In our last blog, we explored why ROI analysis at Faraday isn’t just about proving value after the fact—it’s also about continually uncovering new opportunities. 

We shared what that looks like at a high level. But this isn’t just a philosophy expressed in our marketing; it’s how we work every day. So today, we’re sharing a story from the \~real world\~ that shows just how much insight you can unlock through our comprehensive ROI evaluation process.

It also drives home an important point: these evaluations can only achieve their full value if you actually engage with them. The top-line numbers might say “Yep, it’s going great,” but just because that’s good news doesn’t mean it reflects the whole story. 

Sure, it’s going great, but how great, and where is there room for improvement? Which parts of the campaign are driving the most value? The least value? Do we need to revise any major assumptions to be more accurate? 

Indeed when it comes to ROI analyses like these, digging deeper is where the real opportunity lies.

## A deeper dive reveals something unexpected

Hi, ROI extraordinaire Chris Waite here. After I came on full-time at the start of the year as Faraday’s Head of Customer Analytics, I kicked off ROI initiatives with several of our existing customers. The goal was simple: move beyond one-time reports and start treating ROI as an ongoing conversation—one that actively drives value, not just records it.

With one financial services client, we began with my usual process: aligning on key assumptions—value per conversion, attribution logic, unit costs—and setting up monthly check-ins to track progress and dig into results over time.

And the returns looked great. Performance was strong, and the model was holding up. But during one of those check-ins a couple of months ago, someone on their team made an offhand remark that caught our attention: some of their hardest-to-convert prospects—sometimes rejected due to their low predicted conversion rates—actually had the potential to generate the *most* value if they did convert.

Our interest was piqued, so we ran the numbers.

We analyzed the relationship between Faraday’s prediction scores and the average conversion revenue. Sure enough, there was a clear pattern: while certain low-scoring groups converted less frequently, they delivered more value when they did.

The selection process didn’t need a full overhaul—but it did need a refinement. We brought the results back to the client, and together we incorporated these insights into their approach. By adding an additional variable into our selection process, we could proactively identify the majority of these high-value individuals and ensure their inclusion in the campaign. Once updated, the campaign began to improve—conversion rates dipped slightly (by design), but total revenue went up.

This is a perfect example of how our ROI reporting process uncovers new and unexpected insights that drive value. In this case, we used it to fine-tune suppression logic and reframe scoring thresholds—without a full process overhaul. The outcome was a smarter, more mission-aligned strategy that helped the client prioritize not just likely conversions, but the ones with the greatest potential overall value.

And through that process, we uncovered something more. These high-impact conversions weren’t just good for business—they were cultural wins. Inside the company, signing one of these clients—often individuals carrying significant debt—was seen as a major moment. It represented the core of their mission: to support people who need it most. The whole team felt it.

So yes, ROI is about financial returns. But sometimes, it's also about morale, alignment, and purpose. In this case, their investment in Faraday didn’t just lead to better outcomes on paper—it reinforced the values that drive their business forward.

## From revenue recap to campaign shift

This paradigm shift is exactly Faraday’s goal when we present our clients with our ROI reports. We can talk about them driving value as much as we want but they drive the most value with buy-in and funding from the teams that use them.

In this case, thanks to the deeper ROI dive, the client was able to:

* Identify underutilized customer types  
* Refine their lead suppression strategy  
* Shift budget allocations across customer segments  
* Drive more high-impact conversions

None of that was the original intent. But that’s the point—when ROI becomes an ongoing process, not just a retroactive check-in, it drives value in real time.

## Why Faraday treats ROI like strategy

We’re not sharing this story to pat ourselves on the back—we’re sharing it because it highlights something bigger: most companies treat ROI as a postmortem. We treat it as a feedback loop.

At Faraday, ROI modeling isn’t a final deliverable—it’s built into every engagement from day one. We co-develop success metrics with our clients, revisit assumptions as new information emerges, and treat every report as a living document meant to drive change in real time. Because when ROI is treated as a collaborative, evolving process—not a static snapshot—it doesn’t just validate past performance. It unlocks new value, sharpens ongoing strategy, and turns every insight into an opportunity for future impact.

## Coming up next

In our next post, we’ll pull back the curtain on how we build some of our ROI models at Faraday—what goes into them, what we measure (and why), and how we handle the gray areas most companies avoid.

Because the better you understand your own ROI, the greater your ability to power new growth.

A routine ROI check uncovered a surprising insight that helped a financial services client shift strategy, boost revenue, and realign with their core mission.

