Did you know that 63% of US adults listen to the radio at least once daily? This media format reaches places that traditional marketing and television can not. So how do you utilize it for your marketing methods with radio advertisement?
Radio is unique, and a successful strategy does take some planning. If you want excellent results, read on for our guide to radio advertisements.
What Is Radio Marketing and Advertising?
Radio advertising is when a company or individual will buy time on a commercial radio station. Their advertisement will be played in between songs, talk, and programming on the channel. Doing this allows advertisers to reach a wide and very unique audience.
Advertising is just one part of radio marketing. This is the process of using radio station services to promote a brand. In addition to standard forms of advertising, stations may also offer sponsorships and events under their marketing umbrella.
What Are the Main Types of Radio Ads?
Radio ads and marketing are generally used interchangeably. Below, you will find the main ways to get your product across using the radio.
Commercial
This is the most common type of radio advertising method. Between segments of the show, the announcer will switch to short audio ads that are around 30 seconds long. Once they have finished it will switch back to the scheduled program.
With these ads, you don’t have the visuals of video or images. Thus, audio becomes crucial. What you say and how you say it takes on a new meaning.
Most important is the jingle. This is a musical motif or cue that cements your brand in the head of listeners. Think about the chiming sounds of the Intel Inside adverts and how sound can align with a brand.
Sponsorship
A sponsorship is a very unique way to get yourself on the radio if you can’t afford to create an ad. It will get your name read out on certain segments or parts of the show, or in some cases, you may sponsor whole shows themself.
If you already have a radio ad created, you can combine sponsorship with the ad itself. Your radio jingle or slogan may be played or read at the appropriate time.
Live Read Advertisement
These types of ads tend to be used more in the US than in places such as the UK, Europe, and Australia. The host will stop and suddenly declare that they are going to read a message from a sponsor. They then deliver from a pre-written script.
As people trust the host of the show and channel, this can give your product credibility. However, it can often seem less natural.
What Are the Benefits of Radio Ads?
Radio ads offer a very unique proposition. Below, we have listed some of the benefits of using this method.
Specific Targeting
The radio stations you choose to advertise on will have very specific demographics and locations. From certain states to countries, you can use this to hone in on your target audience. Generally, the more local they are the better it is.
As well as locations, they each have their own type of demographic. Family-orientated channels may have a different audience than old-timer shows or modern metal stations. By getting the right one, you can appeal to the right audience.
Choice of Times
Radio advertising also lets you choose the times to advertise. Done correctly, you can get a unique audience that may have overlooked you at other times. Mainly, this is when people are driving.
To and from work are the peak times. Your ad may remind them of things they need to buy on the way home, such as groceries and essentials. However, off-peak times can be just as good, particularly if you are trying to get people who may be at home during the day.
Trust
Radio stations spend a lot of time building trusting relationships with their listeners. They play the music they like, discuss the topics they are interested in and even let them join phone-ins. All of this is a brand awareness that businesses spend a lot of time and money cultivating.
When you advertise on the radio, you can hijack this relationship and feed off it. You become a part of that trust. This also allows you to build your own lasting relationships.
Repetition
When someone sees an advertisement, even if they are interested in the content, they may forget about it. Perhaps they may be busy or find a different product to fulfill their need. However, if you can remind them regularly, it helps make sure they come back.
With radio advertising, you can do just that. An ad in the morning, followed by one in the evening would be a perfect way to keep your brand refreshed in the mind of potential customers.
Cheaper Than Television Advertising
Radio can hit just as big an audience as television. Yet it costs a lot less.
Firstly, your advert will not be as much to make. A professional one will cost time and money, but nowhere near that of a television advertisement. After this, slots will be a much lower cost than that which you would pay for television.
Planning Radio Advertisements
Radio advertisements should not be standalone and should be part of a larger marketing plan. Digital marketing and traditional methods should work together. If you don’t have the expertise or staff to coordinate this, then contact an expert.
Media Shark can be the one to assist in all your marketing endeavors. From digital radio to online, we can drive real results for your brand. Contact us here and let us get your brand seen.
