Product Differentiation + Brand Building + PPC Scaling

From Backyard Game to Brand Powerhouse – 310% Growth for GoSports Cornhole

 

The Challenge:

GoSports was selling a well-made but visually basic cornhole board set. Despite quality construction (regulation size, all-weather wood), sales were stagnant due to:

Key issues:

  • ❗CVR at just 9.8%, especially weak during peak summer sales

  • ❗Average listing copy and visuals

  • ❗Price competition with low-quality sellers

  • ❗Poor ad performance (ACOS: 52%)

    ❗No real brand story or social proof
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Client: GoSports
Category: Sports & Outdoor

Market: Amazon US
Duration: 90 Days

Our Strategy

We transformed the product from a commodity into a lifestyle-driven brand anchored in premium backyard experiences.

1. Visual Identity Upgrade + Differentiation

  • • Full image overhaul: Lifestyle shots featuring families, tailgate scenes, and weekend barbecues

  • • Close-up product detail shots showing wood grain, edge smoothness, and carry handles

  • • A+ Content: Side-by-side quality comparisons, “How to Play” modules, and GIF-style motion embeds

  • • Brand tagline added: “Game On. Anywhere.”

Impact:

  • • Image CTR grew from 1.1% → 3.6%

  • • Time on listing up by 44 seconds

  • • A+ Content click-through rate jumped to 4.2%

2. Listing Optimization + Enhanced Copy

  • • Shifted from feature-heavy to benefit-first messaging (“Built for Rivalry. Designed for Family.”)

  • • Bullets rewritten to address buyer objections: weight, portability, durability

  • • Embedded FAQ and infographics in main images

  • • Review mention overlays (e.g., “Easy Setup” – quoted from verified buyers)

Impact:

  • • Conversion Rate increased to 26.7%

  • • Return rate decreased by 28%

  • • Average order value (AOV) rose to $114.70 (via bag set upsells)

3. PPC Restructure + Seasonal Scaling

  • 1. Built a seasonally tiered ad strategy (pre-summer push, July 4th surge, back-to-school cool-down)

  • 2. Keyword segmentation into:

    • • Utility (e.g., “regulation cornhole board”)

    • • Gift Intent (e.g., “father’s day outdoor game”)

    • • Event-Based (e.g., “tailgate games for adults”)

  • 3. Video ads launched with UGC clips of real backyard gameplay

  • 4. Sponsored Brands campaign linked to a new custom-built Brand Store

Impact:

  • • ACOS down to 26.5%

  • • TACoS maintained at 13.7% despite doubling ad spend

  • • Sponsored video CTR: 4.9%

  • • July 4th weekend sales spike: 412 units in 3 days

4. Canadian Market Expansion

  • • Launched on Amazon.ca with price and keyword localization

  • • Weatherproof angle emphasized more heavily in Canada

  • • French bilingual bullet points added for Quebec market

  • • Prime-eligible fulfillment handled via NARF

Impact (Canada, 30 days):

  • • $9.4K revenue

  • • 12.3% CVR

  • • 5 Page 1 keywords

  • • ROAS: 4.2x

5. Post-Purchase Experience + Social Proof Engine

  • • Insert card with QR link to “Backyard Game Day Ideas” PDF

  • • UGC contest: #GoCornholeChallenge on Instagram

  • • Automated follow-up for reviews + photo submissions

Impact:

  • • 237 new reviews in 45 days (4.7⭐️ avg.)

  • • 83 UGC entries

  • • +19% branded search increase month-over-month

MetricBeforeAfter
Monthly Revenue $22.1K $90.7K (+310%)
Conversion Rate 9.8% 26.7%
ACOS 52% 26.5%
TACoS 21% 13.7%
Branded Traffic 8% 24%
Canada Revenue $0 $9.4K
By treating a cornhole board as more than just a product, and instead building an aspirational lifestyle brand around it, GoSports dominated a seasonal niche, scaled into international markets, and built long-term customer equity. This case proves you can win big, even in a saturated space, when you combine visual storytelling, strategic ads, and data-backed positioning.