Why You Need Both Streaming and Linear media in 2025

How Streaming Media Complements Traditional Linear Media Campaigns

In an era where digital innovation continuously reshapes the media landscape, streaming media has emerged as a powerful complement to traditional linear media campaigns. In 2025, advertisers and marketers recognize that an integrated approach—leveraging both linear and streaming media—yields the most effective results. While linear media, such as television and radio, maintains a broad reach and trusted brand presence, streaming platforms offer precision targeting, interactivity, and on-demand engagement. Together, these media formats create a cohesive, multi-channel marketing strategy that maximizes impact and return on investment (ROI).

The Strengths of Linear Media in 2025

Linear media, encompassing broadcast television, cable, and radio, remains a cornerstone of mass communication. Despite the rise of digital alternatives, linear media offers several distinct advantages that continue to make it relevant in a marketer’s toolkit.

  1. Broad Reach and Brand Trust – Linear media provides unparalleled access to large, diverse audiences, particularly for live events such as sports, award shows, and news. Many consumers still rely on traditional TV and radio for trusted content, making these platforms essential for brand credibility and awareness campaigns.
  2. High-Impact Ad Formats – TV commercials remain one of the most engaging forms of advertising due to their full-screen, non-skippable format. These ads drive strong emotional connections and storytelling capabilities, making them ideal for brand-building efforts.
  3. Regulatory and Quality Assurance – Linear media operates within well-established regulatory frameworks, ensuring content quality, brand safety, and compliance with advertising standards.

The Power of Streaming Media in 2025

Streaming media—encompassing over-the-top (OTT) platforms, connected TV (CTV), social video, and digital audio streaming—has rapidly evolved into a dominant force in the media ecosystem. The benefits of streaming media campaigns include:

  1. Broadband Only Homes (BBO)- Homes that only access Television via an Internet connection are on the rise. In Fact, the national average for Streaming only homes has surpassed 45% in the United States, with some markets having 55% or more of all homes who have cut the cord completely. Without streaming being a component of the media plan, advertisers are missing out on nearly half of their market.
  2. Precision Targeting and Personalization – Advanced audience segmentations powered by 1st and 3rd party data, enable advertisers to reach hyper-specific demographics based on viewing habits, interests, and behavior. Personalized ads create higher engagement rates and improved conversion metrics.
  3. Prime Time, All the Time – Unlike linear TV, streaming content is available anytime, anywhere, and across multiple devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, and CTVs). This flexibility ensures that audiences engage with content at their convenience. Marketers no longer have to worry about what a consumer is watching. Streaming is about purchasing an audience, not a program.
  4. Data Driven Advertising – Streaming campaigns are enabled with tracking that allows advertisers to gain insights into the engagement of each campaign. Attribution tracking showcases which publisher and creative messages audiences were exposed to before going to the advertiser’s website or filling out a contact form. This type of attribution tracking allows advertisers to rely on data to make media decisions, instead of anecdotal evidence.

The Synergy Between Linear and Streaming Media

Rather than competing, linear and streaming media complement each other, creating a holistic marketing strategy that balances broad reach with targeted engagement. Without incorporating both tactics into a media plan, advertisers won’t be able to reach the majority of the audience in their market. Here’s how marketers are integrating the two in 2025:

1. Reach the Entire Television Market   

With a bifurcation of how audiences are consuming Television, there is no way to reach a majority of Television households without incorporating both linear and streaming services. By utilizing both media tactics, marketers can drive incremental lift and engagement through activating both and ensure they are hitting their entire audience within a market.

2. Media Consumption Changes
How different generations consumes media affects placements and media allocations. To reach the younger audience (18-45), streaming is an integral part of the marketing strategy. While audiences 45+ tend to prefer a linear Television experience. As media consumption habits change, so must media strategy to ensure you are hitting everyone in the target audience.

3. Cross-Platform Storytelling
Brands craft narratives that seamlessly transition between linear and digital platforms. A campaign might start with a cinematic TV commercial and extend into social video ads, interactive streaming experiences, and influencer collaborations, ensuring continuity and reinforcement across multiple touchpoints.    

