A recent poll found that business owners and marketers spend about $15,000 per month on marketing. That’s a lot of money! And if you’re spending so much money on marketing, you should know how to make the most of it.
But what is the best form of advertisement? And how can you select and maximize these methods to your advantage? If you’re a marketer, business owner, or enthusiast looking to learn more about advertising to boost your revenue, this blog post is for you.
Table of Contents
What is Advertising?
Advertising is the way businesses interact with customers about their offerings. It’s a communication paid for by the sender and meant to educate or influence the recipient.
It can be found everywhere – television, radio, billboards, and now the internet. And it takes many forms, including:
- Pictures/Prints
- Videos
- Music
- Even people!
The advertising industry is run by different entities including firms, agencies, media, and a variety of professionals like copy editors and designers whose job is to deliver the right message to the target audience for them to purchase products or services.
16 Most Popular Forms of Advertising
To build an effective advertising strategy, you must understand your options. Here, we’ll discuss the top 16 most popular forms of advertising:
1. Social Media Ads
Social media advertising is popular among small businesses because it’s cost-effective and allows precise audience targeting. For example, if you own a retail store, you can use social media advertising to target certain demographics in your local area.
This means only people who fit certain criteria near your store will see your ads. Here are some effective social media platforms for advertising.
- TikTok
To boost your advertising performance, choose the platforms that are most relevant to your company goals and target demographic.
2. Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising
Advertising, specifically pay-per-click (PPC), is a mechanism in which advertisers pay publishers every time their ad link is clicked. This method is commonly used on platforms like Google and Facebook.
Advertisers can’t just pay more to rank higher on search engine results; instead, ads undergo an automated process called the Ad Auction to determine their relevance and validity.
3. Print Media Advertising
Still sticking to the old-school approach? It can still pay off! Yes, print advertising may sound traditional, but it still gets the job done. Before digital advertising took over, print ads were the go-to for small businesses.
Print ad revenues are declining. For small businesses, print ads might seem pricier than digital ones. Yet, they can still work well for local businesses or those targeting older demographics. Think newspaper, magazine ads, or flyers.
4. Radio, Podcasts, and Streaming Audio Advertising
Reaching consumers through content has evolved. Podcasts are now the preferred choice for younger audiences over radio. Music consumption has shifted to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music from CDs.
This shift benefits your company. With numerous podcasts available, your audience will likely listen to some in your niche. Sponsoring a podcast allows you to reach potential customers while they’re engaged in relevant topics. Moreover, having the host endorse your ad instantly boosts credibility.
5. Direct Mail Advertising
Despite its traditional image, direct mail is still effective, particularly when combined with digital advertising for a multi-channel strategy. This method enables organizations to target certain groups with specific messages while making use of both online and offline marketing platforms.
6. Email Marketing
Is email marketing still relevant? Absolutely! In fact, it’s thriving more than ever. Despite predictions of its demise, email remains the top-performing marketing channel, boasting an average ROI of 3,800%.
The secret sauce? It’s all about your subscriber list. With strategic email marketing, you can effectively guide potential customers through your sales funnel.
7. Mobile Advertising
Mobile advertising involves showing ads exclusively on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. This can include:
- display ads
- Search ads
- videos
- app ads aimed at getting more downloads
- social media ads only visible on mobile
For small businesses, having a mobile advertising plan can be beneficial. Studies show that 84% of adults under 30 prefer online shopping using mobile devices.
8. Out-of-Home Advertising
Out-of-home advertising involves contacting individuals when they are out and about. This includes:
- Billboards
- Digital signs
- Transit advertising (such as those seen on bus shelters and trains)
- Street furniture ads
- Sports stadium advertisements
One thing to consider about this type of advertising is that it might be a bit expensive, so be sure it is within your budget.
9. In-App Advertising
When discussing smartphone use, you can’t avoid talking about applications. So, if you are thinking about mobile advertising, give app advertising a try. With numerous apps available, choosing the appropriate ones and displaying the relevant information may result in very successful in-app advertising.
10. Broadcast Advertising
Broadcast advertising is the promotion of products or services using television, radio, and billboards to reach a large audience. However, these options may be costly and difficult for small firms.
11. Product Placement Advertising
Product placement is a marketing practice in which products appear in movies or television programs. They are perfectly connected to the story itself, seeming to be a natural part of the scene.
Companies utilize this to subtly market their products by leveraging popular media that uses commodities such as:
- Food
- Beverages
- Vehicles
- Clothing
This enables them to identify their brand with certain movies, personalities, or television shows.
12. Consumer-Generated Advertising
Consumer-generated advertising (CGA), also known as User-Generated material (UGC), is brand material created by everyday people rather than advertising professionals or corporate employees.
Anyone with a smartphone may generate brand-related material such as:
- Photos
- Videos
- Blog entries
Whether favorable or not, this information raises brand recognition when it is shared online on websites, social media, or forums.
13. Native Advertising
Native advertising is a digital marketing strategy in which adverts blend in with the surrounding content on a website.
Pay-per-click advertising is an excellent instance since it often resembles regular search results. Businesses support native advertising because it goes in with the user experience, while display advertisements may be disruptive.
14. Display Advertising
Video ads before or during streaming content are also examples. They aim to prompt users to click through to the company’s website, often to buy something. These ads are common online, making them easy for consumers to overlook.
15. Guerrilla Advertising
Guerrilla advertising uses creative and low-cost methods to grab attention. One common tactic is ambient advertising, where ads are placed unconventionally in public spaces. For instance, a company might paint a sidewalk mural instead of a traditional bus stop ad to promote its services.
