Radio advertising has been around for decades, but it’s still a great way to get your message out there and build brand awareness. Radio advertising is a great way to reach your target audience. It’s also one of the most affordable forms of marketing out there.
What to consider before advertising your business on the radio?
Before you start advertising on the radio, there are some things you should consider first.
Target audience
You should already know your target audience before establishing your business, but if you need to do a refresher, make sure to do that before signing a radio advertisement contract.
You’ll have to choose a time slot for your ad, and each time slot comes with its own audience. You’ll want to be sure your audience lines up with the listeners for that slot. The radio station will have all the data you need to know about its listeners in its media kit.
Marketing budget
The customer determines your marketing vs. advertising deliberation needs you have discovered (marketing) and the actions you take to meet those needs (advertising). Therefore, your marketing budget should dictate the type of advertisements you go with, including radio. Local radio advertising costs are known for being affordable (or small businesses wouldn’t be able to utilize them), so you should have options.
Advertising type
There are three main radio advertising types. You will choose between a sponsorship, a commercial ad, or a live read. They all serve different purposes and will benefit you in different ways.
Depending on your budget and needs, you can choose one, two, or all three. You’ll be working with a sales rep at the radio station, and they can help guide you toward the types that will work best for you, your business, and your budget.
Types of Radio Advertisements You Could Buy
Radio stations always run deals on advertising slots, especially around the holidays. Their radio station deals may also be coupled with digital advertising options on their website. Depending on your business, you can choose from any of the three options below or a combination.
Sponsorship
Have you ever listened to a radio broadcast of a local sporting event like high school football or basketball? If so, you’ve probably noticed that those broadcasts have sponsors. Those sponsors are always small businesses who want to get the word out about their business not only in front of the live game crowd but also to those listening on the radio as well.
This type of advertisement is great because you are reaching a lot of different types of people at once, and your package will most likely include a certain number of shout-outs per game for every regular-season game.
Commercial ad
Take note when a radio station plays commercials between songs: This is where your commercial ad will play. It is a prerecorded commercial that plays several times at certain times of day or night. Those specifics are determined by the package you choose or the terms you work out with your sales representative.
Live read
This type of ad is where the radio DJ reads a different script aloud between music selections or as part of the “talk radio” segment. The same guidelines apply: It will be read several times during a time slot based on your agreement.
Radio Advertising Best Practices for Small Businesses
Radio advertising is a powerful medium to reach your target audience. It’s inexpensive, can be done at short notice, and is highly targeted.
But radio advertising is not easy to learn and the process of getting started can be overwhelming. This section will help you get started with radio advertising and give you some best practices for small businesses.
Be Proactive About Scheduling Your Campaign
Radio advertising is a powerful tool to reach your audience. But it can also be a challenging one. It’s important to have a clear strategy before starting marketing on the radio.
Radio advertising is more than just buying ads and playing them during certain times of the day or week. It’s about creating an effective strategy to help you reach your goals and get the desired results. Advertisers need to be proactive about their radio advertising campaigns by understanding the best times of day and days of the week for them to run.
Extend the Campaign Duration
Radio advertising for small business is a great option who want to reach a wider audience. However, there are some challenges associated with radio advertising.
Radio advertising limits the number of ads that can be shown in a given time frame. This is due to the fact that radio ads are usually only 30 seconds long and the airtime is limited by law.
The good news is, there are ways to get around this problem with effective radio advertising strategies. One way is to extend the campaign duration using different digital and social media channels.
Go Above the Minimum Budget When Possible
Radio advertising is one of the most affordable forms of advertising. It’s also one of the most effective, but it does not mean companies should settle for the minimum budget. Instead, they should aim to go above their budget and spend their money wisely. The budget should be based on the size of the market. In a smaller market, radio advertising is going to be more affordable. However, radio advertising may not provide the returns that the company desires in a larger market. In order to have successful radio marketing campaigns, it’s important to spend time doing research and understanding what their demographics are. Understanding who they target will help with planning and budgeting for each campaign.
Target the Right Audience
Radio advertising is still one of the most cost-effective forms of advertising. It’s also a great way to get your message across and it’s often easier to target specific audiences with radio ads.
Radio ads are also great for niche marketing, a product launch or anything else that requires you to reach an audience in a specific location. Radio ads can be a great way to get your message out and target specific audiences at a limited cost. They are also usually easier to target than other forms of print advertising.
Make Sure Your Ad Sounds Good
Radio ads have a unique sound that can be challenging to achieve, especially when you are working with limited budgets. To make your radio ad sound good, you must follow these best practices:
- Keep the ad short, so it doesn’t get lost in the noise
- Use a memorable slogan and refrain from using any clichés
- Include a call to action for your audience
- Have an interesting voice over and/or jingle
Radio advertisements are an excellent way for small businesses to reach the local audience. Before building your marketing strategy, keep these points in mind to get the maximum ROI.