4. Leveraging All Programming/Content
Live sports, entertainment events, and news broadcasts still draw significant linear TV audiences that have yet to be replicated on streaming. However, streaming platforms allow users to access unique shows/programs, to watch when and where they want, and retarget audience online with display ads. This dual approach ensures that brands capture audiences wherever and however they consume content and stay top of mind by constantly staying in front of them.

5. Maximizing Ad Spend Efficiency
Linear TV remains effective for mass awareness, but streaming platforms provide cost-efficient, performance-driven advertising. Marketers use data from streaming media to inform linear buys, ensuring ad placements align with the most relevant audiences. Additionally, programmatic ad buying in the streaming space enhances cost-efficiency and reduces wasted impressions.

6. Integrated Analytics and Attribution
By combining linear TV’s broad exposure with streaming’s advanced analytics, marketers gain a 360-degree view of consumer behavior. Multi-touch attribution models help track how users move from seeing a TV ad to engaging with digital content, visiting a website, or making a purchase, offering more comprehensive insights into campaign performance.

In 2025, the synergy between streaming and linear media is essential for building impactful, results-driven marketing campaigns. While linear media continues to deliver broad reach and brand credibility, streaming media enhances targeting, engagement, and measurability. By leveraging both in an integrated strategy, advertisers can create a dynamic, multi-channel experience that resonates with today’s diverse and digitally savvy audiences. As technology continues to advance, brands that master this hybrid approach will stay ahead of the competition and drive superior marketing outcomes.

How You Can Unlock the Power of Digital Advertising

An Introduction to Digital Advertising – Series 3/3

The final installation in our Digital Advertising series is all about Pre-roll ads and how you can capture your audience’s attention BEFORE they scroll!

Have you ever watched a short ad before a YouTube video? That’s pre-roll advertising—and it’s a game-changer! These quick, engaging video ads put your brand in front of a targeted audience before they watch their content, ensuring maximum visibility.

Pre-roll ads are usually short (5-30 seconds) and can be skippable or non-skippable depending on the platform and ad format. YouTube Main now accounts for over 11% of all time spent with streaming video. That’s a larger share than all other major streaming publishers including Netflix (8%)! Gen-Z spends more time on YouTube Main than on all other Social Media platforms.

Most pre-roll videos are served on mobile devices, making a mobile first strategy even more important. Attention spans are short, meaning advertisers have mere seconds to make an impact. With the right approach, pre-roll ads can drive massive brand awareness and conversions, but poorly executed ones? Instantly skipped.

Benefits

  1. High Visibility – Since pre-roll ads appear before the main content, they capture the viewer’s attention when they are most engaged.
  2. Better Targeting – Advertisers can use audience demographics, interests, location, and behavior to ensure their ads reach the right viewers.
  3. Higher Engagement – Video ads are more engaging than static ads, increasing brand awareness and recall.
  4. Measurable Results – Advertisers can track key metrics like views, click-through rates (CTR), and conversions, allowing them to optimize campaigns effectively.
  5. Cost-Effective – With a pay-per-view model, businesses only pay when their ad is watched or clicked, ensuring better ROI.
  6. Brand Recall – Since the ads appear before relevant content, viewers are more likely to remember the brand.
  7. Boosts Conversions – Well-crafted pre-roll ads with a strong call-to-action (CTA) can drive traffic, leads, and sales.

With high engagement rates and precise targeting, pre-roll ads help expand your reach, build brand awareness, and keep your company top of mind.

Network Affiliates can get you where your digital advertising spend does the greatest good. Don’t just wait to be found—be seen!

How You Can Unlock the Power of Digital Advertising

An Introduction to Digital Advertising – Series 2/3

Next up in our Digital Advertising series is Geofencing. Geofencing is all about targeting the right people, in the right place, at the right time!

Geofencing uses location-based technology to deliver ads to potential clients when they enter a specific area—whether it’s near your office, a competitor’s location, or an industry event.

  • Geofencing uses virtual boundaries to target customers with ads. It uses GPS, radio frequency identifiers (RFIDs), and beacon technology to create virtual fences around real-world locations. 
  • Geofence impressions: Hyper-target an area with a radius or custom polygon for the most precise location-based targeting.
  • Geo recency retargeting: Retarget devices after they leave the geofence location(s) for up to 30 days.

