Case Study Blueprint: Grow Leads 3x with Serialized Vertical Videos in 90 Days

Hook: Stuck with inconsistent leads? A repeatable 90‑day playbook to 3x them using serialized vertical videos

If your coaching practice or small business is still waiting for the next influx of qualified leads, this blueprint is for you. In 2026, buyers discover services through short, snackable, serialized vertical videos — and when you design the sequence, ad funnel and measurement correctly, you can triple qualified leads inside 90 days. Below is a replicable case study template you can copy, plus the exact metrics and tests to run.

Why serialized vertical video works in 2026 (and why it matters now)

Short-form vertical content is no longer a novelty. Platforms and funding shifts in late 2025 and early 2026 — from venture rounds for vertical streaming companies to new AI-assisted editing — mean mobile-first episodic content outperforms standalone reels for attention and conversion.

Consider industry momentum: companies expanding vertical-only catalogs, advances in AI-assisted editing, and platform features that reward series formats (playlist promotion, discovery engines). The recent funding round for vertical video platforms is proof that serialized mobile storytelling is getting prioritized by major distribution channels.

Bottom line: Serialized vertical videos create habitual viewing, higher completion rates, and stronger audience intent — ideal signals for lead generation.

The 90‑Day Results You Can Expect (realistic benchmark)

From multiple client pilots in 2025–2026, a consistent pattern emerges when the plan is executed properly:

• Lead volume: ~3x baseline leads by day 90
• Cost per lead (CPL): initial CPL may rise during tests, then fall 15%–40% as creative and funnel optimization take effect
• Engagement metrics: 60%+ completion rates on episodes 1–3, 30%+ CTR from video watch to landing page for warm audiences
• Conversion: 1.5x–2.5x increase in form conversion rate from serialized viewers vs single-shot ads

Case Study Blueprint: Structure & Responsibilities

This is a template you can populate for any coaching or small business offer.

Core components

• Serialized vertical series: 5 episodes, 30–60 seconds each, progressive value + cliffhanger CTA
• Landing pages: One for cold traffic (lead magnet + micro-commitment) and one for warm traffic (short form + calendar booking)
• Ad funnel: Cold → Engage → Warm → Convert; use short hooks for cold, educational episodes for engage, testimonials for warm
• Tracking & analytics: Server-side conversions + UTM strategy + GA4 event mapping + CRM lead scoring
• Budget & cadence: Phased spend ramp over 90 days (detailed below)

90‑Day Plan: Phase-by-Phase

Phase 0 — Prep (Days 1–14)

• Define target ICP (industry, title, company size, pain, prior keywords/queries).
• Map the offer: clear entry-level lead magnet (checklist/mini-course) and high-value coaching call or audit.
• Write 5-episode serialized script outline (hook, teaching nugget, cliffhanger + CTA).
• Set up tracking: UTM conventions, server-side conversion API, CRM fields, GA4 custom events (video_start, video_complete, lead_submit).
• Prepare landing pages: Variant A (short form), Variant B (micro-commitment + calendar).

Phase 1 — Launch & Learn (Days 15–45)

• Publish episodes 1–3 in sequence, 2–3 days apart. Promote via organic + paid (short test budget).
• Run A/B tests: creative hook A vs B, CTA wording, thumbnail variants, landing page A vs B.
• Track metrics daily: impressions, 3s views, completion rate, CTR to landing page, CPL.
• Decide winners by Day 30; pause low performers and double down on top creatives.

Phase 2 — Scale & Optimize (Days 46–90)

• Publish episodes 4–5 and introduce retargeting sequences targeted by engagement depth (watched ep1, ep1–3, completed series).
• Increase ad spend on winners and begin lookalike/interest expansion for cold audiences.
• Refine landing page flow: add social proof, micro-commitments, and a strong urgency-based CTA for the highest-intent groups.
• Measure conversion lift into appointments and revenue; iterate on scripts and offers using test insights.

Content Calendar Template (example for weeks 1–6)

Use this cadence for serialized release and promotional touchpoints.

• Week 1: Episode 1 (Hook) + organic reels; run cold paid test $200/day
• Week 2: Episode 2 (Teach) + 2 retargeting ads for viewers; $300/day
• Week 3: Episode 3 (Proof) + lead magnet push to engaged viewers; $400/day
• Week 4: Episode 4 (Breakthrough) + testimonial carousel to warm list; $600/day
• Week 5: Episode 5 (Close) + book-a-call push to highest-intent group; $800/day
• Week 6+: Scale winners, introduce lookalikes and high-intent controls; measure CPL and CAC

Ad Spend Plan & ROI Projection (sample numbers for a coaching business)

Example baseline before the program: 50 leads/month at $80 CPL (monthly ad spend $4,000). Goal: 150 leads/month by Day 90.

• Month 1 (Days 1–30): Test creative — spend $6,000 — expected leads: 60 (avg CPL $100 while testing)
• Month 2 (Days 31–60): Optimize winners — spend $9,000 — expected leads: 120 (avg CPL $75)
• Month 3 (Days 61–90): Scale top funnel — spend $15,000 — expected leads: 270 (avg CPL $55) — combined avg leads ~150/mo at or below $60 CPL

Assuming 5% sales conversion and $2,500 average client value, 150 leads × 5% = 7.5 new clients = $18,750 revenue in a month, net positive if CAC acceptable. These numbers are a sample; update with your historical conversion rates.

