Budgeting for Performance Marketing – What Ahmedabad Startups Should Know

Introduction

Startups in Ahmedabad often jump into digital advertising without a structured budget — leading to wasted spend and zero ROI. But performance marketing isn’t just about spending money — it’s about spending it right.

Whether you’re a bootstrapped D2C brand or a local service provider in Gujarat, India, the key to success lies in smart, data-led budget planning.

As performance marketing expert Ravi Rana says:

“A well-planned budget doesn’t just save money — it multiplies returns.”

Let’s walk you through how to budget smartly, test intelligently, and scale profitably in your performance marketing journey.

How to Plan Your Ad Budget Effectively

Start With Your Sales Goal

Let’s say your monthly revenue target is ₹1,00,000 and your product sells for ₹1,000 — you need 100 sales.

Estimate your conversion rate (e.g., 2%)
- That means you need 5,000 website visitors.
If your cost per click (CPC) is ₹5
- You’ll need a traffic budget of ₹25,000.

Always plan backward from your sales goal — not from how much you “feel like spending.”

Follow the 70/20/10 Rule

Split your budget into 3 clear portions:
Category
Allocation
Purpose
Proven Campaigns
70%
Reliable, optimized ad sets
New Variants
20%
Test new creatives, audiences, hooks
Bold Experiments
10%
Try fresh formats, new platforms

USP: This formula ensures you grow consistently while testing new marketing angles for the evolving Ahmedabad market.

Test, Optimize, Scale — The Proven Flow

Start with small daily budgets: ₹500–₹1,000/day
Run 2–3 creatives per ad set (video, carousel, single image)
Track CTR, CPL, ROAS daily
Pause underperformers, double down on winners
Increase budget gradually (by 15–20% every 2–3 days)

Allow a 14-day learning window before scaling aggressively

Ravi Rana's Tip:

Gujarat audiences show different behavior by city. Test in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara individually to find the most profitable region.

Budget Allocation by Platform (Ideal for Startups)

Platform/Category	Recommended Share
Meta Ads (FB/IG)	40%
Google Ads (Search/PMax)	30%
Retargeting Campaigns	10%
Landing Page Tools	10%
Creatives & Content	10%

Note: Don’t spend 100% on ads alone — you need tools, landing pages, and automation to convert leads effectively.

Key Takeaways

Begin with clear sales goals and build your ad budget around them.
Use the 70/20/10 rule to balance growth and experimentation.
Don’t scale too soon — test patiently, analyze daily, and optimize weekly.
Allocate part of your budget to retargeting, creatives, and landing pages.
With Ravi Rana’s budgeting approach, many Ahmedabad-based startups have grown from ₹10K/month to ₹1L+ in profitable ad spend.