Benefits

  • Geofencing allows businesses to connect with customers at the right time and place 
  • It can help businesses improve targeting and advertising methods 
  • It can help businesses engage potential customers when they are most likely to make a purchase
  • Reduces wasted ad spend by focusing only on high-intent consumers, thus improving ROI on ad spend.
  • Understand which locations drive the most engagement and conversions.
  • Set up “conquesting” campaigns—target people near competitor locations and offer them better service.
  • Influence hiring decisions right before they choose a competitor.

Geofencing campaigns allow businesses to target potential customers based on their real-time physical location, offering highly personalized and context-driven marketing. Geofencing helps law firms target the right people at the right moment, boosting lead generation, brand awareness, and conversion rates while keeping marketing costs efficient.

This hyper-targeted approach increases brand visibility, drives foot traffic, and ensures your message reaches the right audience exactly when it matters most. Smart advertising starts with smart targeting.

How You Can Unlock the Power of Digital Advertising

An Introduction to Digital Advertising – Series 1/3

Many law firms want to know how to leverage digital advertising to maximize their marketing efforts. There’s a LOT you can learn about advertising on digital platforms, so we’ve written a series of articles on this very topic to share with you! Here’s the first installment of our three-part series on digital advertising…

Digital Display

Have you ever noticed eye-catching banner ads while browsing your favorite websites? That’s digital display advertising in action! These ads use compelling visuals and strategic placements to boost brand awareness, retarget potential clients, and drive engagement.

With broad reach and precise targeting, display ads ensure your brand stays top of mind—wherever your audience goes online.

Display advertising is a cost-effective, scalable, and visually engaging way to increase brand awareness, drive conversions, and re-engage potential customers. Digital display advertising is a way to promote a firm’s services online using images, text, video, and audio. It’s usually placed on third-party websites. 

Types of digital display ads:

  • Banner ads: The most common type of display ad

How digital display advertising works

  • Advertisers can use display ads to promote their brand and services
  • Ads can include a call to action that links to a landing page 
  • Display ads can be interactive, allowing users to engage with their service 

Where digital display ads appear 

  • Display ads can appear on websites, videos, and apps
  • Keyword Display – Keyword targeting: Ads are served to users viewing content online that contains relevant keywords in a custom list.

Benefits

  • Display advertising offers flexibility, broad reach, targeting precision, and the potential for high engagement, making it an essential tool for many digital marketing strategies.
  • Can be used for retargeting users who were served streaming ads- helping brands stay top-of-mind with potential clients and drive them to the website. 
  • Consistent exposure across websites, news platforms, and apps helps build trust with potential clients.
  • Keeps your law firm top-of-mind when someone needs legal services.
  • Lower cost-per-impression (CPM) compared to TV, radio, and print ads.

Can be adjusted to any budget, making it a great option for both small and large law firms.

The Power of a Strong Referral Network for Your Law Firm

How to Leverage Existing and New Relationships to Grow Your Business

In the legal industry, reputation and relationships are everything. One of the most effective ways for law firms to expand their client base and strengthen their credibility is by building and participating in a referral network. This strategic approach not only enhances business growth but also fosters trust within the legal community and beyond.

Why a Referral Network is Essential

  1. Steady Stream of Clients – A well-established referral network ensures a consistent flow of potential clients, reducing the reliance on traditional marketing efforts.
  2. Enhanced Credibility – When other professionals recommend your firm, it adds an extra layer of trust and validation to your legal expertise.
  3. Stronger Professional Relationships – Partnering with other attorneys, firms, and professionals creates mutually beneficial relationships that support long-term success.
  4. Better Client Service – Not every firm can handle every case. A referral network allows you to connect clients with the right legal professionals, ensuring they receive the best representation possible.
  5. Increased Revenue Opportunities – Many law firms have referral fee arrangements, which can provide additional income while strengthening professional collaborations.

