The €86 to €13.87 Secret: Meta's New Algorithm That Cork Agencies Don't Understand

In late 2024, Meta quietly rolled out a completely new advertising algorithm called Andromeda.It replaced the targeting systems advertisers had relied on for years.

Most Cork agencies have not adapted.

And Cork businesses are paying the price.

The Case Study That Changes Everything

Before Andromeda:

• Cost per conversion: €86
  

After understanding Andromeda:

• Cost per conversion: €13.87
  

That is an 84 percent reduction in cost.

What changed?

Eight new creatives were added to the campaign. Nothing else.

What Is the Andromeda Algorithm?

Before Andromeda, Facebook advertising was driven by manual audience selection. Advertisers chose who would see ads based on age, gender, interests, or behaviours.

For example: “Women aged 35 to 50 interested in yoga.”

Andromeda fundamentally changed this model.

Today, Meta’s AI decides who sees your ads based on:

• Creative performance

• Engagement patterns

• Conversion behaviour

• Creative diversity

Advertisers no longer control targeting directly. The algorithm does.

The One Metric Most Cork Agencies Do Not Track: Creative Similarity

Creative Similarity is now one of the most important factors in Facebook ad performance.

High Creative Similarity leads to high costs.

When ads look too similar, the same layouts, angles, colours, or AI-generated style, Meta’s algorithm classifies them as:

• Repetitive

• Fatiguing for users

• Low-quality content

The result is a sharp increase in CPM (cost per thousand impressions).

Low Creative Similarity produces the opposite effect.

When Meta sees a diverse creative library, ad costs decrease and delivery improves.

Why Most Cork Agencies Are Failing Under Andromeda

To understand how agencies have adapted, I contacted eight digital marketing agencies in Cork and asked a simple question:

“How have you adapted to Meta’s Andromeda algorithm?”

The responses were revealing:

• Six agencies were unfamiliar with the algorithm

• Two agencies had heard of it but could not explain how they had adapted

The standard agency workflow remains unchanged:

1. Three to five creatives per month

2. The same design templates

3. The same AI tools

4. Identical styles and angles

5. Ads run unchanged for thirty days

This is exactly the behaviour Andromeda penalises.

The €86 to €13.87 Framework The case study followed a clear four-step process.

Step 1: Expand the Creative Library

At least eight new creatives were added, using:

• Multiple formats such as single image, carousel, and video

• Multiple angles including product, lifestyle, testimonials, and behind-the-scenes

• Multiple styles such as professional, raw, and text-based

Step 2: Allow Algorithmic Placement Optimisation

Manual placement selection was removed.

Instead of forcing ads into specific placements such as Instagram Reels or Facebook Feed, Advantage+ placements were enabled.

Meta’s AI already understands where conversions occur most efficiently.

Step 3: Monitor Creative Fatigue Through CPM

Rising CPMs are a clear indicator of creative fatigue.

When CPM increases by approximately twenty percent, creatives should be refreshed.

Step 4: Analyse Creative Themes

Meta’s Top Creative Themes metric was used to identify which messaging styles performed best, such as humour, social proof, or authority-based messaging.

The Cost Difference in Real Terms

Traditional Cork agency model:

• Three to five creatives per month

• Reused templates

• Manual placement control

• No Creative Similarity tracking

Average cost per conversion: €45 to €85

Andromeda-optimised model:

• Eight or more diverse creatives

• Multiple visual and narrative angles

• Advantage+ placements

• Creative Similarity monitoring

Average cost per conversion: €12 to €22

The difference is three to four times more conversions for the same budget.

What This Means for a €1,200 Monthly Retainer

If a Cork business pays an agency €1,200 per month and that agency:

• Produces limited creative variation

• Reuses the same templates

• Does not track Creative Similarity

• Does not understand Andromeda

The ad budget is being wasted.

Example using a €1,500 ad budget:

• €65 per conversion results in approximately 23 conversions

• €15 per conversion results in approximately 100 conversions

The budget is identical. The outcome is not.

Five Questions Every Cork Business Should Ask Their Agency

1. What is our Creative Similarity score?

2. How many unique creative angles are tested each month?

3. Are Advantage+ placements being used or manual placements?

4. How is creative fatigue monitored and addressed?

5. What is the current cost-per-conversion trend over time?

If an agency cannot answer these clearly, the strategy is outdated.

The Reality for Cork SMEs

Most Cork SMEs operate with advertising budgets between €500 and €2,000 per month.

Every euro must work.

At €1,000 per month:

• Traditional approach delivers roughly 15 conversions

• Andromeda-optimised delivery produces approximately 66 conversions

That difference determines whether advertising scales or stalls.

What Business Owners Should Do Next

Option one is to challenge the current agency using the five questions above.

Option two is to study Meta’s Andromeda documentation directly. It is publicly available and centres primarily on Creative Similarity and creative diversity.

Option three is to work with a partner who actively tracks algorithm changes and adapts creative strategy in real time.

The Bottom Line

Meta changed Facebook advertising in late 2024.

Businesses that adapted reduced costs dramatically.

Most Cork agencies did not adapt and continue charging retainers for strategies that no longer work.

That gap is costing Cork businesses thousands of euro every year.

Free Facebook Ads Assessment

RYND offers a free thirty-minute Facebook ads assessment reviewing:

• Current cost per conversion

• Creative Similarity issues

• Alignment with Andromeda

There is no sales pitch. Only practical feedback.

Book Your Free Assessment

Sources

Social Media Examiner, “Facebook Ad Algorithm Changes for 2026”, December 2025 Meta Business Help Center, “Advantage+ Creative Features”, 2026 Meta Andromeda Algorithm Documentation, 2024–2026

About the Author

PJ Rynd runs RYND, a Cork-based digital consultancy specialising in AI-assisted social media management and Google Ads built for modern algorithms. Pricing ranges from €199 to €799 per month.