Kiavi increases qualified leads by 950% and cuts CPL by 90% through lead qualification optimization. The epic win. Level Agency turned smarter data signals into a scalable acquisition engine that helped Kiavi reach the right investors faster and more efficiently. The challenge. Kiavi, a national lender for real estate investors, wanted to accelerate growth for one of its most profitable products, the Portfolio Loan, which is available only to borrowers with five or more properties. The marketing team faced a critical imbalance: most inquiries came from investors who did not meet that threshold. Despite steady conversion volume, only 10 - 15 percent of leads actually qualified. That meant Kiavi's highest-margin product was underperforming while acquisition costs soared to $3,000 - $4,000 per qualified lead. Kiavi's goal was clear: maintain overall lead flow while dramatically improving qualification quality. To succeed, they needed to redefine how success was measured within their ad platforms. The analysis. Kiavi partnered with Level Agency to examine campaign data and uncover what was driving low qualification rates. Together, they mapped the user path from ad click to form submission and discovered that campaign algorithms were being rewarded for total conversions rather than qualified borrowers. Most "leads" came from users selecting only one to four properties. These prospects were valuable for other Kiavi products but not for Portfolio Loans. The teams realized that the platforms were learning to deliver more of the wrong audience. Kiavi did not have a lead generation problem; it had a signal problem. The insight. By turning the "5+ properties" selection into a measurable, high-value event, they could teach Google Ads and Meta to recognize what a profitable borrower looks like. This shift in perspective, from chasing volume to rewarding value, became the foundation of their turnaround. The strategy. Kiavi's team implemented a data-driven, value-based bidding approach aligned with business outcomes: * Created a custom conversion event for users selecting five or more properties * Assigned higher value weighting to those converstions so algorithms prioritized qualified investors * Maintained broader lead capture for one to four property borrowers to support other loan products * Optimized ad copy, targeting, and creative toward experienced investors with multiple holdings * Established continuous learning cycles between Kiavi's internal analytics and Level's media optimization Within 60 days, Kiavi's marketing, data, and creative teams were unified around a single shared metric: qualified portfolio borrowers. The results. After implementing Level's qualified conversion method, the campaigns began prioritizing qualified borrowers instead of total volume. By June, nearly 77% met the property threshold required for Kiavi's high-margin Portfolio Loans, up from 15% previously. * Qualified lead volume increased by more than 950%, turning a low-efficiency channel into a scalable growth driver. * Cost per qualified lead fell by 90%, dropping from several thousand dollars to just $207. * Lead quality improved every month, creating a sustainable, data-driven acquisition model that continues to deliver strong performance. In less than four months, Kiavi turned its most expensive marketing challenge into a scalable profit driver, proving how powerful the right data signal can be.

Level acquires BAM Strategy to deliver growth across the full customer lifecycle. By News Desk On Oct 29, 2025 Level, a digital marketing firm backed by private equity sponsor Dubin Clark, announced the acquisition of BAM Strategy, bringing together two category leaders to create a single growth partner built to capture, convert, and keep customers. The combined organization connects performance marketing with loyalty at scale, helping brands drive measurable growth and lasting customer value. The acquisition unites Level's proven AI-powered digital marketing and analytics expertise with BAM's strength in creative, CRM, and loyalty strategy. Together, the teams will serve more than 150 clients across education, financial services, CPG, B2B technology, consumer health, and home services, sectors where relationships are complex and long-term. The combined 250-person organization operates from five offices across North America. "Clients want measurable growth and customer relationships that last," said Patrick Patterson, Chief Executive Officer of Level. "By welcoming BAM Strategy, we are uniting a world-class performance engine with enterprise-grade creative, CRM, and loyalty to help brands capture, convert, and keep their customers, delivering measurable growth today and durable loyalty over time. We're not just scaling; we're reshaping how performance and brand strategy work together to create enduring growth." "BAM has always focused on turning attention into loyalty," added Lonn Shulkin, President of BAM Strategy. "Joining Level gives our clients the best of both worlds, combining the creative and CRM partnership they know with deeper performance intelligence and broader capabilities that help us deliver greater value across the full customer lifecycle." "Dubin Clark remains confident in the innovation and level of service Level provides its clients," said Thomas Cooperrider, Principal at Dubin Clark. "The addition of BAM Strategy brings a further set of capabilities to Level's clients and the broader market, especially as companies continue to seek providers that drive both acquisition and long-term value. This partnership builds the kind of diversified, sticky growth platform investors and clients are looking for."

Level, a digital marketing firm backed by Dubin Clark, has acquired BAM Strategy. This merger aims to create a unified growth partner that enhances customer acquisition, conversion, and retention. The combined entity will integrate performance marketing with loyalty programs to drive measurable growth and long-term customer value.