Auckland
Katie Eder
Google Ads & Digital Advertising Strategist
Hire a Media Buyer in New Zealand
Increase return on ad spend with targeted campaign planning, audience testing and platform negotiation across Google, Meta and programmatic channels.
Nelson
Ben Seelen
Email Marketing Expert (Klaviyo, Omnisend)
Nelson
Kirsten Manners
Google & Meta Ads Specialist
Christchurch
Brooke Henderson
Digital Marketing Specialist
Christchurch
Amelia Williams
Strategy, Brand and Marketing Consultant
Christchurch
Kathryn McCurrie
Graphic / Motion Designer
What this service is for
What can a media buyer help you build?
A media buyer plans, negotiates and runs paid campaigns to reach customers at the right stage—balancing search, social and programmatic channels, tracking conversions so you can measure return on ad spend.
Reach new customers efficiently
Build prospecting campaigns across search, social and display to find and convert people who match your target customer profile.
Lower acquisition cost for ecommerce
Use shopping, dynamic remarketing and audience testing to reduce cost-per-acquisition while protecting margin and ROAS.
Drive awareness for launches or events
Combine short-format video, display and targeted social buys to raise local or national awareness ahead of a product launch or event.
How Unicorn Factory works
A simple way to find the right freelancer.
Create one project brief, compare applications from relevant freelancers, and choose who you would like to meet.
Step 01
Tell us what you need.
Use the guided brief to explain the outcome, timing, budget, and context. You do not need to prepare a technical specification.
Freelancers in our network
Who you’ll meet
The profiles shown are examples of media buyers in our network. Post a brief, relevant freelancers will apply, the business reviews applications, and Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions.
Tell us about your project
Ideas for your brief
Project ideas you can brief
Concrete engagements you can brief quickly — each scope can be adjusted and priced with the freelancer you choose.
Full‑funnel ecommerce growth campaign
End-to-end media buying to scale online sales across prospecting and retargeting.
- Paid media audit and audience insight report
- Channel plan and media buy strategy (Google Shopping, Search, Meta and TikTok)
- Campaign setup, creative test plan and A/B roadmap
- GA4 and conversion tracking setup plus a KPI dashboard
Local awareness and event promotion
Short, high-impact campaign to drive registrations, tickets or store visits.
- Geo-targeted audience and channel plan (social, display, BVOD/CTV where appropriate)
- Media buying and negotiation for placements and inventory
- Ad creative direction and short-form motion assets
- Event conversion tracking and post-campaign performance summary
Performance audit and optimisation retainer
Quick audit followed by ongoing optimisation to improve efficiency and reporting.
- Paid media and landing page audit with priority fixes
- Conversion tracking and attribution review (GA4, server-side or platform pixels)
- Monthly optimisation plan and creative testing calendar
- Monthly performance report and roadmap for next-month spend
Pricing guidance
How much does media buying cost?
Indicative NZD ballparks to help you plan. Final scope and freelancer rates are agreed directly with the freelancer.
Small: audit or one‑off campaign
Performance audit, one-off campaign setup or a short test campaign. Does not include ongoing monthly retainer or ad spend.
NZ$1,200–NZ$6,000
Medium: monthly campaign management
Monthly management covering strategy, optimisation and reporting for multiple channels. Ad spend billed separately to platforms.
NZ$3,000–NZ$12,000
Large: strategic programmatic & cross‑market
Full strategy, programmatic (DSP) buys, creative testing and consolidated reporting for larger and multi‑market campaigns.
NZ$12,000–NZ$45,000+
What affects the price
- Monthly media budget — larger budgets usually need more management and reporting
- Campaign complexity — number of channels, markets and audiences to target
- Creative production — whether motion, video or personalised ads are needed
- Tracking and tech — server-side tagging, GA4 or CRM integrations increase scope
Estimates are indicative. Prices are in NZD, may exclude GST and ongoing software or platform fees, and final scope and rates are agreed directly with the freelancer. Request a tailored quote when you post your brief.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions before you hire.
Answers to the questions clients commonly ask before starting a brief.
Still deciding what you need?
Start with the outcome and the context you already have. A polished specification is not required.
How do I start working with a media buyer through Unicorn Factory?
Post a clear brief describing objectives, budget range and timing. Relevant media buyers will apply, you review applications, then Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions so you can interview and hire directly.
Will the freelancer manage my ad spend and billing?
Freelancers set up and manage campaigns on your ad accounts, but ad spend is paid directly to the platforms (Google, Meta, etc.). Discuss billing and account access with the freelancer before work begins.
How long until I see results?
Timelines vary by campaign type. Search and lower‑funnel improvements often show within a few weeks; full optimisation for multi‑channel campaigns commonly takes 6–12 weeks of testing and iteration.
What budgets do freelancers work with?
Freelancers work across a wide range of budgets. Many can run tests on modest spends and scale as performance becomes predictable — include your monthly media budget in the brief so applicants can respond accurately.
How do I know a freelancer is right for my business?
Ask for case examples, platform experience (Google, Meta, TikTok, programmatic DSPs) and reporting samples during interviews. Confirm tracking requirements and success metrics before hiring.
Ready to get moving?
Ready to brief a media buyer?
Create a short brief with objectives, target audience and budget so relevant media buyers can apply — Unicorn Factory will make warm introductions.