Function
Category Search is the fastest starting point when no seed list exists: open large channel pools by niche, filter by keywords, and assemble the first market map for campaign planning. It is designed for cold-start situations, new verticals, and early research phases.
0 seeds
works even without prior channel list
Minutes
to assemble first candidate pool
Category + keyword
two-layer filtering approach
Phase 1
discovery before quality validation
Use this when you are entering a niche from scratch or launching a new product where no reliable seed channels exist yet. It helps teams move from zero context to an actionable discovery pool quickly.
Choose a relevant category, apply keyword filters for intent and geography, and export the first candidate set. The shortlist then moves to Channel Analysis for quality and engagement checks.
Start broad to avoid missing opportunities, then narrow in two rounds: first by topical relevance, then by market-specific keywords. This sequence keeps discovery coverage high without sacrificing fit.
A property service enters two cities and starts from real-estate categories. After city keyword filtering and quality checks, the team builds a local shortlist for test placements with lower cold-start risk.
A B2B product team begins with startup and business categories, then narrows by founder and operator language. This produces a high-intent discovery map for the first month of outbound media tests.
Do not treat category output as campaign-ready. Category Search is discovery, not validation, so quality and recency checks are still mandatory before buying.
You get a structured first-layer market map and an exportable candidate pool ready for analysis, prioritization, and test planning.