What is paid media?

• A. Flywheel model
• B. Websites and SEO
• C. SEO, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and forums
• D. Print advertising, partnerships, television, banners, radio, sponsorships, media deals, and paid search

Answer: (D)

Paid media refers to external marketing placements you pay for to reach audiences. It spans traditional outlets like print advertising, television, radio, sponsorships, partnerships, and media deals, as well as digital formats such as paid search and display banners, plus paid social and other paid placements. This category is defined by the fact that you buy exposure and scale reach through these channels, as opposed to owned media (your website, apps, and social profiles you control) or earned media (public relations, word-of-mouth, organic coverage).

The option that lists print advertising, partnerships, television, banners, radio, sponsorships, media deals, and paid search best represents paid media because it includes both traditional and digital paid channels in one coherent set. The other choices describe ideas outside paid media: a flywheel model relates to inbound growth and customer engagement, websites and SEO are owned media/organic strategies, and the mixed items with SEO and social platforms blur paid and organic elements, making it unclear as a definition of paid media.