Media Planning Resources

Free checklists, guides, templates, and frameworks for media planners. Every resource is tailored to a specific vertical and channel — built by practitioners, not generalists.

Checklists (35)

Step-by-step checklists to plan and launch media campaigns

QSR audio podcasts

Audio / Podcasts / Streaming Audio Media Planning Checklist for QSR / Restaurants

Podcast and streaming audio planning checklist for QSR marketers — covering drive-time targeting, LTO host-read strategy, and food occasion audio campaigns.

Automotive ctv

Connected TV (CTV) / Streaming Media Planning Checklist for Automotive Brands

Step-by-step CTV media planning checklist for automotive advertisers — covering geo-targeting, inventory-aware DCO, co-op compliance, and attribution across the 8–12 week car-buying journey.

Entertainment ctv

Connected TV (CTV) / Streaming Media Planning Checklist for Entertainment / Media / Streaming Brands

A hands-on CTV media planning checklist for entertainment marketers — covering streaming inventory, audience, measurement, and creative strategy.

Healthcare ctv

Connected TV (CTV) / Streaming Media Planning Checklist for Healthcare / Pharma Brands

CTV media planning checklist for healthcare and pharma — covering FDA OPDP compliance for DTC broadcast ads, NPI-matched HCP targeting, fair balance delivery requirements, and script lift attribution methodology.

QSR ctv

Connected TV (CTV) / Streaming Media Planning Checklist for QSR / Restaurants

CTV media planning checklist for QSR marketers — covering franchise co-op structure, LTO launches, daypart targeting, and same-store sales attribution.

Travel ctv

Connected TV (CTV) / Streaming Media Planning Checklist for Travel & Hospitality Brands

CTV planning checklist for travel and hospitality — covering destination storytelling creative, loyalty audience targeting, direct booking attribution, OTA channel conflict defense, and seasonal booking window alignment.

Automotive linear tv

Linear / Traditional TV Media Planning Checklist for Automotive Brands

A practical linear TV media planning checklist tailored for Automotive brands — strategy, inventory, optimization, and measurement.

CPG linear tv

Linear / Traditional TV Media Planning Checklist for CPG / FMCG Brands

Linear TV media planning checklist for CPG brands — covering upfront vs. scatter strategy, GRP targets by category, retailer co-investment alignment, sales lift measurement, and Q4 tent-pole planning.

Entertainment linear tv

Linear / Traditional TV Media Planning Checklist for Entertainment / Media / Streaming Brands

A practical linear TV media planning checklist tailored for Entertainment / Media / Streaming brands — strategy, inventory, optimization, and measurement.

Financial Services linear tv

Linear / Traditional TV Media Planning Checklist for Financial Services Brands

A practical linear TV media planning checklist tailored for Financial Services brands — strategy, inventory, optimization, and measurement.

Healthcare linear tv

Linear / Traditional TV Media Planning Checklist for Healthcare / Pharma Brands

A practical linear TV media planning checklist tailored for Healthcare / Pharma brands — strategy, inventory, optimization, and measurement.

QSR linear tv

Linear / Traditional TV Media Planning Checklist for QSR / Restaurants Brands

A practical linear TV media planning checklist tailored for QSR / Restaurants brands — strategy, inventory, optimization, and measurement.

Retail linear tv

Linear / Traditional TV Media Planning Checklist for Retail / E-Commerce Brands

A practical linear TV media planning checklist tailored for Retail / E-Commerce brands — strategy, inventory, optimization, and measurement.

Technology linear tv

Linear / Traditional TV Media Planning Checklist for Technology / SaaS / B2B Tech Brands

A practical linear TV media planning checklist tailored for Technology / SaaS / B2B Tech brands — strategy, inventory, optimization, and measurement.

Travel linear tv

Linear / Traditional TV Media Planning Checklist for Travel & Hospitality Brands

A practical linear TV media planning checklist tailored for Travel & Hospitality brands — strategy, inventory, optimization, and measurement.

Financial Services native

Native / Content Marketing Advertising Media Planning Checklist for Financial Services Campaigns

Native advertising planning checklist for financial services — covering content strategy for regulated categories, compliance-safe educational content, premium publisher deals, and attribution for long financial purchase journeys.

QSR ooh

Out-of-Home (OOH) / Digital OOH Media Planning Checklist for QSR / Restaurants

OOH and DOOH media planning checklist for QSR marketers — covering drive-through proximity, LTO billboard strategy, and programmatic daypart targeting.

Travel ooh

Out-of-Home (OOH) / Digital OOH Media Planning Checklist for Travel & Hospitality Brands

OOH and DOOH planning checklist for travel brands — covering airport domination strategy, travel corridor targeting, weather-triggered DOOH, mobile retargeting integration, and seasonal booking activation.

Automotive paid search

Paid Search (SEM / PPC) Media Planning Checklist for Automotive Brands

Comprehensive paid search checklist for automotive advertisers — covering keyword architecture across OEM, dealer group and individual dealer tiers, Quality Score, and VDP attribution.

