Did you know that advertising has been around for thousands of years? The earliest forms of advertising can be traced back to ancient Egypt. Advertising has skyrocketed in the last century, as the invention of the radio, television, and internet have given brands constant access to potential customers. Although advertising is always evolving, it continues to work because it has the goal of connecting target audiences to products that benefit them. Here are ten reasons why advertising has stood the test of time and continues to work.
1. Reach New Customers
Advertising puts your brand in front of potential customers so that you can introduce your products and services, and show them how it benefits them. While building a network of loyal repeat customers is important, business owners seeking longevity are always looking for ways to attract new customers. Acquiring new customers on a regular basis is extremely valuable to a growing business. By advertising products and promotions across television channels and digital platforms, you are introducing your brand to many potential new customers.
2. Your Effort Pays Off Over a Long Period of Time
Investing time, effort, and money into advertising from the beginning stages has lasting benefits. When you go the extra mile to make people aware of your brand and what it can offer them from the beginning, you have the ability to increase brand awareness. If you are advertising consistently, then you can build brand loyalty and a good reputation for your company, rather than only running campaigns when there’s something new to advertise. The more that your target audience is presented with your advertising, the more familiar they become with you and the more susceptible they will be when they are presented with an ad for your latest sale or promotion.
3. Generate More Sales
Boosting sales is often a goal of any business when it comes to advertising. Whether you're marketing your brand's seasonal sale with a new commercial or simply trying to increase brand awareness through a social media campaign, your company can remain top-of-mind with consumers for when they're ready to make a purchase. By consistently keeping your brand in front of your target audience on their preferred platforms and channels, you can see an increase in sales from customers who are ready to enter the decision stage of their journey.
4. Increase Brand Awareness
It’s not that often that people purchase products from brands they have never heard of in lieu of a product from a more well-established company. Advertising increases brand awareness by introducing consumers to your company and familiarizing them with your company's products, services, and values. Efforts to increase brand awareness through consistent TV and digital advertising prove to be very successful when you are wanting to position your brand as one to come back to when a potential customer is ready to make a purchase.
5. Bring in More Store Traffic
Advertising helps to show potential customers why they should visit your business. Opening a new business or adding a new location may ignite the curiosity of those that drive by your building each day, but it often isn't enough to get them into your store. Through digital advertising and TV commercials, you can inform your target audience of the news and even present them with a sale or promotion to take advantage of when they visit your business.
6. Influence Buyers With Sales and Promotions
Sales and promotions influence people to try your products out for the first time rather than buying from the brands they are more familiar with. Well-planned television advertising campaigns help to get the word out about your sale to a large, specific target audience. By advertising seasonal sales, upcoming promotions, and first-time buyer discounts through digital and TV advertisements, you have the potential to gain new buyers and make them loyal, repeat customers.
7. Expand Your Reach on Social Media Platforms
Social media marketing has become even more viable for businesses. With the addition of paid Instagram and Facebook posts, increase your social media reach to people who are not yet following you or might not even be familiar with your brand. Seeing your brand included in a trusted media partner’s posts while scrolling through social media can draw new customers to your pages, which can increase your followers and overall engagement.
8. Create a Personality Around Your Brand
People want to buy from brands they find relatable. Through television commercials and other videos, these advertisements are an effective way to build and showcase your brand's personality. By incorporating standout colors, fonts, and other elements of graphic design, your ads convey the values and style of your brand in a way that speaks to your target audience. Consumers want to feel as though they know the brand and can relate to them and their customer base. Consider incorporating well-known members of the community into your advertisements. By representing your target audience in the brand and allowing their attributes to shine, you are building a personality for your brand that will attract those who can benefit from your business.
9. Help Move People Through the Buyer's Journey
Just because a potential customer likes your products does not mean that they will make a purchase. Approximately 81% of mobile shopping carts are ultimately abandoned because customers are not ready to buy, notice a policy they do not like, or have difficulty using the site, and only 2.86% of website visits lead to a purchase. By creating digital advertisements and websites that are user-friendly, easy to read, and offer the necessary information upfront, you make it easier for a customer to make a purchase. No matter the stage of the buyer’s journey your potential customer may be in at the moment, they need to be able to visit your website or view your advertisements and get all the information that they need easily.
10. You Control the Message
Creating an advertisement means you have full control over the message your target audience is receiving. Rather than speaking to a general population, a media partner helps you form the language of your advertisement to best speak to your target audience. It’s important to use language that portrays your brand accurately, while also appealing to those who benefit from your product or service.
Seeing Advertising Success
By planning and implementing effective advertising campaigns, you effectively advertise your brand. When you use a variety of platforms, such as TV and other digital components to build reach and brand awareness, you can see a boost in sales, customers, and the overall reputation of your brand. Working with a media partner is a great way to learn how to create more impactful advertisements because they guide you through the entire planning process all the way through tracking success. By identifying the best ways to reach your target audience with the assistance of your media partner, you are able to better target your audience and see firsthand advertising does work.