News & Views | Infinity

ROAS Optimization: How First-Party Data Integration Maximizes ROI

Written by Lucy McCormick | Mar 12, 2025 10:00:01 AM

Return on ad spend (ROAS) optimisation is one of the North Star metrics for any marketer running paid campaigns.

However, evolving data privacy laws and the deprecation of third-party cookies make traditional attribution models less reliable, meaning the results you see might not always be painting the full picture.

But there is a way for marketers to stay ahead, and that involves shifting to first-⁠party data integration. Taking this approach enables marketers to provide direct customer insights to bidding platforms which fuels a solid data-driven ad strategy.

So, keep reading to explore how leveraging first-⁠party data can lead to better ROAS optimization and smarter campaign decisions.

Why first-⁠party data is key in ROAS optimization

The decline of third-party data

Third-party data sources are becoming less reliable due to:

  • Stricter privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)
  • Phasing out of third-party cookies by major browsers
  • Increased demand for transparent, consent-driven marketing

As a result, it’s no wonder marketers are turning to first-⁠party data to enhance targeting, attribution, and budget efficiency. Why I hear you ask? Well, first-⁠party data provides the most accurate, privacy-compliant insights into customer behavior.

Unlike third-party data, which can be unreliable, first-⁠party data comes straight from your audience. This makes it a valuable data source that’ll help you nail personalized experiences that’ll in turn give your conversion rates a shot in the arm.

The power of first-⁠party data

The power of first-⁠party data lies in the rich insights collected directly from customer interactions. In other words, it gives marketers a direct line to customer intent. We’re talking things like:

  • Website behaviour: Clicks, form fills, logins, and browsing patterns that reveal intent
  • Call tracking software insights: Phone conversions, conversation analytics, and call outcomes that highlight high-value leads
  • CRM data: Customer preferences, past purchases, and lifecycle stages to fuel hyper-personalized marketing

By integrating these data points, marketers get a complete view of the customer journey – not just a slice of it. With this intel, it’s much easier to reduce wasted spend, drive higher engagement, and take ROAS optimization to the next level.

The role of first-⁠party data integration in marketing

Smarter audience targeting

Because first-⁠party data enables more accurate audience segmentation, it’s much easier for marketers to:

  • Identify high-intent users
  • Personalise messaging based on actual customer behavior
  • Enhance ad targeting for higher conversion rates
  • Drastically improve overall PPC Performance

To add to that, marketers using first-⁠party data integration with platforms like Google Ads and Meta can also:

  • Optimize bidding strategies based on real conversion data
  • Feed offline conversions into ad algorithms to improve automated campaign decisions
  • Reduce wasted ad spend by focusing on high-value interactions

Smart Outcomes: Enhancing ROAS through AI and first-⁠party data

Leveraging AI-powered call tracking

Call tracking platforms play a vital role in capturing offline conversions, which are often missing from digital attribution models. But with the rise of AI-powered solutions like Infinity’s Smart Outcomes, you can take this even further by:

  • Identifying call intent and outcomes that matter most i.e., sales and conversions
  • Automatically feeding call conversion data directly into bidding algorithms tools
  • Reducing CPL while maximising ROAS by prioritizing activities that drive leads

Data-driven decision making

By integrating AI-powered call tracking software with CRM and PPC tools, marketers gain real-time insights into customer interactions. This helps to:

  • Improve cross-channel attribution
  • Refine audience targeting based on real engagement
  • Continuously optimise campaigns for maximum efficiency

Keen to start using first-⁠party data for ROAS optimization?

If you’re keen to start making the most of your first-⁠party data to give your ROAS optimization a boost, consider some of these steps:

1 Get started with call tracking software

Use a call tracking software solution to make sure all inbound calls are tracked and attributed back to the marketing activities that led to them.

2 Integrate first-⁠party data with PPC and analytics platforms

Use tools that seamlessly sync customer insights with Google Ads, Meta, and CRM software so you can use quality first-⁠party data across all platforms.

3 Use AI to identify high-value leads

Let AI-driven analytics categorize call outcomes and identify callers with strong purchase intent.

4 Monitor conversion trends, test audience segments, and adjust bidding to maximize ROAS.

Marketers who prioritize first-⁠party data integration will outperform competitors relying on outdated attribution models. By embracing AI-driven call tracking and real-time data insights, marketing teams can maximise budget efficiency, enhance PPC performance, and improve ROAS. What’s not to like?