Digital Advertising
Whether you're starting from scratch or starting over, you're in the right place.
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Are your competitors showing up more often than you?
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Are you spending money on advertising without a real picture of what's working?
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Are you unsure where to even start with digital advertising?
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Do you have a strategy behind your ad spend, or are you just guessing?
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Bottom line: Is your business growing as fast as you want it to?
Digital Advertising Strategy
The platform isn't the problem — your strategy is.
We hear two stories a lot:
"I've never done this before."
You know your customers are online. You just don't know where to start, what to spend, or which platforms actually make sense for your business.
"I've tried it and it didn't work."
You ran ads. You got reports. You got impressions. You didn't get much else — and you're not sure what went wrong.
Both are more common than you'd think. And both point to the same root problem.
Digital Advertising Strategy
Running ads without a solid strategy is a waste of your marketing dollars.
A real marketing strategy means:
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Knowing exactly who you're trying to reach
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Understanding where they are in their buying process
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Saying the right thing at the right moment — not just showing up
Done right, digital advertising keeps your business visible from "I've never heard of them" all the way to "I'm ready to buy." That's what we build.
How Digital Advertising Works
The best strategies reach people throughout the customer journey.
The old sales funnel is dead. Real customers don't move in a straight line — they search, get distracted, come back, read reviews, ask a friend, and eventually decide. But even in a non-linear journey, there are distinct moments where the right ad can make a real difference.
The goal isn't to push people through a funnel — it's to be there at every moment that matters, however they get there.
Awareness: They don't know you yet.
Before anyone can choose you, they have to know you exist. This is about showing up for the right people before they're even actively looking — so when the need hits, you're already familiar.
Consideration: They're looking around.
Now they have a need and they're researching. This is where being visible when someone searches for exactly what you offer becomes critical — and where staying in front of people who've already found you keeps you in the running.
Research & Discovery They're going deep.
They're comparing options, reading reviews, visiting websites, asking for recommendations, and circling back again. This stage can last days or weeks. Businesses that stay visible throughout this loop are the ones that make the short list.
Decision They're ready to act.
All that visibility pays off here. The right message at the right moment — a strong offer, a clear next step, an ad that speaks to someone ready to decide — can be the difference between them choosing you or your competitor.
Loyalty They've already bought.
This is where most businesses check out. But a customer who's had a great experience is one of the most valuable audiences you can advertise to. They refer people, come back, and keep your brand alive in conversations you'll never see.
Want to dig deeper?
We wrote an in-depth blog post about how the modern customer journey works.
Marketing Budget Calculator
How much should you spend on marketing?
Why Cougar Digital Marketing?
13+ years of campaigns built around real goals.
We're not a national agency routing your account through layers of people. We're a local team with a genuine stake in seeing the businesses here succeed.
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Campaigns built for your specific goals
Because there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all digital advertising strategy.
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Direct access to your team
No account managers, no handoffs. Direct access to the team actually running your campaigns.
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Honesty and transparency above all
Real numbers, plain-English reporting, and real transparency when it comes to what's working and what isn't.
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A partner, not just an agency
We're invested in what happens after the campaign goes live — not just in delivering a thing and moving on.
Digital Advertising Case Study for a Tri-Cities Auto Repair Shop
What happens when you pair a new, modern website with a hyper-focused Google Search Ads strategy?
leads in the first year alone
Online Advertising Platforms
The right tool for the right moment.
There's no "best" platform to run digital ads on. There's the right one for your goals and where your customers actually spend time.
Google Search Ads
You either show up when someone searches for what you offer, or your competitor does. High intent, low waste — this is the most direct form of digital advertising there is.
Facebook & Instagram Ads
Reach the right people before they're ready to buy — and stay connected with existing customers and warm leads while you're at it. Powerful targeting, wide reach, full funnel.
YouTube Video Ads
Video lets people get a feel for who you are in a way static ads can't. YouTube puts that in front of a large, targeted audience at exactly the right stage.
Streaming TV Ads
Streaming TV ads put your brand in living rooms with digital-level targeting and none of the traditional TV price tag. Most of your competitors aren't here yet.
Display Advertising
Targeted ads served across thousands of sites and apps, based on who your audience is. Built for longer buying cycles where multiple touchpoints matter.
AI-Optimized Campaigns
The latest AI-driven ad tools automatically optimize placements, audiences, and spend across multiple channels at once. Powerful when guided by the right strategy — flat-out wasteful without it.
125+ 5-Star Reviews
Don't take our word for it.