How to Build a Strong Referral Network

  • Cultivate Relationships with Other Attorneys – Connect with lawyers who specialize in different practice areas to create a well-rounded network.
  • Join Legal and Business Associations – Being part of bar associations, business groups, and networking events can help expand your professional circle.
  • Provide Value and Trust – Referred clients reflect on the credibility of the referring firm, so delivering excellent service ensures ongoing referrals.
  • Utilize Digital Platforms – Stay connected through LinkedIn, legal directories, and professional forums to foster and maintain referral relationships.

A referral network is a powerful tool for law firms looking to grow their practice, enhance their reputation, and provide exceptional service to clients. By investing in strategic partnerships and maintaining strong professional relationships, law firms can position themselves for long-term success in a competitive industry.

Creating an Unforgettable Client Experience for Your Law Firm

How You Can Create Memorable (or even Legendary!) Client Experiences

In the legal industry, expertise is essential—but the way clients feel throughout their experience with your firm is what sets you apart.

A meaningful client experience isn’t just about winning cases; it’s about building trust, reducing stress, and making every interaction meaningful. By focusing on emotional connection and service excellence, law firms can create lasting impressions that turn satisfied clients into lifelong advocates and referral sources.

Here’s how to craft an unforgettable client experience:

1. Expected, Requested, and Delighted
Clients come to your firm with certain expectations: professional service, legal expertise, and clear communication. Meeting these expected needs is the baseline. Going a step further to address requested needs—such as providing status updates or explaining legal jargon—demonstrates attentiveness. But true client loyalty comes from moments of delight, where you exceed expectations by adding unexpected value, such as a follow-up call after case resolution or a thoughtful touch like a handwritten thank-you note.

2. Anticipatory Service: Solve Before They Ask
Anticipatory service means identifying client needs before they even have to voice them. If you know a client is anxious about their case, proactively checking in with reassurance can ease their concerns. If common questions arise at the same stage in a case, provide answers upfront. By staying one step ahead, you build confidence and trust while minimizing stress for your clients.

3. Staying in the Moment: Every Interaction Matters
Busy law firms can fall into the trap of treating client interactions as transactional. However, staying present in every conversation—whether in person, over the phone, or via email—makes clients feel valued. Active listening, genuine empathy, and undivided attention create a strong emotional connection, reassuring clients that their case truly matters.

4. Essential Wow: Small Moments, Big Impact
A wow moment doesn’t have to be extravagant. Everyday gestures—like remembering a client’s name, providing easy-to-understand legal summaries, or offering a warm, welcoming environment—can make a lasting impact. These small but meaningful moments help clients feel at ease and confident in choosing your firm for legal representation.

5. Legendary Wow: Turning Clients into Advocates
Sometimes, law firms go beyond to create legendary moments that clients will talk about for years. This could be going above and beyond to resolve a client’s case, offering unexpected support during a difficult time, or making a powerful impact in the community. These moments turn clients into brand advocates who share their experiences and refer others to your firm.

6. Engage Your Team: They’re Your Frontline
Your team members are the ones interacting with clients daily, making them the key to delivering an outstanding experience. Train and empower them to recognize opportunities for wow moments, encourage proactive service, and foster an empathetic, client-first culture. A well-engaged team will naturally create positive, memorable client experiences.

A great client experience isn’t just about legal outcomes—it’s about how clients feel throughout their journey with your firm. By focusing on expected, requested, and delighted service, anticipating needs, staying in the moment, and delivering both essential and legendary wow moments, your law firm can build deep, lasting relationships. Engage your team in this mission, and you’ll create an experience that clients not only remember but rave about and share with others.

Emotional Engagement Principles for Law Firms

How You Can Build Stronger Client Connections

In the legal industry, facts and expertise are essential—but they’re not enough to make a lasting impact. Potential clients don’t just choose a law firm based on credentials; they choose based on how a firm makes them feel. Emotional engagement plays a crucial role in client trust, retention, and referrals. By understanding and applying key emotional engagement principles, law firms can differentiate themselves and create deeper, more meaningful connections with their clients.

