Here we will mention all the many online advertising alternatives for your business other than marketing on the web. TV, local or national Newspaper, Billboards, Celebrity branding and more. Hope some of these come useful to start or grow your endeavors.
Alternatives for online advertising for your company
1. Television advertising
Television is typically where advertisements for businesses, organizations, and services are broadcast. This is accomplished by purchasing airtime slots from a specific television channel. The cost is influenced by the popularity of the channel, the airing time, the audience size, and the length of the commercial. Local channels are less expensive to place commercials on than national channels, where the cost is nearly double.
Identify your audience first
It is recommended that you first identify the audience you need to reach before considering airing a television advertisement. The television programs they choose—celebrity talk, cartoons, sports, reality, news, movies, soap operas, prime time, etc.—can reveal a lot about the tastes of different audiences. The most expensive time period is between 6 and 7 o’clock during prime time.
It is followed by the news at noon or between 10 and 11 p.m., which are known to be the best times for commercial success. The 12-to-four-p-m soap time is less expensive. Always confirm prices with the salesperson before purchasing. Look into a national advertising firm that typically operates on a commission basis. During a repeat of the ad, it is strongly suggested to try to get a lower price and not pay the full amount.
Compare the costs of Networks and Shows for your Business
Before you place an advertisement, compare the costs of various networks and programs. Another way to save money is to purchase a thirty-second slot and run ten to fifteen-second commercials one after the other.
By eliminating the need for reruns, this increases the likelihood that target viewers will see the advertisement. However, this is dangerous because of the pressure to deliver important information quickly. Therefore, the length of the commercials shouldn’t be so brief as to compromise the audience’s ability to understand the actual message. A reminder advertisement typically has a shorter runtime.
Watch out for anyone attempting to purchase a slot that has already been claimed. This can be very tricky because it will resemble a bid and they will be willing to pay more money—sometimes even double—because they are desperate for a slot.
This typically occurs around New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, and Christmas during the holiday season, which falls in the final quarter of the year. The first and second quarters of the year are the best times of the year to purchase commercial slot hours. Prices are usually negotiable in the first quarter because salespeople give discounts to advertisers who spent a lot of money on advertising over the holidays and are trying to get their money back.
Take advantage off the Discounts for your TV Commercials
Check out the discounts that are being offered for year-round advertising if you intend to pay for commercials all year. When signing for a six-month or a twelve-month period, a discount of 5% or 10% is typically provided. But make sure you pay attention to when the commercials are airing. Usually, discounts are given to draw attention away from this point, and commercials are usually shown at odd times, not during the holidays.
On July 1, 1941, the Bulova Watch Company’s advertisement debuted on WNBC in the United States. Since then, there has been no turning back, and commercials today sell just about anything you can think of.
Types of Television Commercials
Many categories of advertisements have developed since the Bulova Watch Company’s first commercial was ever broadcast on television on July 1, 1941. Advertisements are now an integral part of daily life and have a big impact on how consumers make decisions. Since television advertising has become so powerful, not even a politician can guarantee their success in an election campaign without it. Political advertising, promotional advertising, infomercials, television commercials, donuts, promos, and sponsorship are some of the various types of television advertising. Tv is still one the best online advertising alternatives while people watch tv.
About Political TV Advertising
Political advertising is nothing more than contacting local residents in an effort to win their support. It is the most effective form of advertising, and it is also crucial because it has a significant impact on the entire country. Television and radio, also referred to as broadcast media, are the two primary platforms for political campaign advertising. The amount of money raised during political campaigns also plays a role in this.
The more money raised earlier and the more money raised overall, the more effective the advertising strategy. Usually, the funding comes from the candidate’s party committees. Specialized consultants are contacted to purchase slots on local or national networks in order to advertise via television. It has been noted that even a local office candidate will run a television advertisement.