Working with the Cougar Digital Marketing team was an absolute delight. Truly good people who are VERY skilled at what they do. Running a large regional food company, it's a blessing to work with an experienced digital team here locally, and not have to seek services in the Seattle or Portland market. I highly recommend working with Cougar Digital!
It is always a pleasure working with Cougar Digital, especially with Josh and Mykaela. It's been a very good partnership with them. Very professional, always available for any questions or inquiries. Looking forward for more years of partnership.
We had a great experience working with COUGAR DIGITAL for creating our website and helping us with our ongoing marketing needs. Ashley, did an exceptional job with the website. Josh created an awesome logo and branding bible for us, and Makayla's photos added a professional touch. Highly recommended for top-notch digital marketing solutions!
Josh Kandle was absolutely terrific to work with and the quality of his product is outstanding. Josh made great use of our time and was very collaborative for our project. I would highly recommend Cougar Digital Marketing they produce great product at awesome value. Cheers, George Stanley General Manager Audi/BMW Tri Cities
Travis and his team are top notch and very professional! They kept us on tract to make our website target date with daily/weekly tasks. They made the job seamless and supported us through the whole process! Our site is interactive with our industry software because Travis took the extra time to learn what we needed to make it work. Thank you so much Cougar Digital!
Cougar Digital should be your only call for web design. I would give them 6 stars if I could. #Silverline
We’ve been working with Cougar Digital Marketing for almost 6 years, and they have consistently gone above and beyond for Boiada Brazilian Grill. Josh is amazing at graphic design and always brings our ideas to life in fun, creative ways. Travis and Ashley have done an exceptional job with every aspect of our new website build — from strategy meetings and design to training and development. Cougar is professional, timely, fun to work with, and they create outstanding content. We couldn’t be happier with our new website — it’s beautiful and easy for our team to edit and update. Highly recommend Cougar to any business looking for a true marketing partner!
Josh did a great job on my headshot. He provided a timely appointment and spent the time to make sure he got the best shot. He was even willing to try several different locations. I would recommend him for anybody looking to update the professional photos.
Travis and his team are amazing. They were quick to communicate, completely understood what we were looking for, and delivered an amazing product by the deadline requested. We can’t recommend them enough!
Cougar Digital answered the phone, literally. During a company name change, we reached out to multiple design and marketing groups from the Tri-Cities to Walla Walla to Spokane. Although we'd left messages with each vendor, Cougar was the only one courteous enough to respond. After a couple consultations, Joshua Kandle, Director of Marketing took charge of the design of our new company logo. With patience and professionalism, he listened to our concepts and following a series of modifications, he created a logo that is printed on millions of labels and boxes that're shipped globally. The logo is headlined on our website and our email, along with being printed on our work garments. Digital art might be easy with today's technology, but without Joshua's patient nature and ability to listen to our ideas, the incredible logo wouldn't have been possible. Vehemently I recommend Cougar Digital. They're professional yet personable. They're communicative and driven while remaining patient.
Excellent service and good pricing. It was a pleasure working with Travis and his team. I highly recommend them!
My class and I had a great time learning from Josh about his background, experience in design and video, and creative process. Thank you so much for volunteering!!
Josh did a great job on our logo! He even let us sit with him at his personal computer so we could be involved with the finishing touches. Thanks Josh and Thanks Cougar Digital!!
Every business, large or especially small, should have professional help on marketing. As a small business owner, I only have so much time. I need to keep my focus on the daily tasks and still be able to be a family man. Cougar Digital takes this immense pressure off my shoulders. Not only does my business grow, it's easier. Highly recommend.
Josh Kandle was able to complete a wonderful presentation to my Introduction to Business class at Columbia Basin College. He brought to life the world of Marketing on the internet and how to use it effectively and consistently. The students left the presentation with knowledge they could go out and use immediately. He was great!
Ordered new business cards and was extremely pleased with the speed and service! Definitely recommend for your next marketing push!
Cougar Digital is a top notch company. As a business owner you have to be sure that the dollars you are spending are worth the result. All too often we are promised things that never materialize. These guys deliver and they make it easy. I am not computer savvy and I'm sure asked dumb questions. They took all the time necessary to help make sure I understood and was comfortable. Great people too. Highly recommend.
Josh at Cougar Digital built us a beautiful website! He and Travis are wonderful to work with and made the whole process easier than I imagined it would be. I would recommend them to anyone that wants a great, quality website
I am the Office Manager of a business that badly needed a website reworked. I knew that Cougar Digital was up to the task, but I was unsure of my own Manager. He really didn't want to go through the steps to work with anyone on anything like a website. Nick was fabulous (as in over the top) in his Customer Service skills with a very hard to work with man. The professionalism of Cougar Digital, coupled with the patience and skills of Nick, provided my Manager with everything he needed to get a new website. The website is beautiful and I am one very pleased customer. I will always go to Cougar Digital for all of my marketing needs.
