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Term

Funnel Strategy (TOFU/MOFU/BOFU)

Strategic model that splits SEA activity by funnel stage: Top (reach), Middle (consideration), Bottom (conversion).

Funnel Strategy (TOFU/MOFU/BOFU) — in more detail

Splitting activity into Top of Funnel (TOFU), Middle of Funnel (MOFU), and Bottom of Funnel (BOFU) aligns campaigns, goals, and KPIs with the buying phase. TOFU drives awareness (YouTube, Display, Demand Gen) — KPIs: reach, view rate, brand lift. MOFU supports comparison and research (generic Search, In-Market audiences) — KPIs: CTR, qualified sessions, micro-conversions. BOFU closes the deal (brand Search, Shopping, remarketing) — KPIs: ROAS, CPA, revenue. Steering all stages by the same tCPA systematically punishes TOFU.

Example / In practice

A D2C brand runs YouTube skippable ads for awareness (TOFU), Demand Gen carousels for product discovery (MOFU), and Performance Max plus brand Search for conversion (BOFU). Budget split roughly 30/20/50, with KPIs measured per stage — not lumped together.

Distinction from similar terms

Always-on vs. campaign push describes timing, while the funnel model addresses content logic. Generic vs. Brand vs. Competitor is a keyword axis inside Search; the funnel model spans channels and campaign types. Customer journey is the user-centric view of the same process.

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