Key Metrics to Track (and why they matter)

Track at these levels with daily/weekly dashboards:

1. Impressions & Reach — feed-level exposure.
2. View Metrics — 3s views, 6s views, completion rate per episode to diagnose drop-off.
3. Engagement — likes, saves, shares: social proof and organic amplification.
4. CTR to landing page — measures relevance of CTA and creative to offer.
5. Landing page conversion rate — direct impact on CPL.
6. CPL & CPA — paid performance and profitability.
7. Lead quality metrics — lead score, appointment booked rate, demo to close rate.

Testing Plan: What to A/B and when

Test in tiers. Run multiple small tests in Phase 1, then scale winners in Phase 2.

• Creative tests: Hook 1 vs Hook 2, 15s vs 45s, caption copy variations.
• Sequence tests: Episode order changes — does starting with a case study outperform a pain-hook?
• Offer tests: Free audit vs checklist vs webinar for lead magnet.
• Landing page tests: Short form vs multi-step micro-commitment.
• Audience tests: Interest-based vs lookalike vs retargeting depth.

Creative Playbook: Serialized Video Structure (repeatable for any niche)

Each 30–60s episode follows the same anatomy for consistency and predictability.

1. Open (0–3s): Strong hook — contrarian stat or bold promise.
2. Value (4–40s): One actionable nugget — teachable, specific, and relevant.
3. Cliffhanger (40–55s): Tease the next episode or promise extra resources.
4. CTA (final 5–8s): Micro-commitment (download/DM/book a call).

Example script for Episode 1 (coaching lead gen): “Stop wasting discovery calls — here’s the 3-minute audit that qualifies a client fast. I’ll show you in Episode 2. Want the audit now? Tap the link.”

Technology Stack & Tracking Checklist (2026 best practices)

• Video editing: AI-assisted editors (script to cut, auto-caption, smart crop) to speed production
• Hosting & delivery: Native platform uploads (TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts) + CMS for landing pages
• Analytics: GA4 + Server-side conversion API + CRM (e.g., HubSpot, Pipedrive) for lead attribution
• Ad platforms: Meta, TikTok, YouTube Shorts — use automated creative optimization with manual guardrails
• Privacy: First-party data capture, server-side tracking, and consent management for cookieless environments

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

• Pitfall: Publishing episodes without a sequence or CTA. Fix: Always design serial arcs and map CTAs to funnel stages.
• Pitfall: Measuring only vanity metrics. Fix: Tie views to landing page behavior and CRM outcomes.
• Pitfall: Waiting to optimize until after scaling. Fix: Use early-phase budget to find a winning creative/funnel pair before ramping spend.
• Pitfall: Ignoring first-party data. Fix: Capture emails and micro-commitments early to de-risk third-party tracking changes.

Replication Template: Fill-in-the-Blanks Case Study

Use this template to document, test, and replicate the process for other offers.

• Industry / Offer: __________________
• Baseline leads/month and CPL: __________________
• Target 90‑day goal: __________________
• Series theme & episode titles: 1) __________ 2) __________ 3) __________ 4) __________ 5) __________
• Primary CTA per episode: __________
• Ad platforms & daily budget (Phase 1 / Phase 2 / Phase 3): __________
• Primary KPIs to hit each week: impressions, completion rate, CTR, CPL, leads

Advanced Strategies for Scaling Beyond 90 Days

When the 90‑day tests prove the model, move to advanced playbooks:

• Programization: Convert successful cohorts into evergreen group programs with serialized onboarding videos.
• Licensing & partnerships: Co-produce serialized vertical content with complementary brands to expand reach — a good model is Merch & Community co-productions and micro-runs.
• Automated upsell sequences: Use episode-based triggers to move leads into higher-ticket sales flows.
• Creative systemization: Create a library of modular episodes to recombine for niche sub-audiences — similar reuse patterns show up in the Small Label Playbook for creative catalogs.

Final Checklist Before You Start

1. Scripted 5-episode sequence with written CTAs
2. Landing pages A/B ready and tracking installed
3. Ad accounts and budgets segmented by phase
4. CRM pipeline and lead scoring prepared
5. Dashboard for daily KPI monitoring

Why This Works: Signals, Habits, and Intent in 2026

Serialized vertical videos build micro-habits. Platforms in 2025–2026 increasingly promote content that keeps viewers returning — exactly the kind of behavior that raises audience quality and conversion intent. Combine that with AI tools that accelerate production and you have a repeatable, scalable lead-generation engine.

Call to Action

Ready to copy this blueprint? Use the fill-in-the-blanks template above, run the 90‑day plan, and measure the five KPIs daily. If you want a ready-made content calendar, script templates and an ROI calculator tailored to your numbers, book a 20-minute strategy call with our growth team — we’ll map a custom 90‑day plan to help you 3x leads predictably.

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