Most Aussie businesses are tired of paying marketing agencies for “effort” rather than outcomes. You sign up for a big retainer, get hit with hours billed, and receive reports full of vanity metrics — clicks, impressions, “brand awareness” — none of which actually pay the bills. Traditional digital marketing models put all the risk on the client, while the agency pockets its fee whether campaigns succeed or flop.
At 3P Digital, we do things differently. Our Pay-Per-Performance Marketing Model flips the script: you only pay when you see real, measurable results. That means leads, bookings, calls, or sales — not empty promises. We share the risk with you because our success is tied directly to yours.
This performance-based marketing approach gives Australian businesses a smarter, fairer way to invest in growth. With transparent reporting, clear goals, and accountability at every step, you’ll know exactly what your digital marketing strategy is delivering. No smoke and mirrors — just outcomes that move your business forward.
Key Takeaways
Traditional marketing agencies charge retainers regardless of results, leaving businesses carrying the risk.
3P Digital’s Pay-Per-Performance Marketing Model means you only pay for real outcomes, not agency effort.
We focus on measurable actions like leads, calls, bookings, and sales — not vanity metrics.
Performance-based marketing gives businesses greater accountability, transparency, and control over their ad spend.
Sharing the risk ensures we’re fully invested in your success — if you grow, we grow.
Summary Table
Aspect | Traditional Marketing Companies | 3P Digital’s Pay-Per-Performance Model |
Payment Structure | Monthly retainers, regardless of results | You only pay per performance when real outcomes are delivered |
Risk | Business carries the risk, agency gets paid no matter what | Risk is shared — we only succeed if you do |
Focus | Impressions, clicks, and other vanity metrics | Tangible results such as leads, calls, bookings, and sales |
Transparency | Limited clarity on what you’re paying for | Full accountability with clear performance metrics and measurable outcomes |
Motivation | Agency effort rewarded, regardless of campaign performance | Performance-based marketing ensures we’re driven to optimise every campaign |
Value | Often uncertain return on ad spend | Every dollar is tied to growth and your business goals |
What Is Performance Marketing and Why It Matters
At its core, performance marketing is about accountability and outcomes. Unlike traditional marketing, where businesses pay upfront for campaigns regardless of results, performance marketing ties spend directly to measurable actions. That could be a lead generated, a sale completed, or even a phone call from a prospective customer. In other words, you’re not paying for promises—you’re paying for proof.
This model has gained traction because businesses are rightly demanding more transparency. In the past, marketing often felt like a gamble. Companies invested heavily in broad campaigns with no clear way of linking spend to return. Performance marketing flips that approach on its head by ensuring spend is linked to trackable results.
For us at 3P Digital, performance marketing isn’t just about data—it’s about fairness. By operating under a pay for performance model, we’re saying to clients: “We’ll share in your success, and if we don’t deliver, you won’t carry the risk.” That simple shift changes the relationship between agency and client. It’s no longer about selling hours or impressions; it’s about building campaigns that generate genuine business outcomes.
The importance of this approach in today’s market can’t be overstated. Digital channels are more competitive than ever. Ad spend is climbing, audiences are fragmented, and algorithms change constantly. Without a performance lens, businesses risk spending more while getting less. Performance marketing matters because it forces both the agency and the client to stay focused on what truly drives growth—measurable outcomes tied to business goals.
Ultimately, performance marketing is about clarity and alignment. Clients gain confidence knowing exactly what they’re paying for, and agencies are incentivised to go beyond surface-level metrics. That accountability is why we’ve built our model this way at 3P Digital—it ensures we’re not just another agency running ads, but a partner genuinely invested in results.
How the Pay Per Performance Model Works at 3P Digital
At 3P Digital, we’ve built our reputation on a model that flips the traditional agency relationship on its head. Instead of charging large retainers and leaving businesses to hope for the best, we align our fees with the actual outcomes we deliver. It’s simple: if we don’t generate results, we don’t get rewarded.
Our pay per performance approach is structured around mutual accountability. We start by working with clients to clearly define the results that matter most—whether that’s new leads, sales, or qualified opportunities. Once we’ve set those benchmarks, we build campaigns designed to hit those specific goals.
What makes our model unique is that it’s not just about minimising risk for the client—it’s also about ensuring skin in the game for us. We share in the upside when campaigns succeed and take on the pressure if things don’t perform. That creates a level of trust that’s hard to replicate in a retainer-based model.
Here’s how it typically works:
Transparent setup – We agree upfront on targets and metrics so both sides know what success looks like.
Ongoing optimisation – Campaigns are continuously tested, refined, and scaled to make sure every dollar of ad spend is working harder.
Shared outcomes – Our revenue is tied directly to your results. If we don’t deliver, you don’t pay the price.
