Paid traffic is the fastest way to validate your business. Real money in exchange for real customers.
But it’s also the fastest way to burn money if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Here’s the truth: Most first-time advertisers lose money on their first campaigns. That’s normal. You’re buying data, not just traffic. The goal is to learn what works before you scale.
Where Should You Start?
If you’re starting your first business, read this first: 30+ Best Paid Traffic Sources for 2026. Honest breakdown of every major ad network, including which ones to avoid.
The short answer:
| Your Situation | Start Here | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Local service business | Google Ads | People are searching for you |
| B2C product or content | Facebook Ads | Cheapest way to test audiences |
| Already have traffic data | Display/Native | Scale what’s working |
Budget guidance: Start with $500-1000 for testing. Don’t scale until you have winning combinations.
By Traffic Type
Social Ads
Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat. Interrupt people with your message.
Search Ads
Google, Bing. Capture people already looking.
Display Ads
Native, Push, Pop, RTB. Scale to millions of impressions.
Next Step: Once you have traffic, optimize your campaigns to turn losers into winners.
