In the growth project post, I asked Steemit for access to a Facebook pixel and a Google analytics account because then I would be able to track and show the actual number of user signups initiated and/or resulting directly from the ads. My estimate is 30,000 to 100,000 user signups when direct signups resulting immediately from clicks on the ads are combined with indirect signups from users seeing the ads but not signing up right away, referrals by friends that saw the ads, and follow up from users originally signing up that then become active on Steem. For example, hundreds of users signing up immediately after seeing the ads have become active authors here, brought in friends and family, bought Steem, and now are also likely bringing in readers automatically from Google search. Since these ads targeted, we have got 200,000+ new users which is more than we had total before the ads started. The ads and related posts also make for easy sharing by readers already on Steem to help explain it to a friend.

The key strength of the ads is essentially multiplying the efforts we are all making here already. About half of those following me are directly from ads according to the comments. For every person that took the time to remember to follow me, there are at least 3 to 5 times as many people that forgot about my involvement specifically in the ads and just signed up here with no memory of who referred them.