The Cougar Digital team is fantastic. We recently revamped our website. I worked closely with Faith and she was super friendly and helpful every time we talked whether it was email, phone, or in person. The whole team works together to make sure everything is perfect and taken of. They really took our needs into consideration. Thanks!
Josh and his crew go above and beyond. He offers very personalized service and is always willing to go the extra mile. He never hesitates to come in to my office and personally show my staff how they can maximize their services. I've wasted too much money over the past few years on worthless SEO. It's great to have someone local who is accountable and provides fantastic service!
Cougar Digital Marketing & Design does outstanding work. Prosser School District has utilized their expertise on multiple occasions to assist in communicating our message. They are easy to work with and most importantly, they deliver!
Cougar Digital has been great to work with! With their support we have seen significant improvement with our marketplace campaigns.
I have been working with the team and Cougar Digital now for almost five years and I genuinely love working with them. They have become such valuable partners on the marketing side of our business. I can't recommend them strongly enough!! I would give them 10 stars if I could!!!
Cougar Digital's team has provided us with fast and courteous service that is paying dividends. We couldn't be more pleased with their positive, can do attitude and would recommend them to anyone wanting to separate themselves from their competition. Aperneo thanks you as well!
Ashley redid our website. She was professional, quick, and listened to all of our requests. Thank you!
Cougar Digital went above and beyond to ensure our complete and total satisfaction with creating and launching our new website which can be a challenging process when multiple opinions are involved. Josh in particular was very attentive, patient and helpful throughout the creative process and also with recommendations for SEO and innovative solutions for soliciting reviews and feedback from customers to boost online reviews. He also facilitated communication with our existing IT support to smoothly transition our domain and emails. I highly recommend the expertise of Cougar Digital for help with all things digital. If they don't offer a solution themselves, they will help you find one!
Had a great experience working with Josh! Super easy to work with and really knows his stuff - especially when it comes to lighting and editing for interior shots. The photos turned out amazing, with just the right vibe we were going for. We ended up adding a few extra shot requests last minute, and Josh had no problem fitting them in. He also helped with staging, which made a big difference, and the drone footage was a great bonus. His pricing was very reasonable for the quality we got. Great value for money. We’ll definitely be hiring him again for future shoots!
Very helpful and easy to work with. They thought about everything that we needed on our website and it looks amazing! Very satisfied.
Thank you Cougar Digital. Over the past couple of years we have worked with Cougar Digital for rebranding, website updates, new logo, updating our business card and promotional material. They also produced an amazing testimonial video - so much fun working with Josh and his team to create this. I can’t begin to express how happy we are with the work Cougar Digitial has completed for us over the years. They are professional, punctual, very creative and so easy to work with. Looking forward to our partnership for years to come. I would highly recommend Cougar Digitial. Our team at New Leaf Creations is thankful for all of your amazing work and looking forward to working with Cougar Digital in the future.
Awesome experience working with Josh on a 25th anniversary video of my wedding photos set to music. Couldn’t be happier with the finished product. Thank you Cougar Digital and Josh!
I highly recommend Cougar Digital. I am currently working with them on 3 separate projects. They took over 2 community based websites that were painful to use and turned them into user friendly, performant websites. Their website & database design is outstanding and they have consistently exceeded my expectations. It has been a pleasure working with everyone at Cougar Digital!
We had the privilege of working with Cougar Digital to create a video for our annual Hospice Gala, and we couldn't be happier with the results. The team captured the heart of what we do beautifully, creating a piece that was both moving and true to our mission. Josh, in particular, was outstanding. His compassionate approach made our interviewee feel comfortable and valued, allowing them to share their story openly and genuinely. The video resonated deeply with our guests, effectively conveying the essence of hospice care and the impact of our work on patients and their families. Thank you, Cougar Digital, for helping us share our story in such an impactful way!
We absolutely loved working with Cougar Digital on the launch of our new website and throughout several incredible photo shoots. From start to finish, their team was creative, responsive, and truly understood our vision.
Josh & Travis are wonderful to work with! They are both great at creating with both little to go on or very specific instructions, and exceptionally receptive to changes. I happily recommend them as often as the opportunity presents itself!
Josh and the Cougar Digital team did an amazing job with a drone video production that included narration. The quality of audio and video show a professional production level. I appreciate the attention to detail and quality of work by the Cougar Digital team.