This financial services brand’s ROI assessment empowered a whole new strategy

If you frequent our blog (firstly, thank you), you already know that Faraday loves data, transparency, and [explainability](https://faraday.ai/blog/faraday-score-explainability). These ideas are at the center of our modeling and predictive agents—but it doesn't stop there. That emphasis permeates every aspect of our business.

So when we talk about return on investment (ROI), we’re not just talking about showing a nice number at the end of your campaign. We’re talking about helping you actually understand how Faraday is generating value for your business—not just the number, but where it came from, what influenced it, and how it can best inform your next move.

That’s actually why Faraday hired me.

Hi—I’m [Chris Waite](https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-waite-b3548015/), and I’m a data nerd who specializes in evaluating ROI for all our clients. My role is to make sure the value Faraday drives for your business is accurate, understandable, and, most importantly, guiding you towards further insights.

At Faraday, we don’t think of ROI as a final number you get at the end of a campaign. We treat it as a living, evolving data point—a signal that tells a story over time. And just like with any good story, you should be able to follow the plot. My job is to make sure you can.

ROI isn’t only about justifying past spend—it’s about helping you make better, faster, and more confident decisions moving forward. Knowing how things went is good… But knowing where to go next? Even better.

## ROI isn’t a score—it’s a strategy

A lot of companies say they help you track ROI—but what that actually looks like in practice can vary *a lot*.

Some treat ROI like a final grade. You get a slide at the end of a campaign with a nice round number and a chart pointing up and to the right. Others hand you a projection during onboarding that’s... let’s just say, aspirational. It’s a best-case scenario, not a reflection of what’s actually happening in your campaign.

At Faraday, we think that misses the point.

We treat ROI as a process, not a product. The real value of ROI isn’t just in a number at the end—it’s in what you learn along the way.

Done right, ROI helps you:

* Identify what’s working and what’s not  
* Catch issues and optimize while the campaign is live  
* Challenge assumptions you didn’t even realize were there  
* Build confidence in your strategy—not just in hindsight, but in real time

Because in a landscape where budgets are under pressure and every dollar has to count, ROI isn’t just about proving value. It’s about unlocking more of it.

## What to expect from Faraday’s ROI assessment process

Faraday takes ROI personally. Not just because it proves our value, but because—done right—it helps you uncover where your growth really comes from. And that starts long before the first campaign goes live.

When you work with Faraday, ROI isn’t an afterthought or a once-a-quarter deliverable. It’s built into the process from day one. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

#### We start measuring early

ROI modeling is part of onboarding—not something we tack on at the end. From the beginning, we’re thinking about what success looks like and how we’ll measure it.

#### We define assumptions together

ROI analysis is only as good as the logic behind it. We work closely with clients to make sure the “what if” scenarios we’re comparing against are grounded in data, reasonable, and transparent.

#### We track and adjust in real time

Our goal isn’t just to see if something worked—it’s to learn what’s working *while* it’s happening, so we can adapt. Think of ROI as a feedback loop, not a final grade.

#### We keep you involved

You won’t just get a chart in a deck and a polite “any questions?” We walk through the analysis with you, answer your questions, and collaborate on what the numbers actually mean for your business.

We know not every client comes in with a fully built-out internal analytics team. That’s okay. Whether you’ve got a room full of data analysts or none at all, we meet you where you are. Our job is to make ROI not just accurate, but clear and actionable—so you can make smarter, faster decisions with confidence.

## So what’s next

You might’ve noticed this post is the first in a new series covering all aspects of how Faraday approaches ROI—not just as a reporting tool, but as a driver of real, measurable value.

So what can you expect?

We’ll be diving into real client examples where ROI analysis didn’t just prove our impact—it helped uncover new opportunities and improve campaign performance. We’ll also get into the weeds with technical posts that break down the actual methods I use to assess ROI, from modeling assumptions to attribution logic and more.

In our next post, we’ll share a case study that shows how one client’s ROI review sparked new strategic decisions and unexpected insight.

Because if you’re investing in growth, you deserve more than a black-box metric. You deserve to know what’s working, why it’s working, and how to keep improving.

Let’s make that the standard. We can’t wait to see you here for the next one.

Faraday treats ROI not as a final score but as an ongoing strategy—helping clients understand, optimize, and expand on the value generating strategies we're driving throughout the entire campaign lifecycle.

ROI at Faraday

This financial services brand’s ROI assessment empowered a whole new strategy

ROI isn’t a scorecard—it’s a strategy