In Southeast Asia, social media advertising is increasingly vital, with 88.9% of internet users also being smartphone users, driving a surge in digital ad spending. Social media platforms are favored due to high user engagement, with significant numbers of Southeast Asians visiting these platforms to discover brands. Meanwhile, small businesses are advised to leverage cost-effective marketing strategies, such as SEO, to connect with audiences without a budget. Additionally, recent research by ThinkNewsBrands challenges the notion that advertising in hard news negatively impacts brand perception, asserting that avoiding news media results in lost ROI and profit growth. The findings indicate that ads placed alongside contentious news topics yield similar results to those placed next to entertainment content. As advertisers continue to shy away from news environments due to safety concerns, they may be missing out on valuable opportunities for brand engagement.