LinkedIn Wasted Spend Audit
# The LinkedIn "Wasted Spend" Audit Checklist (2026)
> Use this 10-point framework to identify and recover inefficient LinkedIn Ad spend.
## 1. The "Audience Network" Leak
Check: Is the LinkedIn Audience Network (LAN) enabled?
The Risk: For B2B, LAN often delivers high click volume but extremely low lead quality (junk traffic).
Action: Disable LAN or upload a strict exclusion list of mobile apps and non-business sites.
## 2. Job Title Over-Targeting
Check: Are you using more than 20+ Job Titles in a single campaign?
The Risk: Hyper-fragmenting titles drives up your CPC (Cost Per Click) significantly.
Action: Pivot to "Job Function" combined with "Seniority" to reach the same audience at a lower cost.
## 3. The "Member Group" Trap
Check: Are you targeting broad groups like "Marketing Professionals"?
The Risk: Many members join groups and never leave, making the data stale.
Action: Layer "Group Membership" with "Intent Signals" or "Recent Activity" to ensure the lead is currently active.
## 4. Location Mismatch
Check: Review the "Demographics" tab for Location.
The Risk: LinkedIn often shows ads to "Recently In" a location rather than "Permanently In."
Action: Ensure you are targeting "Permanent Residents" to avoid spending budget on travelers.
## 5. Creative Fatigue (The CDI Check)
Check: Is your Frequency above 4.0 in a 30-day window?
The Risk: Your Creative Decay Index ($CDI$) is likely peaking, meaning you are paying for impressions that no longer convert.
Action: Rotate in 3 new creative variations immediately.
## 6. The "Company Size" Filter
Check: Are you excluding "1-10" and "11-50" if you are an Enterprise seller?
The Risk: Smaller companies often have high engagement but zero budget authority for $25k+ deals.
Action: Set a hard floor on company size based on your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile).
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This checklist is part of the Yirla Agentic Ad Ops framework. For automated auditing, visit yirla.com.