Marketing strategy & planning · Core
Awareness stage
Also called: top of funnel
ELI5
A stage in which the audience becomes aware of a problem, need, category or brand.
Used in conversation
“Define awareness stage before we compare campaign performance.”
Pitch context
You will see “Awareness stage” in brand decks, campaign plans, research reports and performance reviews when the discussion reaches marketing strategy & planning.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret marketing strategy & planning without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Connected terms
- Top of funnelThe search label “top of funnel” can route to both entries.
Sources & evidence · 6
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- U.S. Small Business Administration — Write your business planDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- American Marketing Association — Definitions of Marketing and BrandDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission — Advertising and Marketing GuidanceSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Google Analytics Help — Google Analytics dimensions and metricsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Google Ads Help — Google Ads metrics and reportingSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Interactive Advertising Bureau — Measurement guidelines and standardsSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-16