This isn’t just theory—it’s the framework we’ve used for years across industries like e-commerce, professional services, and trades. The results speak for themselves: clients enjoy measurable growth while knowing their marketing partner is financially motivated to achieve more.
The model also forces us to be selective. Because we only succeed when our clients succeed, we partner with businesses where we can confidently add value. That ensures we’re not just running ads for the sake of it, but crafting campaigns that have a direct impact on revenue and growth.
By putting performance at the centre of everything, we’ve built lasting client relationships based not on promises, but on proof.
Key Benefits of Partnering with a Performance-Based Agency
Choosing a performance-based agency like 3P Digital isn’t just about trying a different billing structure—it’s about reshaping how you view marketing partnerships. When outcomes are tied directly to results, the advantages extend far beyond cost savings.
1. Risk Reduction
Traditional retainers ask businesses to pay upfront with no guarantee of return. With our model, you only pay for what we actually deliver. That removes a significant layer of financial risk and gives you the confidence that your marketing dollars are being used effectively.
2. Full Transparency
Because results are the foundation of our work, transparency is non-negotiable. From campaign performance to spend allocation, you’ll always know where every cent is going. That clarity makes it easier to make informed decisions and trust that your partner is working in your best interests.
3. Stronger Accountability
Our pay per performance model forces accountability. If campaigns don’t perform, we don’t win. That shared pressure keeps us laser-focused on outcomes that matter to your business, not just vanity metrics.
4. Higher ROI Potential
When both sides are invested in success, campaigns naturally push harder towards growth. We continuously optimise to increase leads, lower acquisition costs, and create compounding returns over time. The result? A higher ROI than you’re likely to see in a fixed-fee arrangement.
5. True Partnership
This model means we can’t afford to treat clients as just another account. We succeed together—or not at all. That creates stronger collaboration, shared wins, and long-term trust built on performance rather than promises.
In short, partnering with a performance-based agency means less waste, more clarity, and a focus on driving measurable outcomes. It’s marketing that works the way business owners have always wanted it to: accountable, transparent, and aligned with growth.
Challenges and Misconceptions About Performance Marketing
While performance marketing offers clear advantages, there are still a few misconceptions and challenges worth addressing. Understanding these helps businesses see the real value of working with a pay per performance agency like 3P Digital.
Misconception 1: “It’s Too Good to Be True”
The most common reaction we hear is scepticism. How can an agency really share the risk and still deliver results? The answer lies in experience and process. After more than a decade building and running campaigns, we know what works. We’re confident enough in our systems to put skin in the game.
Misconception 2: “It Only Works for Certain Industries”
Some businesses assume performance marketing only suits e-commerce or high-volume lead generation. That’s not the case. Our model is built to adapt. Whether you’re in professional services, construction, or technology, the principle remains the same: we align our fees to outcomes that matter to your business.
Challenge 1: Clear Goal Setting
Performance marketing hinges on well-defined objectives. If success isn’t clear, it’s difficult to measure. That’s why we spend time upfront working with clients to nail down realistic, measurable goals before campaigns launch.
Challenge 2: Trust and Transparency
Sharing risk requires mutual trust. Some businesses are used to agencies hiding behind complex reports or vague metrics. Our approach flips that dynamic. We provide full visibility and encourage open communication to ensure both sides remain aligned.
Challenge 3: Long-Term Thinking
Performance marketing isn’t about quick wins at all costs. It’s about sustainable, scalable growth. That means resisting the temptation to chase vanity metrics and instead focusing on the strategies that drive long-term ROI.
By tackling these misconceptions and challenges head-on, 3P Digital shows that performance marketing isn’t a gimmick—it’s a model that can work across industries, provided both parties commit to clear goals and transparency.
How 3P Digital’s Model Delivers Real Business Outcomes
At 3P Digital, our pay per performance model is more than just a pricing structure — it’s a philosophy that drives how we work with clients. Instead of locking businesses into fixed retainers with no guaranteed results, we align our success directly with yours. If we don’t deliver outcomes, we don’t deserve to win.
Shared Risk, Shared Reward
Traditional marketing agencies ask clients to carry all the risk. Our model flips that approach. By tying our fees to agreed outcomes, we share the responsibility for growth. That means you can focus on running your business, knowing your marketing partner is just as invested in results as you are.
Tailored to Your Business Goals
Every business has different measures of success. For some, it’s lead generation. For others, it’s sales or brand growth. We build campaigns that target the outcomes that matter most to you — and then structure our remuneration so we only succeed when you do.
Built on Proven Processes
Our confidence in this model comes from experience. After co-founding multiple agencies and working with Australian businesses for over a decade, we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. Our campaigns are built on data, strategy, and ongoing optimisation to keep results moving forward.
