Advantages and Disadvantages of Radio Advertising
Have you ever driven in your car and turned up the volume on the radio when something piqued your interest? You probably heard a concerning news headline, your favourite song, or a radio advertisement advertising something you are interested in.
Among the blur of adverts that make up the background noise in your car, there are some adverts that you hear at just the right time, in the right tone, or with that catchy jingle.
Radio advertising is popular for this reason. It is convenient, on-the-go, and relevant. We spend a lot of time in our cars, and in most cases, we spend more time in traffic than we do watching TV on our couches.
We know that radio advertising works, but is it always the most effective way of advertising? Let’s dig a little deeper.
The Good And The Bad
Radio advertising is a cost-effective means of advertising a product or service however, if you want your advert to get airplay during prime time then you might have to pay a bit more.
Radio advertising also has a far reach and a wide target market. You can even select stations that you think your target market listens to. Although, this might be a bit presumptuous. For example, the businessman who you think listens to talk radio might be head-banging before his day begins.
Although very convenient, radio advertisements usually become background noise to busy drivers. Ever hear that slight hum your car makes when you drive a long-distance? That was a radio advert. That catchy tune and catchphrase you hear is a radio advert too, so don’t swipe radio advertising off your list yet!
You better invest in a good copywriter too. The fact that you have to sell something without visuals is quite challenging. People love visuals. Visuals sell! Words sell too, but it’s just not as easy.
What Is Radio Advertising?
A radio advertisement is a paid advertisement whereby a product or service is advertised through airtime on a radio station.
These advertisements run solely on words and jingles to sell their product or service, so no visuals are used.
This, of course, can be quite tricky to get right. It can be a good way to advertise if you know how to do it correctly.
How Effective Is It?
Due to the frequency of radio adverts, the message can get across numerous times a day. The more a person hears the advert, the more memorable it becomes.
Listeners have to use their imagination when listening to a radio advertisement. This can be a very good thing because the listener attaches their own picture and personality to your product or service, making it more accessible and memorable to the consumer.
Your company can also be creative when it comes to advertising on the radio. You have to be creative and think out-of-the-box when it comes to what message you want to get across. This usually makes your advert more effective, as you have to hone in on your message and not fuss with the way it looks.
Radio advertising is also cost-effective due to the nature of the advert, but as mentioned before, it also depends when you want your advert to be played and how often.
Pros And Radio Advertising
Target Market
Just by choosing the correct radio station and play times, you will have already targeted a specific market of customers.
Put It On Repeat
Your radio advert will play numerous times throughout the day, which will increase the chance of people hearing it more than once. That is how people remember a specific product or service.
If your name pops up in their head when they want something particular, then your brand most probably advertised a few times before the customer actually acknowledged or remembered you.
Repetition is key to remembering.
It’s Just Emotions
You can give your radio advert heart. People have to use their imaginations when listening to a radio advert.
This means that you can tug on heartstrings or make people laugh out loud, all with your words or tone-of-voice.
People can attach their own images to your advert, making it more personal to them. Ta-da! It is like magic.
That’s Not Expensive!
You can make a huge impression through a radio advert, and you can do this with a very small budget and resources.
Yes, it’s tricky to get it right, but it will not cost a small fortune to make someone remember you.
With a voice, a good choice of words, a catchy tune, and the correct choice of radio station and airtime, you are pretty much set.
The Timing Is Just Right!
When it comes to TV or print adverts, the lead time is much longer than a radio advert. So once you have your idea, you do not have to wait long until it is presented to the public.
This is also a good thing if you want to stay on-trend and up-to-date with the latest happenings.
It Works And You Can Tell
With radio adverts, you can track the effectiveness of your advert. You can quickly tell if people are interested, whereas, with TV or print adverts, it would take much longer.
So if you want quick results, radio advertising might be the way forward for you.
Cons Of Radio Advertising
Have To Know Your Market
You have to know your target market; the radio stations they listen to, the times they listen to the radio, and what piques their interest, If you are unsure of any of these, then you will most probably advertise to the wrong people.
I Need To See Something To Believe It
People love visuals, especially in the age of social media. So you will have to go above and beyond to make your radio advert interesting and catchy enough. So much so, that visual’s are not needed. This is not as easy as it sounds.
Which Radio Station?
You might have to play your radio advert on multiple radio stations due to different listener profiles and available airtime. This can get tricky to navigate and budget for.
Staying relevant
You need to be even more in-tune with the latest trends than you would have to be on other advertising platforms. It’s easy to look cool, but not always easy to sound cool. You have to work with your words so that your listeners form their own visuals. That is a lot of pressure!
Am I Really Paying For That?
Yes, it is cheaper than print or TV advertising. This does not mean it is cheap though. You have to pay for your airtime, and this value increases when you are specific about the times you want your advert to play and the frequency in which you want it played.
Quick Comparison
Like anything in life, there are pros and cons. Radio advertising might be old-school and simple, but that does not mean it isn’t effective.
TV advertising combines visual and audio aspects, making the advertisement more impactful. Radio advertising uses just audio, but is played more often and is less expensive to make.
The comparison between the two is simple; they both work well, but a radio advertisement is less likely to irritate the customer as it is played in such short bursts. It is less expensive to make, so the budget can go to it being played on-air more.
The more it is played, the more it sticks in the customer’s mind. Major win! Whereas a TV advert is memorable because of the visuals, which can be a good or bad thing. Switching the channel would happen more often as the TV adverts are usually much longer than the radio adverts.
TV adverts are more expensive, but they showcase the product or service in a much clearer light. Also a major win!
Who Is Radio Advertising For?
With TV advertisements, the aim is to be played during the evening when people are settling down for the night and watching TV.
With radio advertisements, the aim is to be played during the morning and late afternoon commutes to and from work or school. Radio advertisements reach more people, presumably, because more people have access to the radio than they do to TVs.
Radio advertising is for people on-the-go. They can be sitting on the bus, sifting through clothes in a store, or driving home from work.
Conclusion
We live in a fast-paced world, and people are always moving. Radio advertising, even though it has been around for a long time, works well within a fast-paced environment.
People want information on-the-go, and that is what you get through a radio advertisement. Quick spurts of information, repeated throughout the day, are what our busy brains grasp the best.
Radio advertising definitely has its place within the world and is not going anywhere soon. It is still a top contender for the most effective form of advertising and will be for a long time.
People want information in real-time. They also crave creativity and appreciate brands moving with them. Radio advertising is all of this because it is so adaptable and far-reaching.
