--- name: alt-ads-platforms-stinger license: AGPL-3.0-or-later description: "Plan paid acquisition beyond Meta and Google Search. Use for LinkedIn, TikTok, Reddit, Bing, Pinterest, Quora, YouTube, or podcasts. Read README.md for the guide map." --- # alt-ads-platforms Stinger Arsenal for `alt-ads-platforms-wasp-drone` - the Legion Army's specialist for paid acquisition across the 10 alternative platforms: LinkedIn, TikTok, Reddit, Microsoft/Bing, X/Twitter, Pinterest, Quora, YouTube (standalone), Spotify Ad Studio, and the podcast advertising ecosystem. **Always start with `guides/01-channel-fit-diagnosis.md`.** No platform setup work begins until the ICP-to-platform fit is scored and the channel stack is prioritized. Running LinkedIn campaigns for a consumer ICP, or TikTok campaigns below $50/day, wastes budget regardless of execution quality. See `guides/00-principles.md` for the six non-negotiables. --- ## Routing table | Situation | Guide | |---|---| | Which platforms fit my ICP? | `guides/01-channel-fit-diagnosis.md` | | LinkedIn Ads setup, LGF, benchmarks | `guides/02-linkedin-ads.md` | | TikTok Ads, Smart+, CAPI | `guides/03-tiktok-ads.md` | | Reddit Ads, community targeting | `guides/04-reddit-ads.md` | | Microsoft/Bing Ads, LinkedIn Profile Targeting | `guides/05-microsoft-bing-ads.md` | | X/Twitter Ads | `guides/06-x-twitter-ads.md` | | Pinterest Ads, Shopping Catalogs | `guides/07-pinterest-ads.md` | | Quora Ads, B2B niche targeting | `guides/08-quora-ads.md` | | YouTube standalone video ads | `guides/09-youtube-standalone.md` | | Spotify Ad Studio, podcast ads | `guides/10-podcast-advertising.md` | | Campaign structure, naming, UTMs | `guides/11-campaign-architecture.md` | | Server-side CAPI wiring, deduplication | `guides/12-capi-wiring.md` | | Full channel-fit scorecard (to fill in) | `templates/channel-fit-scorecard.md` | | Per-platform launch QA checklist | `templates/campaign-launch-checklist.md` | --- ## Critical directives - **Channel-fit diagnosis before setup.** Never scaffold a campaign architecture before running the ICP-to-platform scoring. An incorrectly selected channel cannot be rescued by good execution. See `guides/00-principles.md`. - **Minimum viable spend thresholds are gates, not guidelines.** LinkedIn under $1,500/month produces unoptimizable data. TikTok under $50/day has no learning phase. State these thresholds explicitly when the budget is below them. See `guides/00-principles.md`. - **CAPI is the 2026 baseline for TikTok and LinkedIn.** Pixel-only attribution is ~60-70% accurate post-iOS 14.5. Server-side CAPI is not optional. See `guides/12-capi-wiring.md`. - **Depth over breadth.** Never recommend more platforms than the team can execute well. One well-run LinkedIn campaign beats three mediocre ones across three platforms. See `guides/00-principles.md`. - **Benchmark CPLs are ranges, not targets.** Initial testing will typically be 2-3x above mature-campaign benchmarks. State this explicitly. See `guides/01-channel-fit-diagnosis.md`. - **X/Twitter is the most volatile platform in this stinger's universe.** The X/Twitter guide requires quarterly review. Always flag this to the user. See `guides/06-x-twitter-ads.md`. --- ## Platform benchmark quick-reference (2026) | Platform | Avg CPL/CPM | Best ICP fit | MVS/month | CAPI available? | |---|---|---|---|---| | LinkedIn Ads | $94 CPL (avg); $40-500 by vertical | B2B, job title/seniority targeting | $1,500-$5,000 | Yes (verify GA status) | | TikTok Ads | $10-25 CPL (D2C); $30-80 CPL (SaaS) | D2C, app installs, B2B awareness | $1,500/month ($50/day) | Yes (GA) | | Reddit Ads | $0.50-$2.00 CPC (vs LinkedIn $5.26-$10+) | Technical B2B, developer tools, niche interest | $1,000/month | Yes (Reddit Pixel + CAPI beta) | | Microsoft/Bing Ads | 20-35% lower CPA than Google Search | B2B, older demographics, LinkedIn-profile-matched | $500/month | Yes (UET + CAPI) | | Pinterest Ads | 2.0-3.5x ROAS (avg); 3.5-5.0x (DIY/crafts) | D2C, home/garden/fashion/food | $500/month | Yes | | Quora Ads | $8-15 CPM (vs LinkedIn $75-90 CPM) | B2B niche, technical comparison queries | $500/month | Yes (Quora Pixel) | | YouTube Standalone | $0.01-0.03 CPV; $5-30 CPM | Brand awareness, explainer video, D2C | $1,000/month | Via Google Tag Manager | | Spotify Ad Studio | 0.3-0.8% audio CTR; 95%+ completion | B2C mass market, engaged listeners | $1,000/month ($250 min) | No (promo codes + vanity URL) | | X/Twitter Ads | Variable - platform volatile | Brand/thought leadership; NOT conversion-focused | $500/month test budget only | Yes (X Pixel) | *Sources: `research/external/` - LinkedIn benchmarks from `2026-05-20-linkedin-ads-benchmarks-2026-by-industry.md`; Reddit CPCs from `2026-05-20-reddit-ads-b2b-saas-community-targeting-2026.md`; Pinterest ROAS from `2026-05-20-pinterest-roas-benchmarks-2026.md`; Spotify benchmarks from `2026-05-20-spotify-ads-benchmarks-2026.md`.* --- ## Open questions (from scripture-historian) The following questions require either human decision or direct platform verification before the relevant guides can be fully authoritative. See `research/research-summary.md` for full context. > **OQ-1 (LinkedIn CAPI GA status):** LinkedIn Conversions API availability depends on account type and may require applying for access. Verify in Campaign Manager: Measure > Conversions > Connect to partner. See `guides/12-capi-wiring.md` note. > **OQ-2 (X/Twitter 2026 stability):** No 2026-specific X/Twitter Ads platform data was found in research. `guides/06-x-twitter-ads.md` is synthesized from training knowledge; verify at [business.twitter.com](https://business.twitter.com) before acting. > **OQ-3 (Quora 2026 traffic):** Quora B2B effectiveness survives AI competition for technical comparison queries but is no longer a mass-volume channel. Scale expectations should be conservative. --- ## Folder layout ```text alt-ads-platforms-stinger/ +- SKILL.md (this file - master index) +- README.md (one-page human overview) +- guides/ | +- 00-principles.md (six non-negotiables, budget thresholds, CAPI doctrine) | +- 01-channel-fit-diagnosis.md (ICP scoring matrix, demand capture vs creation, investment ladder) | +- 02-linkedin-ads.md (campaign structure, audience, LGF, benchmarks, CAPI) | +- 03-tiktok-ads.md (Smart+, CAPI, creative hooks, B2B vs B2C fit) | +- 04-reddit-ads.md (community targeting, AI citation value, CPCs, 90-day rule) | +- 05-microsoft-bing-ads.md (LinkedIn Profile Targeting, UET, import from Google Ads) | +- 06-x-twitter-ads.md (Amplify, Promoted Posts, platform volatility caveats) | +- 07-pinterest-ads.md (Shopping Ads, Catalogs, 70-90 day attribution) | +- 08-quora-ads.md (question targeting, B2B case studies, AI-competition caveat) | +- 09-youtube-standalone.md (TrueView, Bumpers, Shorts, when to run outside Google Ads) | +- 10-podcast-advertising.md (Spotify Ad Studio, host-read, programmatic, attribution) | +- 11-campaign-architecture.md (naming, UTMs, A/B testing, budget pacing, frequency caps) | +- 12-capi-wiring.md (TikTok CAPI, LinkedIn CAPI, Microsoft UET, deduplication) +- examples/ | +- b2b-saas-channel-fit.md (worked scorecard for B2B SaaS ICP, LinkedIn + Reddit stack) | +- tiktok-capi-setup.md (step-by-step CAPI wiring for a D2C brand) +- templates/ | +- channel-fit-scorecard.md (ICP input form + platform scoring matrix) | +- campaign-launch-checklist.md (per-platform QA before going live) | +- creative-specs-table.md (format, dimensions, copy limits per platform) | +- utm-naming-convention.md (UTM parameter schema for multi-platform attribution) +- reports/ | +- README.md (how audit reports accumulate) +- research/ (DO NOT MODIFY - owned by scripture-historian) +- research-plan.md +- research-summary.md +- index.md +- internal/ +- external/ (19 source notes, 2026-05-20) ``` --- *Procedure: [skill procedure](SKILL.md)* *Forged by stinger-forge from `command-brief` + `research/`. Part of the Legion AI Tools Factory by [Mario Aldayuz a.k.a @thenotoriousllama](https://github.com/thenotoriousllama).*