Anyone actually getting 2x–5x ROI from insurance ads?

[John Snow]

So, I’ve been running ad campaigns for a small insurance agency for a while now, and honestly, I’ve always wondered — is it really possible to double or even 5x your ROI with insurance advertising? I kept seeing all these posts and case studies claiming “massive returns,” but in real life, things rarely seem that simple.

A few months back, I decided to take a closer look at what was actually happening with our ads. I was tired of guessing why some campaigns performed well while others tanked, even with similar budgets and audiences.

When clicks don’t convert

If you’ve ever run insurance ads, you probably know the frustration I’m talking about. You pour hours into audience targeting, ad copy, and creative — but the results? Meh. You might get clicks, but conversions don’t follow. And let’s be honest, “leads” that don’t pick up the phone or answer your email aren’t really leads.

I went through a phase where I almost gave up on paid ads for insurance altogether. Between Facebook’s ad review rejections and Google’s rising CPCs, it felt like more of a gamble than a growth strategy.

But something didn’t sit right with me — I knew others were making it work. So maybe it wasn’t the platform, maybe it was my approach.

What I Noticed After a Few Tries

After a few experiments (and a few embarrassing mistakes), I started noticing some patterns:

1. **People hate being sold insurance — but love being helped.**My first mistake was sounding too much like a salesperson. Once I started using more relatable, human language — like “protecting your family” instead of “purchasing a policy” — engagement actually went up.

2. **Ad timing really matters.**I used to run ads nonstop, but now I only promote during specific periods — like tax season or renewal time. Turns out, people are way more responsive when they’re already thinking about finances.

3. **Landing pages make or break your ROI.**My old landing page was basically a form with a headline. Once I added trust signals (like short testimonials and clear benefits), conversion rates improved noticeably. I didn’t change the ad copy at all — just made it easier for people to feel comfortable filling out the form.

4. **Simple visuals perform better than fancy ones.**Funny enough, the ad that got me the best results was just a smiling couple with the text “See if you’re paying too much.” Nothing flashy, just relatable.

The Moment It Clicked

It wasn’t one single change that suddenly made everything better — it was more like a bunch of small adjustments that finally started clicking together.

At one point, I came across a post that broke down how real marketers optimize insurance advertising for ROI. It mentioned testing ad placement, focusing on audience behavior data, and simplifying messaging — basically confirming everything I had been learning the hard way.

If you’re curious, here’s the article I found useful: Increase Policy Conversions and Achieve 2x–5x ROI With Insurance Ads. It’s not a “quick fix” kind of read, but it does help you understand the logic behind smarter ad strategies.

So, did I really get 2x–5x ROI?

Surprisingly… yes — eventually. It didn’t happen overnight, but after a few rounds of tweaks and some A/B testing, my ROI started to hover around 3x on average, sometimes hitting closer to 4x on good weeks.

Here’s what really pushed it over the edge:

• Better audience segmentation. I stopped targeting “everyone interested in insurance” and focused on specific personas — like “new homeowners” or “freelancers looking for health coverage.”

• Retargeting. I used retargeting ads for visitors who checked out the site but didn’t convert. Those warm leads converted at nearly twice the rate of cold ones.

• More patient tracking. I gave campaigns at least 10–14 days before making changes. Earlier, I used to tweak things too quickly and ruin the data.

What Didn’t Work So Well

I’ll be real — not everything worked. Some platforms just didn’t deliver. Facebook Ads gave great engagement but poor conversions. Google Ads worked best when paired with a strong landing page and retargeting strategy.

And influencer-type ads? Totally flopped. Maybe that works for beauty or tech, but for insurance, people seem to trust official-looking ads more.

If You’re Trying It Yourself

If you’re running insurance advertising right now or thinking about it, here’s my advice as someone still figuring it out:

• Start small — even $10/day can give you enough data to learn from.

• Don’t just chase clicks. Focus on what happens after the click.

• Keep your copy simple and empathetic — talk to people, not at them.

• Test different visuals, but always keep the message human and genuine.

Most importantly, be patient. Insurance is a slow game, but when your ad strategy aligns with what people actually care about, the results come in steadily — not explosively, but sustainably.

So yeah, 2x–5x ROI isn’t impossible, but it’s not some magic formula either. It’s more about consistency, testing, and understanding how your audience actually thinks.

Would love to hear if anyone else here has had similar experiences — what platforms worked best for you, and how long did it take before you started seeing real results?