“You HAVE to advertise on the Internet.”

We spend a lot of time online. We also ignore the crap out of 99.9% of ads we see on the internet. Tell me I’m wrong. I’m assuming you might be told that “You have to TARGET TARGET TARGET the right person. You need to figure out who your best customers are and then target those same demographics and behaviors with a laser-scoped rifle.” I’m talking about “Display Advertising” online. The images with text on them. How many do you ignore in a day? How many do you EVER click on? How about Pay Per Click advertising? Like Google Adwords? (which is changing to just “Google Ads” I guess). I actually think there is some value with Google PPC ads for the right type of product or service. It’s easy to test, too, without spending a fortune. Then, when you find something that works, you can increase your budget a bit or your territory. Sometimes they work, sometimes they bomb. But it’s all about the product or service you’re advertising and the wording you use in the ad. If you have questions about using Google Ads… give me a shout and we can discuss. Ok, the same is probably true for display advertising… but there are local businesses spending thousands upon thousands each month on display advertising. Personally, I bet their ROI doesn’t even pay for the ads. Sure, they see that they’re getting ad impressions or clicks… but most aren’t measuring things correctly to know if it’s actually bringing them new business. Because that’s what matters, right? Bottom line… you’re spending too much on display advertising. Guess what? I actually SELL display advertising once in a while. Townsquare Media is really good at it. Like REALLY good. So, if I find the right client with the right product / service / offer… then I might recommend it… because I know that Townsquare will give them more bang for their buck than any other digital ad agency that I know about. BUT BUT BUT… if I have the choice of adding $1500 to $2500 per month onto either 1) more radio stations or 2) display ads………………….. I’m picking the extra radio station(s) every time. EVERY. TIME. WHY, you say? Because given the choice of playing an engaging and entertaining radio commercial to 100,000 people per week versus flashing an internet display ad to 100,000 people, which one do you think has more impact? Which one do you think is more memorable? And if you’re not thinking about the same kind of radio ads that I’m thinking about, then click HERE to play a few samples. The HUGE NET you cast with a great radio marketing campaign will target 3 groups of people:

The teeny-tiny group that needs your product or service now (which is what most online, print, and “sale” advertising ONLY targets)
The considerably bigger group who doesn’t need you now, but will need your product or service within 1 to 12 months. And you can start telling them why you frickin’ rock, and how you’ll be the best damn choice for them when they DO need you (while most of your competitors are only advertising to the teeny-tiny group of low-hanging fruit).
The much much bigger group of people who have no intention or inkling of using your product or service within the next year or two or three. Your engaging and entertaining radio campaign will start forming a relationship with these people. They’ll feel like they know you before they even meet you! They’ll come to TRUST you before they even meet you (if the ads are done right)! And what happens then? When they actually NEED the product or service you sell… who do you think they THINK OF FIRST? Yup. You.

Recent Radio Advertising Client Story

I have a radio client that’s been on the radio for 1 year and about 4 months with me. The phase of RESULTS (or ROI) he’s knee-deep into right now from his Results Radio campaign… is impressive. He went from doing NO RADIO, to radio ads on 2 big radio stations, 4 weeks each month… and his business is kind of exploding. He went from ONE front desk / administrative professionals to THREE in this short time. And I don’t know how many other service employees he has hired. ANYWAY… here’s what happened… He recently asked me to put his radio ads on hold… so they can CATCH UP! He is also in a category that nobody had ever tried to lay claim as “the leader” in Sioux Falls. Meaning, the competitors in his category didn’t advertise much…. or very effectively anyway. That makes it prime pickins’ for snagging a huge share of market. But that only comes when you snag a huge share of the minds within that market. If you’re one of those categories where nobody is really “running away with it”… and you’d like to make your mark… give me a holler! If you’re wondering who the client or the category is, just shoot me an email, and I will happily share some of the details of the campaign, and why I feel it’s working so well. I did tell him, “I’ll pull the ads for a bit, but I don’t think you’ll slow down much because you’ve ‘duct-taped’ your brand onto the brains of a big chunk of the public.” Oh, and guess what. He doesn’t do digital advertising. Or much social media at all. Or pay per click. Just a little bit of TV on ESPN I believe. And he’s killing it – with his long-term, 4 weeks per month, radio advertising. And that makes me really happy. : )