Hey Freelancers,
Most small business owners believe television advertising is reserved for massive corporations with million-dollar marketing budgets. They assume you need a Hollywood production crew, a broadcast agency, and fifty thousand dollars just to get on the screen.
Because people stream television through internet apps now, that whole model has flipped. Today, any local business can run targeted video ads on living room television screens in specific zip codes for as little as a few hundred dollars.
Here is how to package a $750 streaming TV ad sprint and pitch clients who want to be seen on the big screen 👇
Blu Dot surpasses 2,000% ROAS with self-serve CTV ads
Blu Dot used Roku Ads Manager to drive incredible results for its furniture sales event. Its strategy hinged on custom audiences and retargeting, where intent was strongest.
“Roku has been a top performer,” said Blu Dot’s Claire Folkestad. “We have seen…CPMs lower than any other CTV partner we've worked with.”
Local Streaming TV (CTV) Ad Campaign Sprints
The Opportunity: Local service businesses (like cosmetic dentists, injury lawyers, high-end roofers, and luxury real estate brokers) are tired of bidding wars on Google and Meta ads. Getting their brand shown on real television screens carries massive prestige, but they have no idea how self-serve streaming ads work.
- Target: Multi-location service businesses, regional medical practices, and direct-to-consumer brands that already have video content.
- Deliverables: Reformat 15-second or 30-second landscape videos for TV, set up audience and geo-targeting by local zip codes, configure conversion tracking, and launch the campaign.
- Setup Fee: $750 one-time build to launch the initial campaign.
- Monthly Retainer Upsell: $250 per month to refresh video creatives, review watch completion rates, and manage monthly ad spend.
Roku Ad Manager
You do not need an enterprise media agency contract to buy streaming TV inventory. With Roku Ad Manager, you get a self-serve platform built specifically for small to mid-sized businesses and growth marketers.
It works very similarly to Meta Ads Manager or Google Ads. You can upload an existing landscape video, pick the exact geographic radius or zip codes you want to reach, and select target audiences based on interests, shopping habits, or demographic data.
- Upload Video Asset: Take the client's existing horizontal video (16:9 format at 1080p, 15 or 30 seconds long) and upload it directly into Roku Ad Manager.
- Define The Target Zone: Instead of wasting money nationally, narrow your audience down to the client's city, county, or specific high-income zip codes where their ideal customers live.
- Set Budget & Pixel: Connect the Roku web pixel to the client's website to track visitors who saw the ad on TV and later visited their site, then set a daily budget starting at a sensible level.
The "Put Your Brand on TV" Direct Pitch
Find local business owners or marketing directors who already run video ads on Facebook or YouTube:
Saw your recent video ads for [Company Name] on social media. The quality looks sharp!
Most local business owners think running ads on television costs tens of thousands of dollars. Through Roku Ad Manager, we can actually take your existing video clips and broadcast them directly to television screens strictly in [City Name or Target Zip Codes].
It is a great way to build massive local trust on the biggest screen in the house while avoiding noisy mobile feeds.
I put together a quick 1-page overview showing how the local streaming setup works and how we track site visits from it:
👉 [Link to 1-Page PDF Checklist or Short Loom Video]
I can configure and launch your first streaming campaign this week without requiring new video shoots. Let me know if you would like to take a look!"
💬 Quick question for you:
Have you ever tested or pitched streaming TV ads to clients, or have you stayed exclusively with social media platforms? Hit reply and let me know!