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Which marketing channels work for you? The Marketing Mix Finder

Google, Meta, LinkedIn or SEO? In 2 minutes you'll know which 3 channels to start with, how to split your budget – and which ones you can skip.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Instant result

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Question 1 / 5

Describe your project

Two or three sentences: what do you offer, to whom, and roughly what does it cost? We only use the text to classify your project and don't store it.

Or start with an example:

0 / 600 characters

You get the right go-to-market strategy, three channels to start with and a suggested budget split, two to test later and two you can skip – each with a reason and a link to the matching service. No sign-up.

Your progress0 of 5

Related services for online marketing

Example: coffee shop

This is what a result looks like. These answers run through the same rules as your own mix.

Calculate my own mix
The answers

Sustainable coffee beans in its own online shop, sold to consumers across Germany. A bag costs €14, and many customers reorder every month.

Audience
Consumers (B2C)
Budget
€1,000–5,000
Goal
Sales
Reach
Nationwide
Classification
Offer
Physical products
Price level
Low (impulse buy)
Traits
Actively searched for, Repeat purchase / subscription
Your go-to-market strategy

Capture demand

Your customers already search for what you offer. Your job: show up where they search and make buying easy.

Start now
  1. Google Ads (Search)35%

    People actively search for your offer – this is where you capture that demand.

  2. Google Shopping35%

    For physical products the most direct route from search to purchase.

  3. SEO30%

    People actively search for your offer – this is where you capture that demand.

Skip for now
  • Outbound Built for business customers, while yours are consumers.
  • LinkedIn Built for business customers, while yours are consumers.
Example: coffee shop

The 8 go-to-market strategies

A go-to-market strategy sets out how your offer reaches its first customers. The finder picks one of these eight and gives the channels that carry it a head start.

  • Capture demand

    When customers already search for what you offer.

    Typical channels: Google Ads (Search), Google Shopping, SEO

  • Create demand

    When hardly anyone searches for it yet, but your offer convinces in pictures and video.

    Typical channels: Meta Ads, TikTok, Influencers & creators

  • Sales-led

    With few, large business customers and a purchase that needs advice.

    Typical channels: Outbound, LinkedIn

  • Inbound & expertise

    When your offer needs explaining before anyone gets in touch.

    Typical channels: SEO, GEO (AI search), LinkedIn, Email marketing

  • Win locally

    When your customers come from your region.

    Typical channels: Local SEO, Google Ads (Search)

  • Marketplace first

    When people search for your products on Amazon, eBay or other marketplaces.

    Typical channels: Marketplaces, Google Shopping

  • Community & content

    When content, courses or events are your product.

    Typical channels: YouTube & video, Email marketing, Influencers & creators

  • Product-led

    When people try your software themselves before they buy.

    Typical channels: SEO, Google Ads (Search), Email marketing

The channels at a glance

The finder builds your mix from these 14 channels. For most of them you'll find the matching service with us.

Search

Reach people who are already searching

  • Google Ads (Search)

    Ads exactly when someone searches for what you offer. Quick to measure, you pay per click.

    Go to Google Ads agency

  • Google Shopping

    Product ads with image and price right in Google search – the default channel for online shops.

    Go to Google Ads

  • SEO

    Rankings in organic Google search. Takes months, then brings lasting traffic without a cost per click.

    Go to search engine optimization

  • Local SEO

    Visible in Google Maps and local search – for anyone winning customers in their region.

    Go to local SEO

  • GEO (AI search)

    Visible in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google's AI answers when customers ask there for solutions.

    Go to GEO agency

Social & video

Create demand before anyone searches

  • Meta Ads

    Ads on Facebook and Instagram by interest and audience. Creates demand before anyone searches.

    Go to Meta Ads

  • TikTok

    Short videos with huge reach, especially among under-35s – organic and as ads.

    Go to TikTok agency

  • LinkedIn

    Reach decision-makers by industry, role and company size – organic and with ads.

    Go to social media marketing

  • YouTube & video

    Longer videos that explain and build trust – and still get found years later.

    Go to content production

Own channels & partners

Retention, referrals, sales

  • Email marketing

    Your own list: newsletters and automations that turn prospects into customers and customers into regulars.

    Go to email marketing

  • Influencers & creators

    Creators present your offer to their community – more credible than any ad.

