Online Media Planning & Buying” Differs From Other Services

A well thought out media plan is the keystone of a successful marketing campaign. There are many potential web placements to choose from ranging from search engines such as Google, MSN and Yahoo to publisher networks to individual websites. Simply put, it all starts with your business goals. Our team knows the ins and outs of the industry and has the savvy to craft an online media plan that targets your ideal audience, while keeping your return on investment (ROI) goals at the forefront.

Online communication must be goal-oriented and focused on the user's own areas of interest for it to work. Our team of media professionals continuously maintains and analyzes an online database allowing us to plan results-driven and ROI focused campaigns.

Probably more than any other media at the moment, print media -- particularly ordinary newspapers -- are suffering. Newspapers are bleeding, lying off staff by the droves. Even mighty Google has given up on its original Google Print concept. Seeing the writing on the wall, many traditional media people are scrambling to get themselves up to speed with online. Having met a good number of these folks and even trained a few ourselves, I can say the transition can be a rude awakening for someone used to traditional. It's not "just the same thing in a different medium." Here's a primer guide for those looking to make the switch.

Planning and Buying Lines Blur:

With print, there are go-to resources with rate card information (e.g., SRDS). A traditional media planner can use this readily available information to plan a buy. Online, however, there isn't a single source with rate card information. About 90 percent of sites require you to contact them with a request for proposal (RFP) to even access their advertising opportunities and rates. In effect, the media planner begins the negotiation process with the RFP. This makes the planning process longer but the buying process shorter, and for efficiency's sake the online media planner and buyer might be one and the same person.

Research:

Don't discard your traditional media planning resources because most print publications have companion sites. For online research, however, if you limit yourself to major data sources like Nielsen or comScore, you'll sorely limit your media plan's breadth. Utilize various planning tools, conduct searches, be open to pitches, read case studies and articles, and most important, pay attention to all the forms and placements of online ads you're personally being exposed to.

Cost Structures:

Whereas in print CPM (define) refers to the number of readers or subscribers, online it refers to ad impressions served. What's a "serve," you ask? It's when one computer asks another to send a piece of information -- in this case, the ad -- to the Web page the user is opening. Like multiple ads on a newspaper page, a single Web page can serve multiple ads. With online media, you can also buy by a rate, such as CPC (define) and CPA (define).

Planning vs. Production:

In the traditional world, creative often comes before planning, and then the planner needs to build a plan to fit the creative. Easier said than done in the online world. Laredo adds, "Online requires more creative executions due to the amount of frequency. Planners should create a ranking system to account for all the criteria and variables considered in the buy (ad placement, ad size, creative executions, targeting)."

Consider the Whole Enchilada:

Planning an online campaign is similar to planning an entire traditional campaign that is search equals a traditional directory, banners/online display equal print, video equals TV, solo e-mail drops equal direct mail, and so on. Think holistically in these terms and you'll get a better idea as to which methods might work better for which goals.

Minimum Buy-Ins and Out Clauses:

Both of these factor into online planning; the out clause can be a powerful tool for campaign optimization because it allows for poor-performing buys to be terminated and for those dollars to be shifted to high-performing or new buys, thereby maximizing the campaign's overall performance.

Optimization:

The nature and measurability of print makes campaign optimization rare, whereas in online it's expected and as a result, the planner needs to allow for it in the plan. This might be expecting a variance in ad impression performance and having secondary publishers reselected.

Let Creativity Flow:

Online allows for far more creativity for the media planner. If you can conceive of it, a willing publisher is probably game to try it. Few buys have to be just black and white.

Empower Your Rep:

When it comes to planning, a good online media rep can be more creative than you -- and certainly motivated to win your business. Think of your rep as your partner, and you'll get better ideas, proposals, and pricing.