Why Brand Marketers Can’t Afford to Ignore CLOs
Digital advertising in the U.S. is bigger than ever, with spending set to exceed $325 billion in 2025. But for brand marketers, the real question isn’t just where the money is going—it’s which channels deliver measurable results.
Digital advertising in the U.S. is bigger than ever, with spending set to exceed $325 billion in 2025. But for brand marketers, the real question isn’t just where the money is going—it’s which channels deliver measurable results.
Historically, search and display have dominated budgets, with social and video rapidly gaining ground. These channels remain important, but they’re increasingly crowded and expensive. At the same time, performance-based models—where advertisers only pay when a consumer takes action—are experiencing explosive growth.
Among them, Card-Linked Offers (CLOs) stand out as one of the most underutilized yet effective tools in the performance marketer’s arsenal.
CLOs connect directly to consumer spending behavior. By linking offers to payment cards and delivering them through trusted banking apps and fintech platforms, CLOs allow brands to target customers based on actual purchase data. This means you can reach lapsed buyers, conquest competitors’ customers, or reward your most loyal segments—all with precision.
The real power of CLO lies in its incrementality. Instead of guessing whether a campaign worked, CLO programs measure lift using transaction data and control groups. Every dollar spent can be tied to new revenue, giving marketers the kind of clarity that’s often missing in other channels.
And because CLOs run inside authenticated financial environments, they’re virtually fraud-free.
For brand marketers under pressure to prove ROI, CLOs offer a rare combination: secure environments, closed-loop attribution, and performance-based pricing. While brand campaigns remain critical for long-term equity, CLOs should be part of every marketer’s testing roadmap.
Bottom line: If you haven’t yet experimented with CLOs, now is the time. The brands that lean into performance-driven, data-rich channels today will be the ones capturing market share tomorrow.
Ready to explore what CLO can do for your brand? Contact LuckyDiem to start a pilot today.