A successful advertising campaign will spread the word about your products and services, attract customers and generate sales. Whether you are trying to encourage new customers to buy an existing product or launch a new service, there are many options to choose from.
The most suitable advertising option for your business will depend on your target audience and what is the most cost-effective way to reach as many of them as possible, as many times as possible. The advertising option chosen should also reflect the right environment for your product or service. For example, if you know that your target market reads a particular magazine, you should advertise in that publication.
The following list is an introduction to advertising tactics that you could use. Remember, you can always be creative in your advertising to get noticed (within advertising regulations).
Newspaper
Newspaper advertising can promote your business to a wide range of customers. Display advertisements are placed throughout the paper, while classified listings are under subject headings in a specific section.
You may find that a combination of advertising in your state/metropolitan newspaper and your local paper gives you the best results.
Magazine
Advertising in a specialist magazine can reach your target market quickly and easily. Readers (your potential customers) tend to read magazines at their leisure and keep them for longer, giving your advertisement multiple chances to attract attention. Magazines generally serve consumers (by interest group e.g. women) and trade (industry/business type e.g. hospitality).
If your products need to be displayed in color then glossy advertisements in a magazine can be ideal — although they are generally more expensive than newspaper advertisements.
Magazines do not usually serve a small area such as a specific town. If your target market is only a small percentage of the circulation, then advertising may not be cost-effective.
Radio
Advertising on the radio is a great way to reach your target audience. If your target market listens to a particular station, then regular advertising can attract new customers.
However, sound has its limitations. Listeners can find it difficult to remember what they have heard and sometimes the impact of radio advertising is lost. The best way to overcome this is to repeat your message regularly — which increases your costs significantly. If you cannot afford to play your advertisement regularly, you may find that radio advertising does not generate strong results.
Television
Television has an extensive reach and advertising this way is ideal if you cater to a large market in a large area. Television advertisements have the advantage of sight, sound, movement and color to persuade a customer to buy from you. They are particularly useful if you need to demonstrate how your product or service works.
Producing a television advertisement and then buying an advertising slot is generally expensive. Advertising is sold in units (e.g. 20, 30, 60 seconds) and costs vary according to:
- the time slot
- the television program
- whether it is metro or regional
- if you want to buy spots on multiple networks.
Directories
Directories list businesses by name or category (e.g. Yellow Pages phone directories). Customers who refer to directories have often already made up their minds to buy – they just need to decide who to buy from.
The major advantage of online directories over print directories is that if you change your business name, address, or phone number, you can easily keep it up to date in the directory. You can also add new services or information about your business.
If your target market uses print and online directories, it may be useful to advertise in both, although print directories are being used less.
Outdoor and transit
There are many ways to advertise outside and on the go. Outdoor billboards can be signs by the road or hoardings at sports stadiums. Transit advertising can be posters on buses, taxis, and bicycles. Large billboards can get your message across with a big impact. If the same customers pass your billboard every day as they travel to work, you are likely to be the first business they think of when they want to buy a product.
Even the largest billboards usually contain a limited amount of information; otherwise, they can be difficult to read. Including your website address makes it easy for customers to follow up and find out more about your business. Outdoor advertising can be very expensive, especially for prime locations and supersite billboards.
Direct mail, catalogs, and leaflets
Direct mail means writing to customers directly. The more precise your mailing list or distribution area, the more of your target market you will reach. A direct mail approach is more personal, as you can select your audience and plan the timing to suit your business. A cost-effective form of direct mail is to send your newsletters or flyers electronically to an email database. Find out more about direct mail.
Catalogs, brochures, and leaflets can also be distributed to your target area. Including a brochure with your direct mail is a great way to give an interested customer more information about your products and services. Learn more about leaflet marketing using letterbox drops and handouts.
Online
Being on the internet can be a cost-effective way to attract new customers. You can reach a global audience at a low cost. Many customers research businesses online before deciding whom to buy from.
A well-designed website can entice customers to buy from you. There are a number of ways you can promote your business online via paid advertising or improve your search engine rankings. Learn more about doing business online.
Other ways to advertise your business online include promoting your products or services on social media sites, blogs and search engines, and other websites that your target audience visits. Find out more about social media.