16. Public service Advertising
Public service advertising, or public service announcements (PSAs), promotes causes or initiatives instead of products. These ads inform the public about important topics that benefit them or others. They can appear on TV, radio, or online videos.
Guidelines For Successful Advertising Campaigns
Here are some strategies for creating effective ads that makes a lasting impact and increases sales:
1. Ensure Alignment with Your Business Positioning
An effective positioning plan includes identifying the appropriate target demographic for your advertising and a list of relevant features and advantages. It may include reasons why the product is better and distinctive and an advertising “personality”.
2. Target Your Audience’s Preferred Platforms
Investigate the most effective advertising channels to reach your target audience. For example, social media advertising platforms might be an excellent match if your customers are young. Request a media kit for any form of media you want, particularly conventional ones such as print, TV, and radio.
3. Keep Your Message Clear and Concise
People struggle to recall names, let alone intricate marketing messages. For commercial messaging, use the “KISS” principle. The simpler the headline for an online or print ad, the better.
And every other ad element should reinforce the main idea, whether it is “price”, “selection”, “quality”, or any other single-minded idea.
4. Maintain Consistency with a Likable Style
Ads possess individuality and style. Find a pleasing style and personality and stick with it for a year or longer. Changing ad designs and personalities too often might confuse prospective buyers. It also hinders memorability.
5. Establish Trustworthiness and Credibility
If you claim your quality or value is the “best” when it plainly isn’t, advertising will speed up your ruin rather than boost your revenue. Identifying and roasting your competitors should also be avoided.
It has the potential to be confusing and distracting, and it may backfire by increasing customer loyalty to competitors’ goods rather than decreasing it.
6. Encourage Action and Close the Sale
Invite buyers to visit your shop, visit your website, email for additional information, or phone for information and orders.
Include clearly accessible information in the ads to encourage prospective consumers to purchase, such as the:
- website URL
- Location
- phone number
- shop hours
- credit card accepted
- and so on.
7. Stand Out from Competitors
Examine competing advertising in areas where you want to market. Make your ad stand out among competitors. Options include:
- Personal judgment.
- Ad testing using a small sample of target customers (qualitative research).
- More expensive, sophisticated quantitative test processes.
8. Uphold Ethical Standards and Truthfulness
Whatever advertising media you use, make sure your message is ethical and accurate. There are strict rules against misleading activities and fraudulent advertising.
Take Full Advantage of Low-cost and Free Advertising
Not all successful advertising requires a huge budget. Leveraging low-cost and free ads may help you extend your marketing budget. Here are several strategies that offer significant impact without breaking the bank:
1. Organic Social Media Posts
Utilize your company’s social media profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to share various content types such as posts, stories, videos, and reviews, reaching your audience organically.
2. Paid Social Media
Invest in ads on social media platforms, paying to promote content to specific audience segments for increased visibility.
3. Email Marketing
Leverage the effectiveness of email marketing by sending updates and offers directly to subscribers who have opted in, enabling precise audience segmentation and measurable results.
4. Google Business Profile
Establish a comprehensive Google Business profile with photos, reviews, and offers to attract potential customers who discover your business through Google and Google Maps.
5. Encourage Customer Reviews
Foster positive word-of-mouth and trust in your brand by encouraging customers to leave reviews. Even negative feedback can be managed effectively by responding diplomatically and promptly.
6. Create Engaging Content
Produce compelling content such as videos, how-to guides, blogs, and Q&A sessions to captivate your audience and drive conversions from various marketing channels.
7. Offer Gift Certificates
By issuing gift certificates, you may attract new clients and increase cash flow while giving current clients an easy method to recommend your goods or services to others.
As your company expands and gains success, think about making an investment in cutting-edge advertising strategies and evaluating how well they contribute to company expansion.
5 Advertising Tips for Small Business
Small businesses often have limited budgets, making efficient advertising crucial for success.
1. Focus on Your Audience
To make the most of your advertising budget:
- Ensure you’re targeting the right audience.
- Develop a profile of your ideal customer using data from surveys, demographics, or mailing lists.
- Choose platforms for advertising that are relevant to your target demographic and business area.
2. Advertise Where Your Audience Is
Research available advertising platforms to ensure your ads reach your target market. For instance, if your audience is younger, consider mobile advertising on platforms like Snapchat.
When exploring print, broadcast, or outdoor advertising, request media kits to verify if the demographics match your targeting criteria.
3. Track and Measure Performance
Evaluate your advertising campaigns to make informed decisions for future endeavors. Digital ads offer detailed analytics, including spending efficiency, engagement metrics, and audience demographics.
For other forms of advertising, use unique URLs, email addresses, or phone numbers to gauge interest or include offer codes for website discounts.
4. Time Your Campaigns Strategically
If operating on a limited budget, focus advertising efforts during peak seasons or busiest times for your business. Analyze earnings data to identify optimal advertising periods; for instance, retail businesses may thrive during the holiday season, while landscaping companies see increased demand in spring and summer.
5. Utilize Remarketing Strategies
Employ remarketing tactics in digital advertising to target users who have visited your site but haven’t converted. Craft personalized ads based on their previous interactions, enticing them with relevant offers or engaging content to encourage conversion.
Discover the Ultimate Advertising Solution at BrandLume
When considering the best form of advertising for your business, you must prioritize strategies that effectively reach and engage your audience while maximizing your return on investment.
With BrandLume’s marketing ads solution, businesses can harness the expertise of professionals to create highly targeted campaigns, optimize ad performance, and deliver measurable results. Contact us now.
