Media Strategy & Buying

Building an Effective Media Campaign

We are a media buying firm based in Madison, WI. Effective media planning involves working with an experienced media strategist who can direct and guide your media approach based on goal outcomes, and then having a strong team of media buyers to execute the implementation of that plan. As an agency we use Strata software, which provides insights on every market and allows for detailed reporting to ensure effective planning.

At SPM we combine our expertise in effective media planning and buying strategies with our knowledge about the customer buying journey, and support it with the power of Strata as an advanced media planning software. In addition, we bring our skills in strategy, analysis, and ROI review to the table, allowing us to lead and implement large and multi-faceted media campaigns for clients.

Our media planning and buying team brings in-depth knowledge of media channels in local, regional, and nationwide markets. Collectively, our team has planned for and bought media in more than 25 states. We understand how to research markets, to advise clients in which markets their advertising will be most effective, along with analyzing data provided from media outlets to determine which media outlets are the best fit for clients.

Media buying services include media planning, media buying, and ongoing media management. As an award-winning marketing firm offering brand messaging and brand clarity services, we are also able to advise clients on brand messaging and positioning strategies. This includes script writing for TV and radio commercials. As your media buying agency, we have the ability to guide and advise you through the entire process, identifying key targets, developing scripts and ads, and negotiating and placing media and working together to analyze your ROI.

What to Expect from Strategic Partners Marketing

We are a full-service advertising agency with national experience in media strategy and buying, including broadcast (TV and radio), digital, print, and outdoor (e.g., billboard) advertising. Our team has a combined 20+ years of experience in media buying. We are intimately familiar with the Madison market, and we have experience advertising in the Milwaukee, Fox Valley, La Crosse, and Wausau markets, as well as other states. In addition, our firm uses Strata, the premier media planning software, which empowers us to work on large regional and national media campaigns efficiently.

Should you decide to partner with us on your media buying, we walk you through the following steps to get you maximum coverage, at the most cost-effective rates.

George C.

…Strategic Partners was able to finally provide the help and support I needed to take my business to the next level. Amber is an outgoing, energetic, and dedicated professional who helped generate more business. She created a budget that was very affordable which allowed me to concentrate on growing my business. It is a necessity to survive in the ever-changing social media world. Strategic Partners Marketing is an out of the park Home Run!!

George C.
Mad City Party Bus & Mad City Limo
Katie H.

“I started coaching with Amber while I was building my business, Rebel Wellness, from the ground up while I was working a full-time job. I was struggling with the entire concept of “brand” for myself and my business (even though I’ve worked in marketing for 20 years!!!) and I had so many questions. I doubted myself, and really wanted help creating a plan that I could follow, so I don’t feel like I am out there slaying dragons every day. There are a million people out there in the world who do branding courses, but I was attracted to Amber because I thought she would “get me” and my aesthetic, and because she is very successful herself and has learned through trial and error the best way to get brands up and running!  Initially, I was very intimidated by spending the money to invest in this work, however, I thought to myself… “how much money am I going to spend if I DON’T do her program spinning my wheels and trying out things?”  It was a leap of faith, and I am soooo glad I did it! The content is awesome, the process is defined, and you can work at your own pace. She helps you think through some of the more gnarly aspects of building a business like understanding your customer persona, clearly defining the problems you solve, clearly defining how you want people to FEEL when they interact with your brand. Things I wouldn’t have done on my own, but the things that make all the difference in becoming successful with building a business.  The best part of my week is the weekly calls with Amber. She gives feedback to the work that people are working on, in a kind yet direct way, lets you know best practice and how to avoid falling into a trap. I now have confidence in what I am building. I trust in the process and so far it has only led me to great insights and personal growth. I could go on and on, but the truth is, my business wouldn’t be happening if I hadn’t taken a course and worked with Amber. I would have been way too lost. Amber provides you with a path to follow, and when building a business/brand, that is critical to success.”

Katie H.
Rebel Wellness
Jenifer R.

I had never worked with a strategy or marketing company before working with the team at SP and I have enjoyed every step of the brand strategy process and the marketing work. I learned so much about my customers, and it feels great having a direction to work toward with my decisions!

Jenifer R.
Training Tracker
Craig E.

Strategic Partners Marketing has helped us grow participation in our training programs. SPM’s team members dedicate themselves to truly understand our business and make sure they deliver value above and beyond each project’s cost. SPM is a perfect marketing solution for our business!

Craig E.
PDP Basketball Academy
Nicole B.

“I made $150,000 more this year because of Amber’s coaching. I have noticed a shift in my business because there’s been a shift in me. I look back, and years ago I was resistant to receiving this type of coaching help. We all have blind spots, and until I finally took my guard down and allowed this work to happen, and to allow Amber to guide me, I didn’t even know what was possible! You don’t even know how good it can be!

I’m a different person now. I don’t even worry about money. I just keep moving forward in my vision and it’s all happening in abundance. The people (staff) I have attracted now are of better quality than I have ever attracted.

I need to keep being that person so that I can keep attracting that, and so they can keep believing in themselves and can keep being successful. By giving them the vision, being the leader that I need to be, it helps them believe in themselves, and perform better. This has been possible because of what Amber has helped me see in myself. I can’t speak highly enough about what she has meant in my life and business.”

Nicole B.
A Healer’s Hand + The Nest

Our Process

1. Initial Setup
When initially setting up a media campaign, we review your past sales and your future sales goals to help you set achievable media goals. After establishing who your core customers are, we identify the best avenues (e.g., broadcast, digital, print) to reach them. If necessary, based on these goals, we will determine content/direction of campaign.

Our media buyer then determines buying parameters (of the various media forms) based on client goals and direction of campaign. This may include a goal cost per thousand people reached, the % of market to be reached with a goal frequency number; length of ads; weeks/days for the ads to run; types of programming within which the ads will run.

2. Negotiating
The media buyer goes out and avails the market to seek out the opportunities in the market, evaluating the initial avails to start whittling down the best opportunities for the client. After narrowing down the initial opportunities, the media buyer negotiates 2-3 rounds with media outlets to secure the best rates and placement with client goals in mind. Then, our media buyers will present the best media plan for the client’s approval.
3. Placement
After approval from the client, the media buyer purchases ad space with media outlets and reviews the contracts to ensure that spots are airing in proper places.
4. Ad Production
If you don’t already have content for the campaign, we’ll work with you to develop the script for your spot and to produce the commercial.   *See an example of our on-site production for Symdon in Mt. Horeb.
5. Ongoing Campaign Management
After the commercials are developed, they are sent out to the media outlets and we will follow your ad spots to make sure there are no pre-emptions (a short way of saying that your ad spots aren’t bid out by a higher bidder. If they are, we negotiate for a spot that is of equal or better value to the one that you lost). Monitoring the ad spots is a crucial step to making sure you are getting what you paid for.

While monitoring your ads, we may find that ad updates may be needed depending on length/scope of the campaign. After the media plan has gone out, we will review the process and campaign with you, our client, to identify opportunities for improvement.

“A good media buyer negotiates rates and ratings. An amazing media buyer takes that a step further and understands how to cultivate relationships for the client’s benefit.”

Amber Swenor

Founder & Brand Strategist, Strategic Partners Marketing