We know a lot of strategy goes into planning and implementing an effective, efficient media buy.
What are the market conditions? What are your competitors doing? How do you find data that is pertinent to your challenge? What’s happening in the industry day to day? And what the heck do all these acronyms mean anyway?
This list is some of our favorite free go-to’s. And of course it’s always changing. So feel free to reference, and check back often for updates.
Competitive Research
- Kochava: Look up advertiser or competitor insights and site traffic data.
- Facebook Ads Library: Search collection of ads currently running across all Meta technologies.
- Vimeo: Search competitor videos/spots on Vimeo.
Creative
- Facebook Creative Hub: Supercharge your creative process and save valuable time with Facebook’s Creative Hub — your one-stop destination for learning about, mocking up, previewing and testing Facebook and Instagram ads
Digital
- Google Keyword Planner: Helps you research keywords for your Search campaigns. You can use this free tool to discover new keywords related to your business and see estimates of the searches they receive and the cost to target them.
- Hubspot Website Grader: Grade your website in seconds then learn how to improve it for free.
- Facebook Ads Guide: Get the design recommendations and technical requirements for ads on Facebook & Instagram.
- What the Tech from The Trade Desk: Read helpful, information technology insights from our preferred DSP partner, The Trade Desk.
Mapping
- Zip Map: Map with an overlay of Zip Codes for the United States of America. Easily view the boundaries of each zip code and the state as a whole.
- Maptive: Turn raw location data, from a spreadsheet or any address list, to a powerful Google map that can inform a decision, conversation or presentation.
Market Research
- City Data: By collecting and analyzing data from a variety of government and private sources, they’ve created detailed, informative profiles for every city in the United States.
- Data Axle USA: Powered by the highest quality business and consumer contact databases, their solutions include targeted marketing/direct mail lists and market research by geography.
- USPS Every Door Direct Mail: Use the EDDM® Online Tool to search for neighborhoods. Then, use the filters to target customers by specific demographics such as age, household size, and income.
- eMarketer: Market research company that provides insights and trends related to digital marketing, media, and commerce.
- Ad Age: Ad Age is your daily-must read covering the rapid changes taking place in media, retail, food and beverage, sports marketing, travel and more.
Out-of-Home
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Lamar Inventory Browser: Search outdoor advertising inventory, view rates and market coverage from Lamar Advertising Company.
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Outfront Market Finder: Search outdoor advertising inventory, view examples and download market-specific media kits from Outfront Advertising.
- OOH Mockup Generator: The OOH Mockup Generator allows you to view billboard, street furniture and transit creative in the environment. Once you have uploaded your creative, you will be able to zoom in and out to see the work at a range of distances, share the rendering with colleagues and clients, and print out a copy for your records.
Radio
- Radio Locator: A search engine for finding radio stations in the United States and all around the world.They provide technical information, including coverage maps, for all U.S. licensed radio stations.
- Radio Advertising Bureau: The RAB is the not-for-profit trade association representing America’s broadcast Radio industry. Their primary objective is to drive revenue growth through advocacy, providing the tools and resources to help the industry attract new sales talent to the medium and enhance industry professionalism through training and support.
TV & Cable
- Sports Media Watch: Get ratings, schedules, rights deals and latest personnel moves.
*Some of these sites may require registration.