A successful advertising campaign will spread the word about your products and services, attract customers and generate sales. Whether you are trying to encourage new customers to buy an existing product or launch a new service, there are many options to choose from.
The most suitable advertising option for your business will depend on your target audience and what is the most cost-effective way to reach as many of them as possible, as many times as possible. The advertising option chosen should also reflect the right environment for your product or service. For example, if you know that your target market reads a particular magazine, you should advertise in that publication.
The following list is an introduction to advertising tactics that you could use. Remember, you can always be creative in your advertising to get noticed (within advertising regulations).
Newspaper
Newspaper advertising can promote your business to a wide range of customers. Display advertisements are placed throughout the paper, while classified listings are under subject headings in a specific section.
You may find that a combination of advertising in your state/metropolitan newspaper and your local paper gives you the best results.
Magazine
Advertising in a specialist magazine can reach your target market quickly and easily. Readers (your potential customers) tend to read magazines at their leisure and keep them for longer, giving your advertisement multiple chances to attract attention. Magazines generally serve consumers (by interest group e.g. women) and trade (industry/business type e.g. hospitality).
If your products need to be displayed in color then glossy advertisements in a magazine can be ideal — although they are generally more expensive than newspaper advertisements.
Magazines do not usually serve a small area such as a specific town. If your target market is only a small percentage of the circulation, then advertising may not be cost-effective.
Radio
Advertising on the radio is a great way to reach your target audience. If your target market listens to a particular station, then regular advertising can attract new customers.
However, sound has its limitations. Listeners can find it difficult to remember what they have heard and sometimes the impact of radio advertising is lost. The best way to overcome this is to repeat your message regularly — which increases your costs significantly. If you cannot afford to play your advertisement regularly, you may find that radio advertising does not generate strong results.
Television
Television has an extensive reach and advertising this way is ideal if you cater to a large market in a large area. Television advertisements have the advantage of sight, sound, movement and colour to persuade a customer to buy from you. They are particularly useful if you need to demonstrate how your product or service works.
Producing a television advertisement and then buying an advertising slot is generally expensive. Advertising is sold in units (e.g. 20, 30, 60 seconds) and costs vary according to:
- the time slot
- the television program
- whether it is metro or regional
- if you want to buy spots on multiple networks.
Directories
Directories list businesses by name or category (e.g. Yellow Pages phone directories). Customers who refer to directories have often already made up their minds to buy – they just need to decide who to buy from.
The major advantage of online directories over print directories is that if you change your business name, address, or phone number, you can easily keep it up to date in the directory. You can also add new services or information about your business.
If your target market uses print and online directories, it may be useful to advertise in both, although print directories are being used less.
Outdoor and transit
There are many ways to advertise outside and on the go. Outdoor billboards can be signs by the road or hoardings at sports stadiums. Transit advertising can be posters on buses, taxis, and bicycles. Large billboards can get your message across with a big impact. If the same customers pass your billboard every day as they travel to work, you are likely to be the first business they think of when they want to buy a product.
Even the largest of billboards usually contain a limited amount of information; otherwise, they can be difficult to read. Including your website address makes it easy for customers to follow up and find out more about your business. Outdoor advertising can be very expensive, especially for prime locations and supersite billboards.
Direct mail, catalogs, and leaflets
Direct mail means writing to customers directly. The more precise your mailing list or distribution area, the more of your target market you will reach. A direct mail approach is more personal, as you can select your audience and plan the timing to suit your business. A cost-effective form of direct mail is to send your newsletters or flyers electronically to an email database. Find out more about direct mail.
Catalogs, brochures, and leaflets can also be distributed to your target area. Including a brochure with your direct mail is a great way to give an interested customer more information about your products and services. Learn more about leaflet marketing using letterbox drops and handouts.
Online
Being on the internet can be a cost-effective way to attract new customers. You can reach a global audience at a low cost. Many customers research businesses online before deciding whom to buy from.
A well-designed website can entice customers to buy from you. There are a number of ways you can promote your business online via paid advertising or improve your search engine rankings. Learn more about doing business online.
Other ways to advertise your business online include promoting your products or services on social media sites, blogs and search engines, and other websites that your target audience visits. Find out more about social media.