Full Transparency
Performance marketing can only work if both sides are clear on what’s happening. That’s why we provide transparent reporting, open communication, and measurable KPIs from day one. There are no vague metrics or smoke and mirrors — just real results that stand up to scrutiny.
Long-Term Partnerships
We don’t chase short-term wins. Instead, we focus on building sustainable growth and long-term relationships. Many of our clients stay with us because they can see the impact of having a marketing partner who’s financially and strategically aligned to their success.
When you strip away the jargon, the 3P Digital model is simple: we win when you win. It’s that alignment that makes performance marketing not just different, but better.
Why Businesses Are Making the Shift to Performance Marketing
Australian businesses are under more pressure than ever to prove the value of their marketing spend. With economic conditions shifting and competition increasing, few can afford to throw money at strategies that don’t deliver. That’s why more companies are moving away from fixed-fee retainers and embracing performance marketing models.
Cost Certainty in Uncertain Times
When budgets are tight, every dollar counts. Performance marketing gives business owners confidence because spend is tied to measurable outcomes. Instead of paying for “activity,” you’re paying for real, trackable results — whether that’s leads, sales, or other KPIs that directly impact your bottom line.
Accountability That Builds Trust
Traditional marketing can sometimes feel like a gamble. Agencies report on impressions, clicks, and reach, but those numbers don’t always translate into business growth. Performance marketing changes that by holding agencies accountable to the same results clients care about. It creates a level of trust that’s hard to achieve with conventional retainers.
Aligning With Business Goals
The old one-size-fits-all approach to marketing doesn’t work anymore. Businesses now expect strategies tailored to their unique goals. Performance marketing naturally aligns with this because outcomes are defined upfront. This ensures both agency and client are working towards the same measurable business objectives, rather than vague deliverables.
Long-Term Growth, Not Quick Wins
Another reason businesses are making the shift is the sustainability factor. Quick campaigns with no accountability rarely deliver lasting impact. Performance marketing incentivises agencies to build strategies that not only work today but also scale into the future. It rewards ongoing optimisation, continuous improvement, and growth that compounds over time.
A Smarter Way Forward
Ultimately, performance marketing reflects a smarter, more modern way of working. It recognises that trust is earned through outcomes, not promises. For Australian businesses that want to de-risk their marketing and ensure every dollar is working harder, the pay per performance model offers a clear path forward.
Final Thoughts
Performance marketing isn’t just another trend; it’s a shift in how businesses think about accountability and growth. By tying spend directly to outcomes, companies gain confidence that their investment is being put to work in measurable, meaningful ways.
At 3P Digital, our pay per performance model was built on the belief that marketing should be a partnership — where both sides share in the risks and rewards. This keeps us focused on what matters: delivering results that align with your business goals.
And as Alex often says, “Don’t let great get in the way of good.” Waiting for the perfect strategy can stall growth. Sometimes, the smartest move is to start, measure, and improve — and performance marketing makes that possible.
FAQs Answered
1. What is pay per performance marketing?
Pay per performance marketing is a model where businesses only pay when agreed outcomes are achieved — such as leads, phone calls, bookings, or sales. Unlike traditional retainers or hourly billing, this approach removes the risk of wasting money on vanity metrics. At 3P Digital, we structure campaigns around measurable goals that align with business growth. If results aren’t delivered, you don’t pay.
2. How does pay per performance differ from traditional marketing?
Most traditional marketing agencies charge monthly retainers, regardless of outcomes. They’ll often highlight clicks, impressions, or “brand awareness,” but these don’t always drive revenue. Pay per performance flips that model — the agency only earns when outcomes are met. At 3P Digital, we tie fees directly to measurable results, meaning we share the risk with you and focus on growth that actually moves the needle.
3. Is performance marketing only for large companies?
Not at all. While big companies benefit from accountability, performance marketing is often even more valuable for SMEs. Smaller businesses need every marketing dollar to work harder, and this model gives them flexibility to scale up or down based on outcomes. Whether you’re a local service provider or an e-commerce business, performance marketing ensures spend is tied directly to growth, not guesswork.
4. What kind of results can you expect from performance marketing?
Results depend on industry, goals, and budgets, but the principle remains: if outcomes aren’t achieved, there’s no cost. For example, an equipment hire company that partnered with us doubled their lead volume and achieved a 4x return on ad spend within three months — without increasing budget. Performance marketing delivers transparency by linking spend directly to growth.
5. How do you start with pay per performance marketing?
The process usually begins with a strategy call to define business goals and agree on outcomes that matter most. From there, a tailored campaign is built around those metrics with clear expectations. At 3P Digital, we make it simple — you stop paying for promises and only pay for results. It’s a sustainable way to build long-term growth with full accountability.