Here’s how law firms can enhance emotional engagement through strategic branding and client experience:

1. Streamline the Experience
From the first consultation to case resolution, every interaction should be smooth, intuitive, and client-focused. Clients often come to law firms in moments of stress and uncertainty—removing friction from the process can ease their concerns. Clear communication, easy-to-access information, and a structured onboarding process help establish confidence and trust. A well-organized experience reassures clients they are in capable hands.

2. Create Defining Moments
People remember experiences not just by their outcomes, but by standout moments that shape their emotions. Creating positive, memorable interactions—such as a reassuring follow-up call, a thoughtful check-in, or a personalized welcome package—can make all the difference. Law firms that deliberately build defining moments into their client journey will leave lasting impressions that foster loyalty and referrals.

3. Understand Service Psychology
Great law firms don’t just practice law; they practice empathy. Understanding the emotional state of clients—whether they are anxious, frustrated, or hopeful—allows firms to respond appropriately. Training staff in active listening, maintaining open communication, and demonstrating genuine care can help build strong emotional connections. A client who feels heard and understood is more likely to trust their legal team and feel confident in their representation.

4. Engage the Senses
Engaging clients on a sensory level can create an immediate sense of comfort and trust. The design of the office, the tone of a firm’s website, and even the way attorneys communicate all contribute to the overall experience. Warm lighting, a welcoming reception area, easy-to-read documents, and a well-designed website with clear, reassuring messaging all work together to enhance emotional engagement. Even something as simple as the tone of voice used in emails and phone calls can shape a client’s perception.

5. Focus on the Details
The little things matter. Thoughtful touches, such as personalized communication, sending updates before clients have to ask, or making legal documents easier to understand, show that a firm values its clients’ time and peace of mind. Small gestures—like remembering a client’s birthday, following up after a case is closed, or providing a clear roadmap of the legal process—can turn a routine experience into a meaningful relationship. For law firms, emotional engagement isn’t just a marketing strategy—it’s a client experience philosophy that fosters trust, loyalty, and long-term success. By streamlining the experience, creating defining moments, understanding service psychology, engaging the senses, and focusing on the details, firms can build strong emotional connections that set them apart from the competition. In an industry where trust is everything, emotional engagement can be the key to lasting client relationships and a standout reputation.

Active vs. Empathetic Listening: Why Your Advertising Creative Needs Both

Active vs. Empathetic Listening: A Must-Know for Law Firms in Practice and Advertising

As a law firm, you understand the power of listening when interacting with clients. But have you ever considered how listening plays a role in your legal advertising? The difference between active listening and empathetic listening can impact not only client relationships but also how your firm attracts and retains clients through marketing.

Active Listening vs. Empathetic Listening: What’s the Difference?

Active listening is about fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to what the other person is saying. It involves asking clarifying questions, summarizing key points, and demonstrating that you’re engaged in the conversation.

Empathetic listening goes a step further—it’s about truly feeling what the speaker is experiencing and responding with compassion. It requires deeper emotional intelligence and the ability to make the speaker feel heard and understood beyond just the words they say.

Why Does This Matter in Your Marketing Messaging?

Law firms that only use active listening in their advertising tend to focus on facts, case results, and legal expertise. While these are important, they don’t always connect with prospective clients on a personal level.

On the other hand, advertising that incorporates empathetic listening speaks directly to the emotional state of the client. It acknowledges their fears, frustrations, and needs while providing reassurance and solutions. In a truly effective and comprehensive marketing strategy, there is room (and the need!) for both.

For example:

  • Active Listening Approach: “We have recovered millions for personal injury victims. Call now for a free consultation.”
  • Empathetic Listening Approach: “We understand the pain and uncertainty of life after an accident. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

Want to develop targeted messaging that truly resonates with your audience from A-Z? Our team specializes in crafting creative advertising strategies that blend active and empathetic listening, reaching a wider, more diverse audience, with messaging designed to connect and convert on your most coveted client tiers.

Your Clients May Be Satisfied, but Is That Enough?

Satisfied vs. Engaged Clients: A Key to Helping You Stand Out from Your Competition

In today’s competitive market, businesses strive to keep their customers happy, but there’s a significant difference between having satisfied customers and having engaged customers. While both are important, engagement is what truly sets a law firm apart from the competition and fosters long-term success.

