Nerd Alert: How media channel combinations impact performance
Feb 20, 2025
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Discover how the right combination of media channels can supercharge brand performance. The hosts discuss fascinating research revealing why merely focusing on reach can miss major opportunities for brand lift. They define seven media mix archetypes that clarify effective strategy. Learn why customized approaches, rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, are essential for success. Plus, you’ll find out how a balanced media strategy parallels a healthy diet, emphasizing the need for diverse marketing methods.
Prioritizing brand lift over mere reach is crucial, as only 8% of campaigns focus on true effectiveness in driving brand growth.
Tailoring media channel combinations based on specific marketing objectives leads to better performance, highlighting the need for a customized approach.
Deep dives
Understanding Media Mix Optimization
The study examined the impact of different advertising media channel combinations on brand performance by analyzing over a thousand ad campaigns from various brands across multiple countries. It revealed that no single media mix guarantees success, as performance metrics are dependent on specific marketing goals. For example, achieving unaided awareness is best supported by a combination of TV, outdoor, and online video, while brand association is improved with YouTube-heavy strategies. The findings highlight the necessity for marketers to tailor their strategies based on individual objectives rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Flaw in Marketing Strategies
The researchers found that marketers often prioritize reach over brand lift, leading to inefficient media planning. While 80% of ad campaigns excel in maximizing reach, only a small fraction, specifically 8%, focus on actual brand lift, which reflects true effectiveness in building awareness and intent. This misplaced focus can result in a significant loss of potential impact and value in marketing efforts. It suggests that brands should reconsider their strategies and ensure alignment with their goals for better returns on marketing investments.
Choosing the Right Marketing Archetype
Various archetypes of media mixes were categorized based on campaign performance, with balanced multi-channel mixes tending to deliver robust results across multiple key metrics. The study indicated that traditional media, such as TV, works best when complemented by digital formats like YouTube or Facebook, underscoring the importance of hybrid strategies. Each marketing goal, from awareness to motivation, requires a distinct mix of channels to optimize performance effectively. Ultimately, a mix that considers both traditional and digital elements alongside specific objectives can result in a more successful marketing campaign.
Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.
In this episode, Elena and Rob explore new research that challenges how marketers approach media mix planning. They reveal why optimizing for reach alone leaves significant brand lift on the table.
Topics covered:
[01:00] "The Effects of Advertising Media Channel Combinations on Brand Performance"
[03:00] Seven media mix archetypes defined
[04:35] How different combinations impact brand metrics
[05:45] Why most marketers get their media mix wrong
[07:10] The role of TV in successful campaigns
[08:30] Finding your optimal channel mix
To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.
Resources: Bell, J. Jason, Felipe Thomaz, & Andrew T. Stephen. (2024). The Effects of Advertising Media Channel Combinations on Brand Performance. Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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