Free tool · Paid Advertising Planner

Where should I advertise first?

Get one place to start advertising, with a budget split for your first month.

Have ready: your goal, the area you serve and your monthly budget.

Your plan

What you type in this tool stays in your browser.

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This tool needs JavaScript. Turn it on to use it. Here is what it asks for and a worked example, so you can follow the method without it.

What it asks for: what you sell and who you serve; your goal; your country, area and currency; your monthly budget and whether it is the total or ad money only; management, ad design, money held back and one-time costs; what you have ready (web page, tracking, photos, video, time to handle new work); anything that limits where you may advertise.

How it works: If your budget is the total, ad money each month is the budget minus monthly costs. In month one, one-time costs also come out. The tool then checks each ad site’s rules for your country before it suggests one place to start.

Example with made-up numbers. Not a forecast. Ad money in month one: $500 ($1,000 minus $300, minus $200 setup); Ad money in later months: $700 ($1,000 minus $300).

See an example

What you enter
What you enter	Value
Total monthly budget	$1,000
Management	$100
Ad design (words and images)	$100
Money held back	$100
Setup (one time)	$100
Tracking setup (one time)	$100

What you get
What you get	Value
Ad money in month one	$500 ($1,000 minus $300, minus $200 setup)
Ad money in later months	$700 ($1,000 minus $300)

Use this example to see how it works. Then use your own numbers.

What this means

In this example you spend $500 on ads in month one and $700 after that. The two setup costs only happen once. A suggested place to start is not approval from an ad site, and it does not promise results.

Not sure what your result means? Talk to us →

Details: what this tool can’t do, and how we handle your information

What it can’t do

Advice for each ad site only covers the countries and rules the tool has checked.
The ad site decides if your account and ads are approved. Check that yourself.
The budget math uses your numbers. It does not predict calls or customers.

Your information

What you type stays in your browser unless you copy, print or download it. Do not enter phone numbers, emails or private client details. If you reload the page, your work may disappear. This describes how the tool itself works. Other scripts on this website have their own privacy rules, so read our privacy policy before you enter private business information.

Read our privacy policy →

Questions

Does it look at my ad account?

No. It uses your answers and a list of rules with sources and dates. It never asks for your password.

Why might an option be unavailable?

Your country may not be covered. Something may be missing. The ad site may limit your kind of business. Or a rule may be out of date.

Is my total budget the same as my ad money?

No. Your total budget also pays for things like management, ad design and setup. Only what is left goes to the ads.

What to try next

Ad Creative Brief Builder →
Write a clear brief for the person making your ad.
Advertising Launch Checklist →
Check you are ready before your ads go live.

Want the thinking behind it? Read the guide: What to gather before you pick where to advertise →

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