Is radio a good marketing strategy?
From radio being an antiquated channel to radio being a cost effective way to reach an older, local demographic, here are answers to the question, “What is one reason why radio is – or isn’t – a good marketing strategy?”
- It Depends On the Radio Show
- Best for Small Businesses and Low Budgets
- Reaches a Diverse Audience
- Good For An Older Demographic
- Radio is a Difficult Channel
- Radio is an Inefficient Marketing Strategy for Most Companies
- Works for Local Brick-and-Mortar
- Succinct and Clear Message
It Depends On the Radio Show
As the co-founder of Radio Active Media, a premier radio and podcast advertising agency, I can say from experience that radio can be a good or bad marketing strategy. We live in an attention economy, and if the radio show you are paying to advertise on has a small audience, then it is a waste of a marketing budget.
That said, airtime on Howard Stern could change the entire trajectory of your business, so it really depends.
Jeff Pollak, Partner, RadioActive Media Inc.
Best for Small Businesses and Low Budgets
Radio advertising is a cost-effective way to reach large numbers of potential customers. For small businesses that lack media budgets, radio is often a great option because it requires only a small investment to create and broadcast commercials.
Radio ads can also target listeners in particular locations, meaning that advertisers can target their audience more specifically and not pay for airtime in areas where their product or service isn’t relevant.
However, companies should be aware that the effectiveness of radio ad campaigns varies greatly depending on the quality and creativity of the commercials aired. In addition to creating timely and informative content, audio ads need to be distinctive enough to capture listeners’ attention as they pass through multiple channels while listening.
Jim Campbell, Owner, Camp Media
Reaches a Diverse Audience
One reason why radio is still a good marketing strategy is that it reaches a large and diverse audience. Radio stations have a wide range of listeners with different demographics, interests, and buying habits, which allows businesses to target specific audiences with their advertising.
Having said that, it is relatively affordable compared to other forms of advertising, such as television or online advertising. This nonetheless allows small and medium-sized businesses to compete with larger companies and reach a significant number of potential customers.
Matt Jamison, Marketing Director, Save A Lot
Good For An Older Demographic
Traditional media, including terrestrial radio, does not elicit a lot of younger listeners in this day and age. Although, Top 40 stations still exist in that space and still attract a number of Gen Z and Millennial listeners.
If you have a product that isn’t too reliant on the 18-to-25 demographic or even the 25-to-45 demographic, then you would still be well served to devote some of your advertising and marketing efforts to radio ads.
Advertising breaks on the radio are still played regularly during the hour and they have the potential to be heard by thousands of listeners per day, but mainly older listeners. Take a close look at your customer demographic to see whether it syncs well with radio audiences.
Sean Doherty, GM, Box Genie
Radio is a Difficult Channel
Radio offers very targeted advertising thanks to both audience segmentation, which allows advertisers to create customized content tailored towards specific demographics, as well as localization.
But it’s difficult – and expensive – for brands to stand out among their competitors in this crowded space.
Furthermore, since many people have access to streaming services and have moved away from traditional broadcast listening habits, fewer potential customers are exposed to advertisements through radio than before.
For these reasons, while radio can still be effective as part of a comprehensive marketing mix strategy when aimed at the right target audience and carefully planned around key objectives like branding or sales campaigns, it should no longer serve as your sole form of advertising communication.
Kate Wojewoda-Celinska, Marketing Manager, Spacelift
Radio is an Inefficient Marketing Strategy for Most Companies
Put simply, radio is an industry on its last legs. Destructive innovation has largely replaced radios with smartphone capabilities. Those who commute by car often favor music or podcasts from their phone rather than listening to the radio.
This trend is only increasing, making radio an inefficient marketing strategy for most companies.
Specifically, younger generations are moving farther away from radio and more towards smartphone entertainment. Similar to how cable is being replaced by streaming services, marketers must adapt to consumer trends. The increasingly outdated nature of radio is further driving it to become an obsolete vehicle for branding and marketing.
With that said, there are industries in which marketing on radio could prove useful by virtue of its association with driving. Personal injury/accident attorneys can benefit from radio marketing because their potential client base includes everyone listening to a radio while driving. Overall, radio marketing is dying.
Benjamin Nadrich, Marketing Consultant, Nadrich & Cohen LLP
Works for Local Brick-and-Mortar
Radio can be a massively beneficial marketing tool if you use it in the right way. For me personally, I think local radio has a far better chance of working for brick-and-mortar or local working organizations.
If you consider it like Facebook marketing, you can pay to cast your net wider (in this case, on a national radio channel). Often, you may get some interaction, but a lot of it might not be relevant or lead to sales.
With more controls in place (in this case, a local station) you have a more controlled group of people who can benefit or might actually use your service in some way. Of course, sometimes casting the net wider will be a beneficial thing, but I would consider this more if you are already a company that serves that wider audience.
Shawn Hill, Owner, The Grilling Dad
Succinct and Clear Message
In my experience, radio is a good marketing strategy because it’s not just about the message; it’s about the medium.
Radio is a great way to connect with your audience because it can feel personal when done well-after all, you’re talking directly to them. But what makes it so effective is the fact that it forces you to be concise and clear in your message.
Radio is like an elevator pitch or a tweet: You have 30 seconds or less to capture their attention, make them want to learn more, and ultimately convince them that your product/service will solve their problem.
That’s why I think radio is such an effective marketing tool: It forces you to be succinct and clear in order to get across your point quickly enough for people to listen before they change stations!
Daniel Morris, Founder, My Caring Plan
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