    Go to influencer campaigns

  • Affiliate marketing

    Partners promote your offer and earn a commission per sale. You only pay for results.

    Go to affiliate marketing

  • Marketplaces

    Sell where buyers already are: Amazon, eBay, Otto or Kaufland.

    Advice on request

  • Outbound

    Contact decision-makers directly by email or phone. Takes effort, pays off with few, valuable customers.

    Advice on request
Calculate my mix

How much budget for how many channels?

The finder never spreads your budget across more ad channels than it can carry. These limits apply to every mix:

Monthly budgetPaid channels to startWhy
under €1,000at most 1 channelSplit across several, no campaign learns enough.
€1,000–5,000at most 2 channelsEnough data per channel to decide after four to eight weeks.
over €5,000at most 3 channelsRoom for tests and to scale what works.

Ad channels are Google Ads (Search), Google Shopping, Meta Ads, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Channels without a cost per click, such as SEO or email, round out the start. Every starting channel gets at least 15% of the budget.

How your mix is built

AI only classifies your description. The recommendation itself follows fixed rules, and the same answers always produce the same mix.

Classify the project

An AI model by TypeSafe AI reads your description and answers fixed questions: what do you offer, how high is the price, do people search for it, does it need explaining, is it visual, new or recurring? If the AI isn't available, keyword rules take over.

Pick the strategy

The classification and your answers lead to one of eight go-to-market strategies, such as “Capture demand” or “Sales-led”. The channels that carry it get a bonus.

Weight the channels

Each of the 14 channels collects points by fixed rules. The top three start now – under €1,000 a month with at most one ad channel, up to €5,000 with at most two. The budget is split by points, and every channel gets at least 15%.

Marketing mix: 4Ps or channel mix?

The classic marketing mix describes four levers: product, price, place and promotion – the 4Ps.

In practice, the most pressing question is usually a different one: through which channels do you reach your customers first, and how much budget does each get? That channel mix is what the finder puts together for you.

After the mix: three ways forward

Depending on how much you want to do yourself.

Start yourself

The service pages for each channel show what matters. These free tools help you get started:

Setup by us

We set up your starting channels: accounts, conversion tracking, first campaigns and matching landing pages. Then you take it from there.

Request setup

Campaign management

We run the channels on an ongoing basis, test ads and audiences and shift budget to what measurably delivers.

Request management

FAQ about the Marketing Mix Finder

Your question isn't here?

Ask directly

What is the Marketing Mix Finder?

A free tool for the question which marketing channels you should start with. You describe your project in two or three sentences and answer four questions on audience, budget, goal and reach. The result is a go-to-market strategy, three channels to start with and their budget share, two to test later and two that are a poor fit.

What is a go-to-market strategy?

A go-to-market strategy sets out how an offer reaches its first customers: through which channels, with which message and in which order. The Marketing Mix Finder picks the right one of eight strategies, such as “Capture demand” when people already search, or “Sales-led” with few, large customers.

What happens to my description?

An AI model by TypeSafe AI classifies it – for example whether you offer products, software or a service and whether people search for it. We don't store the text, and it ends up neither in the email nor in our CRM. Only your answers and the classification go there.

How precise is the budget split?

It's a starting point, not a media plan. The percentages follow the channels' points, and each gets at least 15% so the test is meaningful. After four to eight weeks with real numbers, shift budget to what works.

How much marketing budget do I need?

For a meaningful test, every paid channel needs enough clicks to make a decision after four to eight weeks. Under €1,000 a month we therefore recommend at most one ad channel, plus channels without a cost per click such as SEO or email. Up to €5,000 it's at most two ad channels, above that up to three.

Does it cost anything?

No. The mix shows on the page without sign-up. If you want it by email, we need your business email address.

Do you also run the channels?

For most channels the matching service is linked directly – from Google Ads to SEO and GEO to TikTok. We have no dedicated service page for marketplaces and outbound; get in touch if you have questions about them.

Have your channels set up

From Google Ads to SEO and GEO to TikTok – we tell you what to start with.

What's it about?

Discuss your project +49 (0) 2161 539 71 60
Profile picture of Paul Kalisch, Executive Partner

Paul Kalisch

Executive Partner

  1. 30 minutes by video or phone
  2. You talk directly to a partner, not to sales
  3. You get the order of steps, risks and rough costs

+49 (0) 2161 539 71 60info@next-levels.de