| Channel | Best for | Buyer intent | Test budget | Time to signal | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical podcast sponsorship | Borrowing a niche host's trust with a defined audience. | Not looking yet | $500–5k | Weeks | 0 to 1 |
| Niche creator sponsorship | Reaching a creator's engaged niche with their endorsement. | Not looking yet | $500–5k | Weeks | 0 to 1 |
| Consumer influencer | Consumer brands buying reach and aspiration at scale. | Not looking yet | $5k+ | Weeks | At scale |