth.

Key takeaways

Themes

paid acquisitionanalytics & attributionfounder & leadership

Topics covered

ad account optimizationroas fluctuationsgoogle ads optimizationmeta ads optimizationmarketing analyticsseasonal demand planning

Episode description

This is Episode 5 in our series on why your ads are not scaling, and this one is about something most ecommerce owners do without even realising. They panic. One bad day. One bad week. ROAS dips. Sales wobble. And suddenly, they are changing budgets, fiddling with campaigns, second-guessing the platforms, and essentially resetting the machine before it has had a chance to work. In this episode, Mark and Ian break down: Why emotional decision-making wrecks ad performance Why do most people change things far too quickly? How Google and Meta actually need time to optimise Why looking at single-day performance is a trap The power of using moving averages instead of reacting to noise Why the best ecommerce operators know when to hold their nerve How stock, seasonality, and demand create lumpy growth Why are some months naturally stronger than others, and that does not mean anything is broken? How to keep Google and Meta in sync instead of pulling one lever too hard The reason teams fail is that everyone is looking at different numbers. This is really about maturity. The brands that scale are not the ones constantly panicking and changing direction. They are the ones who understand the model, know their numbers, and only make changes when the data actually indicates it. If you are forever tweaking ads, budgets, and campaigns because of a bad day or two, this episode is for you. P.S. Whenever you’re ready... here are 3 ways Ian and I can help you grow your ecommerce business: 1. Talk to us. Book a call with us and let's talk about accelerating your growth - https://go.hammersleybrothers.com/scheduleuk-ant 2. Grab a copy of our book - https://book.hammersleybrothers.com/ 3. Join the Ultimate Guide To Ecommerce Facebook group and connect with e-commerce owners who are scaling too - https://www.facebook.com/groups/924567391291786

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Frequently asked about this episode

What does this episode say about paid acquisition?
Implement moving averages to analyze ad performance instead of reacting to daily fluctuations, providing a more stable and accurate view of trends.
What does this episode say about analytics & attribution?
Allow sufficient time for Google and Meta ad platforms to optimize campaigns; frequent, premature adjustments reset the learning phase and hinder performance.
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
Educate your team on key performance indicators and ensure everyone is aligned on what metrics truly indicate success or failure to avoid conflicting strategies and panic-driven changes.
What does this episode say about paid acquisition?
Understand and account for seasonality, stock levels, and demand cycles in your ad strategy, recognizing that growth can be lumpy and not every month will outperform the last.
What does this episode say about paid acquisition?
Resist the urge to make emotional, knee-jerk reactions to temporary dips in ROAS or sales, as this often disrupts ad platform algorithms and prevents campaigns from reaching their full potential.

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