Cougar Digital took the time to get to know our firm and our marketing goals before shooting any video. This made the video production process smooth and efficient. A short time after the shoot, their rough draft clips turned out to be nearly perfect final drafts, requiring very little input from us. They have an impressive creative and production team who strikes the right balance between respecting the time of their customers and getting the customer exactly what they want.
Awesome local digital agency. Their webdesign capabilities and customer rapport is super impressive. Loved working with Travis and Josh!
We had such a good experience working with Cougar Digital Marketing for building our website. They did an awesome job and worked around our crazy schedule so well for meetings/photo shoots/etc. Would highly recommend for any website/marketing needs.
We've had a great experience working with Cougar Digital. We purchased a package deal with a new logo, photography and web design for the Grace Brethren Church of Sunnyside. Nick and Josh were both great to work with. We've had a lot of positive feedback on the work they've done.
Josh did a great job making a couple of highlight videos for me. Easy to work with and prompt service
Josh has a great eye and delivers on what he promises. Easy to work with and very responsive.
I recently had an opportunity to choose a web designer to re-vamp and optimize Stepping Stones Alliance's website. Having worked with Cougar Digital before they were my choice for this project. I'm so glad they were able to work with us! The entire process from first meeting to re-launch of the site was stellar. They are quick to respond, listen to feedback, professional and clear in their communications, and spot-on with fulfilling the client desires. The entire team was great to work with along the way and I appreciated the high level of customer service at every point. Not only will I continue to work with them for all our organization's website needs, but I will recommend them to anyone looking for website and marketing projects.
Thank you Josh for your patience and expertise in helping us design our logo! Matt and I are really happy with the end result.
I honestly don't know where to start. My partners and I could not be happier with the process from start to finish working with Ashley and Cougar Digital Marketing. It was an absolute pleasure working with Ashley and I would recommend her to anyone who is looking to either create a website for their business or enhance their current one like we did. The service and pricing we experienced completely exceeded our expectations.
Josh created a style guide for us to help with consistency throughout our agency. He did a great job creating the guide with little information. He did a great job explaining everything to us. He went above and beyond troubleshooting a zip file issue. Our services with Josh Kandle were 5-star service! He was kind, patient, thoughtful with his work and helpful with creativity in our style guide as well and assisting with technical difficulties. Thanks again Josh!
Travis, Josh and everyone at Cougar Digital have been super to work with. They have become a partner in our business. Our web design and online media presence has greatly improved by implementing their recommendations. They go the extra mile.
Josh and Cougar Digital did an amazing job on a video for an event. We were super proud to show it to donors and had a wonderful response by community members regarding the video. Well done Josh and Cougar Digital!
Digital Advertising FAQs
Questions? We've heard 'em all.
If you’re thinking it, there’s a good chance someone else asked it too.
How much should I budget for online advertising?
That depends on your goals and how competitive your industry is—but we’ll help you find a smart place to start. We’ll never push you to spend more than you’re ready for, and we’re upfront about where your budget is going. Whether you want to test the waters or scale up, we’ll build a plan that fits.
Check out our marketing budget calculator for a ballpark starting range →
How will I know if my ads are working?
That depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. A brand awareness campaign is going to look different than a lead generation campaign—because success means different things. If you’re focused on getting your name out there, we’ll look at reach, impressions, video views, and engagement. If you’re aiming for leads or sales, we’ll track clicks, form submissions, calls, and conversions.
That’s why strategy matters. Before we launch anything, we’ll talk through your goals and set clear expectations about what success looks like. Then we’ll send you monthly reports with real numbers—not just marketing jargon—and walk through the results together. You’ll always know where things stand, and what we’re doing to make them better.
How soon will I start seeing results?
Some campaigns (like Google Search ads) can generate clicks right away. Others, like brand awareness or retargeting, take time to build momentum. We’ll let you know what to expect based on your goals and the platform we're using—but in general, we aim to start learning and optimizing within the first 30 days.
Why do I need different types of ads? Shouldn’t one be enough?
Because most people don’t go from “never heard of you” to “take my money” in one click. The customer journey isn’t linear—it usually takes multiple touchpoints to build awareness, earn trust, and prompt action.
That’s why a strong ad strategy usually includes more than one type of campaign. For example:
- Awareness ads introduce your brand to new people.
- Consideration ads speak to people who already showed interest (like visiting your site).
- Remarketing ads follow up and give them a reason to come back.
- Nurture campaigns keep you top of mind over time.
We build your campaigns to work together—so your future customers don’t just see you once and forget. They see the right message, at the right time, in the right place.
Digital Marketing for Busy Professionals
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Quick, useful reads to help you think bigger and market smarter.
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No hard pitch. Just an honest conversation about your goals and whether we're the right fit.