When the internet became the primary source and venue for news, trends and almost everything under the sun, many entrepreneurs opted to use this as their mode of marketing their products or services to their potential customers. It makes sense because digital marketing enables you to target your customers more effectively. Also, it does not cost as much compared to more traditional ways of advertising.
But despite that, radio ads are still effective, and a lot of companies still choose to use them. Just check out the advertisers who market their products via SiriusXM commercials.
Why radio ads still work
Living in the 21st century, you would be hard-pressed to believe that radios and even TVs are a thing of the past. Many of us have laptops, smartphones and other gadgets we use to access the internet where we get most of our stuff and know most of what is happening in the world.
We do not even have to use TV anymore to watch our favorite shows because we have Netflix and other ways. And as for music, we often listen to our own playlists on our smartphones or iPods instead of tuning into radios to listen randomly to songs that we do not pick out.
Ever since iPods and smartphones came into existence, we gained the power to choose which songs, and also which shows, we want to hear. We can choose to block any other songs that we do not like, which in theory should make things harder for radio stations to stay in business.
So if you are a businessperson trying to market your products to a population with the power to choose what things they want to see and hear, choosing to advertise through radio might seem to be not the wisest thing to do. But this is where you are wrong.
People still listen to the radio
Despite the seeming dominance of the internet over almost everything, people still listen to radio stations. You can make good use of this if you try to up your ante and be as creative as you can.
People still listen to the radio every day. When they are driving to work, they turn on the radio rather than check their phones because it is safer that way. This can work to your advantage. When people turn on the radio, they are not actively engaging with the radio station. Instead, they are passively listening to what is being played. This can work for you, too.
How? If people are constantly engaging with their smartphones and other gadgets, they have the power to choose what to listen to or what to watch. But if they’re listening to the radio, that power decreases and they become passive listeners or even passengers to the radio station’s “pilot” DJ who has the power to play anything.
So if you have an ad that is truly unique, catchy and unforgettable, you can easily grab your listeners’ attention even if they are not your target market. This way, they might be persuaded to check out your products instead of getting rid of you by clicking on another tab or clicking on another website.
This is the advantage of radio ads that you may no longer be aware of, and you should make the most out of this because it can work wonders for your business. Yes, it is not as convenient or effective as posting ads on the internet, but radio ads still have their power. You should learn to use it to your advantage.