Marketing
What is Earned media?
Earned media is exposure a brand gets for free through others — like press coverage, reviews, word of mouth, and social shares — rather than paying for ads (paid media) or publishing its own content (owned media). It's highly trusted because others vouch for you.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains earned media.
Key things to understand
- 1It's publicity you earn rather than pay for.
- 2Examples: press, reviews, word of mouth, shares.
- 3It's highly trusted since others vouch for you.
- 4It contrasts with paid media and owned media.
Frequently asked questions
- What is earned media?
- Free exposure a brand gains through press, reviews, word of mouth, and shares — not paid ads.
- What are paid, owned, and earned media?
- Paid is ads you buy, owned is content you control, and earned is publicity others give you.
- Why is earned media valuable?
- Because it comes from third parties, it's seen as more credible and trustworthy than advertising.