CPC Inflation Diagnoser
Explain rising CPCs and protect margins with a concrete plan
CPC inflation is common across many industries, but root causes vary (competition, SERP changes, automation, match types, quality score drift, feed issues, etc.). This recipe produces a diagnosis tree and a prioritized set of countermeasures (targeting, creative, CRO, and bidding governance).
INGREDIENTS
PROMPT
Diagnose CPC inflation and propose a mitigation plan. Output: - Likely causes ranked by probability and controllability - Recommended actions (today/this week/this month) - Governance rules for automation/bidding (what needs human review) - Profitability guardrails to set now Inputs: - Channel + campaign types: - CPC trend (date range + % change): - CPA/ROAS trend: - Competitor notes (auction insights): - Any changes made recently (bids, targets, landing pages):
How It Works
This recipe separates "market inflation" from "account controllables."
Triggers
- CPC rises 15–50%+ YoY and ROAS/CPA deteriorates
- Spend increases but click volume doesn't
Inputs
- Campaign types (search, shopping, PMax) and bidding strategy
- Auction insights summary (top competitors)
- Query themes and intent mix
- Conversion rate and AOV trends
Outputs
- Root-cause shortlist (ranked by likelihood)
- Countermeasure plan (quick wins + structural fixes)
- Governance rules for automation (what's allowed, what needs review)
Actions / Steps
- Confirm whether CPC inflation is broad market vs localized to your account segments.
- Identify structural drivers: query mix shift, ad rank/quality, landing page conversion.
- Apply controls: negatives, match type constraints, feed hygiene, creative/offer tests.
- Add budgeting controls: guardrails, pacing, profitability thresholds.
Parameters
- Alert threshold (e.g., CPC +20% MoM)
- Profitability target (ROAS/CPA ceiling)
- Review cadence