TV Advertising Basics -- Where to Start

Seth Rosenthal

Seth Rosenthal About The Author

Jan 25, 2021 10:15:00 AM

TV Advertising Basics -- Where to Start

You may be thinking about taking advantage of TV as an ad platform in addition to digital advertising, but at the same time, you may be unclear about how to approach it. Where do you start? What steps are involved in getting a commercial on the air? How do you produce the commercial? If you're asking these questions, it's essential to find out as much as you can to inform your TV ad campaigns. 

If you want to find out how to start advertising on TV, the following are some TV advertising basics to consider as you plan your next commercial.

Questions? Let's talk! 

Analyze Your Budget

TV Advertising Basics -- Where to StartYou don't need a huge budget to produce and air a quality commercial for your business. The potential ROI of commercials also makes them worth the money in many cases, as U.S. TV ad revenue is expected to reach $74.9 billion by 2022. TV commercials are viable with most budgets, but you should understand precisely how much you have to spend on them. Of course, longer and more high-quality TV ads will generally cost more than ones that aren't as long and filmed yourself.

Consider the resources you have, including your budget and the production equipment and teams that can help produce your commercials in-house. If you have enough of a budget, consider outsourcing your commercial production to experienced professionals with the knowledge and resources to produce top-quality commercials.

Choose Your Objective

It's also essential to have a clear idea of the subject you want to focus on in your commercials. Depending on your commercial’s objective, the topic you choose will be different from ad to ad.

For example, if your ad’s goal is to increase brand awareness among new audiences, your subject might be your core values as they relate to the audience's. This will effectively educate people about your brand and increase recognition. 

On the other hand, a commercial to increase conversions may focus on discounts and sales that your business is currently offering to entice customers. Subsequently, your objectives and related subjects will inform your creative elements, including messaging, tone, and visuals.

Decide When and Where You Want to Run It

TV Advertising Basics -- Where to StartEven if your commercials have a clear goal and utilize the best production value available based on your budget, they won't connect with people unless you take the time to understand your audience. Find out where and when your audiences will be watching to help you procure the best ad placement. If you can land the best spots for your ads, your target audience will see them.

While selecting the ideal TV station to serve as the home for your commercials, look into their services to see how else they can help you. Some companies may offer planning, production, and editing services that help you put together the perfect ad. Working with a TV station to produce a commercial is often an excellent option for a couple of reasons. Not only will they have experience working with many similar brands, but they will also help ensure your commercial is a good fit for their network.

Work with a Media Partner

If you want to get the best results from your commercials and benefit from top-quality production, it's often in your best interest to work with a media partner. Having a dependable partner behind your commercials will help make sure they resonate with your audience, yield consistently outstanding results, and fall within your allotted budget.

With a media partner, some specific benefits include:

  • Saves time — Commercials take a lot of time to plan and produce, which you may want to spend on other more important matters to grow your business. Media partners can handle commercial production for you from start to finish, enabling you to redirect your focus elsewhere.
  • Saves money — If you produce commercials on your own, you may need to purchase or rent all the equipment required to shoot and edit your footage, along with paying actors and other expenses. With a media partner, you can outsource to a team that has all the necessary resources in-house.
  • Create a more high-quality commercial — With sufficient resources, experience, and knowledge, media partners' production teams can provide commercials with top-notch production quality and creative planning.
  • Helps with strategy — Media partners can also help you plan your commercials, including the script, preparation for shooting, and gaining access to actors or animators if needed. You won't be left wondering how to approach the next step of the production process at any point.

With a media partner’s help and some knowledge of achieving your goals with a top-quality commercial, you can get the results you want. TV advertising remains one of the best platforms for businesses that want to grow their audiences and encourage more sales. With the right tools and expertise behind your commercials, they can serve as invaluable assets in a complete marketing campaign.

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Topics: TV Advertising​