Top of Funnel (TOFU)
Top of Funnel (TOFU) is the awareness stage of the marketing funnel, where people first discover a problem or encounter a brand. TOFU marketing reaches a broad audience with educational, low-commitment content (blog posts, videos, social, and SEO) designed to attract attention rather than to sell directly.
The goal at this stage is reach and capturing early interest, not conversion. Typical TOFU formats answer broad questions and build trust, then invite visitors to engage further. Success is measured with metrics like traffic, reach, impressions, and click-through rate.
A common pitfall is pushing hard sales messaging too early, which repels an audience that is still just learning. TOFU should hand warm interest to the middle of the funnel, where deeper consideration happens.
Last updated: 14 June 2026