Marketers can test Connected TV (CTV) with a minimal budget by using the YouTube ads platform. The strategy involves uploading an existing audience list (e.g., email subscribers), setting the campaign to target *only* TV devices, and then running existing video creative to gauge performance in a television environment.

While often seen as an upper-funnel tool, CTV is a powerful engine for new customer acquisition. It reaches untapped audiences that are saturated on social platforms. For example, hair care brand Lola V saw a 53% increase in new customers year-over-year from their Roku campaign.

When brands hit a point of diminishing returns on search and social media, TV becomes a critical next step. It provides incremental reach to new audiences, builds brand legitimacy, and can accelerate the path to purchase for customers discovered on other channels.

Historically, TV advertising required massive budgets and long commitments. Self-serve connected TV (CTV) platforms now offer low minimums, allowing DTC brands to test and iterate creative with the same agility and small budgets used for search and social channels.

When costs on paid social and search platforms rise, instead of bidding higher for the same saturated audience, use TV to generate new demand. This top-of-funnel lift improves the efficiency of lower-funnel channels by increasing branded search, direct traffic, and conversion rates.

The perception that TV requires expensive, Super Bowl-level creative is a myth. For initial tests, brands can effectively repurpose existing video content or leverage quick, cost-effective AI creative production companies to get campaigns live and begin learning without a massive upfront investment.

Contrary to the belief that it's only for large consumer brands, Connected TV (CTV) is a powerful channel for B2B marketers. A LinkedIn and Magna study found CTV viewers are 45% more likely to complete a lead form, making it a highly effective, yet underutilized, tool for driving business-to-business conversions.

While platforms like Tatari have drastically reduced the entry point for TV advertising from millions to as low as $20,000, there is a practical floor. Brands spending less than $1.5 million annually on marketing are advised to focus on lower-hanging digital fruit before venturing into TV.

During tentpole holidays, Resident activates CTV to retarget users who recently visited but didn't buy. They view this not as a performance channel with measurable ROI, but as "marketing hygiene"—a necessary, common-sense tactic to capture high-intent buyers on a big screen, even if direct attribution is impossible.