Satisfied: The Baseline

A satisfied client is someone who had their expectations met. They received decent customer service and left without complaints. However, satisfaction alone doesn’t guarantee repeat business or referrals. A satisfied client may:

  • Appreciate their experience but not feel a strong connection to your brand
  • Be just as likely to try a competitor’s product next time
  • Leave without engaging further (no referrals, reviews, or loyalty)

Engaged: The Game-Changer

An engaged client is emotionally connected to your brand. They aren’t just happy with their results—they are invested in your company’s success and want to be a part of it. Engaged customers:

  • Actively interact with your brand (social media, events, promotions)
  • Are loyal and less likely to switch to competitors
  • Refer friends and family, becoming brand advocates
  • Provide valuable feedback and help shape your business

How Engagement Sets You Apart from the Competition

Many businesses focus on customer satisfaction, but the real differentiator is engagement. Why? Because engaged customers drive growth, create organic marketing opportunities, and build a strong community around your brand.

How to Move from Satisfaction to Engagement:

  • Personalize Experiences – Connect with the person, not just the case.
  • Referral Programs – Offer something special to clients who refer your firm to their friends and family
  • Consistent Communication – Keep former clients in the loop about your firm. If they are engaged, that also means that they are invested in your growth. Celebrate with them!
  • Encourage Feedback & Interaction – Your clients may be able to help you fine-tune the customer experience within your firm. Listen to their ideas!
  • Go Beyond the Transaction – Invest in your clients like they are invested in you.

Your advertising and marketing efforts should absolutely focus on building your brand through storytelling and sharing your firm’s core values. That initial connection with potential clients is critical. But if you want to grow your brand, expand your practice and stand out from the competition, keep your clients engaged and on your team.

The Rise of Emotional Advertising

Why Feeling is Believing for Your Audience

In today’s competitive legal landscape, connecting with potential clients isn’t just about presenting your credentials or listing your practice areas. It’s about forming a bond. Emotional advertising—ads that make people laugh, cry, or feel a sense of trust—has become a powerful way for law firms to create meaningful connections with their audience.

Why Emotional Ads Work for Law Firms

  • Think about what makes someone choose a lawyer. It’s often not just about expertise—it’s about trust, empathy, and connection. Emotional advertising taps into these feelings, making potential clients feel seen and understood. Rather than just sharing information, these commercials create a relationship before they ever call your firm.
  • Research shows that emotional commercials consistently outperform rational ones. A recent study revealed that emotion-driven commercials can lead to an 8.2% increase in consumer actions. For law firms, this could mean more calls, leads, and ultimately, clients.

The Power of Storytelling in Legal Advertising

  • Law firms have a unique opportunity to use storytelling to connect with their audience. Behind every case is a human story, and sharing these narratives in an authentic way can be incredibly impactful. Emotional commercials allow law firms to showcase their values, their commitment to justice, and their understanding of their clients’ challenges.

Crafting Emotional Commercials for Your Firm

How can your law firm tap into the power of emotion in advertising? Here are some steps to get started:

  1. Highlight Real Client Stories: Share anonymized stories of past clients who found justice or closure through your firm. These testimonials create an emotional connection and show your dedication.
  2. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone: Your main competition as a law firm isn’t other law firms. It’s the insurance industry, and their marketing typically includes a healthy dose of advertainment. Yes, personal injury law is a serious business, but in the age of constant exposure to entertainment and product placement through social media, the bar is pretty high if you want to resonate with a younger audience.
  3. Focus on Your Brand Values: What does your firm stand for? Trust, justice, advocacy? Weave these values into your advertising narrative to make a deeper impression.

Personal injury law is a deeply personal industry. Clients aren’t just hiring a service; they’re putting their trust in someone to guide them through some of life’s most challenging moments. Emotional advertising helps convey that your firm understands and cares about their struggles. This connection can turn listeners into loyal clients.

Audiences crave authenticity and connection. Next time you hear a commercial that makes you feel something, remember… it’s not a coincidence. It’s a strategic approach designed to build trust and foster a connection. For law firms, this isn’t just effective—it’s essential. Feeling is believing, and in legal advertising, it’s also the path to success.