Financial Services paid search

Paid Search (SEM / PPC) Media Planning Checklist for Financial Services Campaigns

Paid search checklist for financial services — covering ultra-high CPC strategy, compliance approvals for rate claims, LTV-backed bidding, RLSA for application abandoners, and branded defense against fintech competitors.

Healthcare paid search

Paid Search (SEM / PPC) Media Planning Checklist for Healthcare / Pharma Campaigns

Healthcare paid search checklist — covering Google's pharmaceutical advertiser verification, DTC condition keyword strategy, HCP clinical query targeting, copay card conversion tracking, and NRx attribution methodology.

Retail paid search

Paid Search (SEM / PPC) Media Planning Checklist for Retail / E-Commerce Brands

Paid search checklist for retail and e-commerce brands — covering Google Shopping feed quality, Performance Max strategy, RLSA for cart abandoners, branded defense against Amazon and comparison sites, and BFCM bid preparation.

Technology paid search

Paid Search (SEM / PPC) Media Planning Checklist for Technology / SaaS / B2B Tech Brands

B2B tech paid search checklist — covering SQLs vs. MQLs, BOFU keyword architecture for SaaS, branded defense against competitors, Performance Max for B2B, and pipeline-backward CPA modeling for enterprise software.

Travel paid search

Paid Search (SEM / PPC) Media Planning Checklist for Travel & Hospitality Brands

Travel paid search checklist — covering OTA brand defense, Google Hotel Ads strategy, metasearch integration, seasonal booking window bidding, and direct booking attribution against OTA conversion path.

CPG paid social meta

Paid Social — Meta (Facebook / Instagram) Media Planning Checklist for CPG / FMCG Brands

Meta paid social planning checklist for CPG brands — covering Advantage+ campaigns, new product launch sequencing, DPA catalog strategy, health claims compliance, and shopper intent amplification.

Entertainment paid social meta

Paid Social — Meta (Facebook / Instagram) Media Planning Checklist for Entertainment / Media / Streaming Brands

Meta media planning checklist for entertainment marketers — covering film launches, streaming acquisition, creator strategy, and social-native creative.

Retail paid social meta

Paid Social — Meta (Facebook / Instagram) Media Planning Checklist for Retail / E-Commerce Brands

Meta paid social checklist for retail and e-commerce brands — covering DPA catalog strategy, Advantage+ Shopping Campaigns, BFCM preparation, return rate impact on attribution, and creative rotation strategy.

Automotive programmatic display

Programmatic Display Media Planning Checklist for Automotive Brands

Programmatic display checklist for automotive media planners — covering VDP retargeting, DMS audience activation, inventory-aware DCO, brand safety, and attribution across the 72-day auto purchase funnel.

Financial Services programmatic display

Programmatic Display Media Planning Checklist for Financial Services Campaigns

Programmatic display planning checklist for financial services — covering Special Ad Category compliance, credit bureau data activation, compliance approval workflows, and retargeting abandoners across complex purchase journeys.

Healthcare programmatic display

Programmatic Display Media Planning Checklist for Healthcare / Pharma Campaigns

Programmatic display planning checklist for healthcare — covering HIPAA-safe retargeting, NPI-matched HCP display, health publisher PMP strategy, FDA compliance workflow, and patient journey attribution.

Technology programmatic display

Programmatic Display Media Planning Checklist for Technology / SaaS / B2B Tech Brands

Programmatic display checklist for B2B technology and SaaS — covering ABM account targeting, intent signal activation, vendor comparison site conquesting, pipeline attribution, and dark funnel measurement.

CPG retail media

Retail Media Networks Media Planning Checklist for CPG / FMCG Brands

Retail media planning checklist for CPG brands — covering Amazon, Walmart Connect, Kroger, Instacart, and Target Roundel strategy, incrementality testing, new-to-brand metrics, and cross-RMN budget allocation.

Retail retail media

Retail Media Networks Media Planning Checklist for Retail / E-Commerce Brands

Retail media planning checklist for retail and e-commerce brands — covering Amazon Ads architecture, new customer acquisition strategy, incrementality testing, return rate impact on ROAS, and Black Friday media planning.

Retail tiktok

TikTok Advertising Media Planning Checklist for Retail / E-Commerce Brands

TikTok media planning checklist for retail and e-commerce brands — covering TikTok Shop integration, creator-first creative strategy, In-Feed and Spark Ads mechanics, BFCM planning, and attribution strategy for social commerce.

Entertainment youtube

YouTube / Online Video Media Planning Checklist for Entertainment / Media / Streaming Brands

YouTube media planning checklist for entertainment marketers — covering trailer strategy, creator partnerships, brand lift, and CTV inventory planning.

📖 Guides (4)

In-depth guides covering channel strategies for specific verticals

📝 Templates (4)

Ready-to-use media brief and planning templates

💡 Tips (3)

Expert tips for getting more from your media spend

🏗️ Frameworks (2)

Strategic frameworks for building media plans

Best Practices (3)

Proven best practices from top-performing campaigns

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