Paid Media Strategy 2026: Complete Guide for Google, Meta and Beyond

A solid paid media strategy in 2026 combines search, social and programmatic with clear attribution and a test-and-learn mindset. This guide covers channel mix by funnel stage, budget allocation, and the key trends shaping paid media this year.

Channel Mix by Funnel Stage

Map your channels to where your audience is in their journey:

• Awareness: Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Display — broad reach and visual formats
• Consideration: Meta retargeting, YouTube, LinkedIn — nurture interest
• Conversion: Google Search, Meta conversion campaigns — capture intent
• Retention: Meta/Google retargeting, email + paid — drive repeat purchases

Budget Allocation Principles

How to split budget across channels:

KPIs by Channel and Stage

Set appropriate metrics for each channel:

• Awareness: CPM, Reach, Brand Lift, Video Views
• Consideration: CPC, CTR, Landing Page Views, Engagement
• Conversion: CPA, ROAS, Conversion Rate, Revenue
• Retention: LTV, Repeat Purchase Rate, ROAS on retargeting

2026 Trends to Watch

Key developments shaping paid media strategy:

• AI-powered bidding and creative generation
• Privacy-first attribution (modelling, MMM)
• Rising CPMs driving focus on creative refresh
• TikTok and LinkedIn growth for B2B and D2C
• Performance Max blurring channel boundaries

Building Your 2026 Strategy

Step-by-step framework to build your strategy:

1. Define business objectives and KPIs
2. Audit current paid media performance by channel