In order to increase their sales and services, marketers air television commercials known as “promotional ads” or “product placement ads. Television, movies, music videos, books, websites, and even video games can all contain promotional ads. Significant amounts of money can be saved by speaking with sales representatives and renting a location, models, and props.
Advertising with Hollywood Movies
James Bond movies are credited with promoting television commercials, which are well-liked by the automotive industry. Since most state governments have established a limit for the promotion of such items, the promotion of cigarettes or any other tobacco products in films has long been a source of controversy.
The consumer frequently questions the legitimacy of the goods and services being advertised because some of them may be deceptive. Numerous consumer groups have been established to address this issue and demand full product disclosure from businesses promoting them.
These organizations have the right to file a lawsuit against the product and its manufacturer if there is any refusal to cooperate of any kind. On the basis of appearances, such as sponsorship, cost-savings emphasis, brand integration, and fee-based, the product advertisements can be distinguished.
The company’s contribution to soap operas or sporting events is known as sponsorship. Annexed branding means that the brand is shown in a video or movie.
About the Length of the TV Commercials
The length of an infomercial sets it apart from other television commercials. Like a regular program, they typically last for thirty minutes. They are also referred to as paid programming or teleshopping.
They can be found at odd times of the day, such as early in the morning or late at night. It’s actually a commercial that provides comprehensive details about a specific product, including expert advice on how to use it, how much it should cost, and where to find it. They are more like talk shows than commercials because the ads use catchy phrases, famous people, and experts in the field to get people interested.
Donut, a television commercial, serves as a model. Similar to a blueprint, it contains all the components needed to create a finished commercial, but the actual product is absent. Typically, it is used by advertisers who have trouble creating commercials.
The commercial donut is typically provided by the local networks in exchange for the purchase of airtime on their respective channels. Although it is a very cost-effective method, the lack of creativity will prevent it from attracting customers. With the development of video editing software, advertisers are increasingly favoring this option.
Television advertising includes promotions or network promotional advertising. Every day, more and more commercials are being broadcast on local and national television, and they feature almost anything you can think of.
A program or channel is sponsored to advertise goods or a program for a cause. The group or person contributes financially to help promote his organization, service, or product.
2. Advertising in Newspapers
As old as advertising itself, newspaper ads date back decades. Despite being a tried-and-true advertising strategy, it continues to be well-received and effective today. This strategy is still used by both small and large businesses to market their goods and services. Ask them, and almost all advertisers will say that newspapers are their preferred medium for advertising.
Millions of people read newspapers at their breakfast tables despite the recorded decline in newspaper circulation numbers and the advertisements they contain. When compared to radio, television, and billboards, the cost of placing advertisements in newspapers is increasing at a rapid rate. Not as affordable as creating a blog but still very effective.
The primary objective should be to outperform the competition and garner the desired attention from the advertisement. To make sure of success while keeping costs low, a number of things should be thought about and done.
Know what your are doing when Advertising on Newspaper
Many advertisers who use newspapers as their medium for advertising do so without any formal training. This has caused a rise in the number of retailers who believe that creating their own advertisements is the only way to do it correctly. If the right customers are reached, this strategy is effective for small businesses and saves a lot of money.
A small advertisement costs $150 to place once, so care should be taken to place it effectively. There is no requirement to place a full-page ad in the newspaper. Even a half-page ad can be very effective if it’s designed well. The money saved can be used to advertise in other places at the same time, like radio, websites, etc.
Which Font to Use For your Newspaper Ads
Using a colorful font can greatly increase the cost and has little to no benefit. The black font will work fine if the budget is tight and the subject is secure enough. It makes no sense to place the same ad in the same newspaper every day because regular readers read the newspapers every day. Every day, an advertisement can be published in various papers. This makes newspaper ads a great online advertising alternatives due to the fact customer still get their newspaper delivered.
A particular newspaper may publish three times per week as its frequency. However, because there are more readers on weekends, more money can be spent on placing advertisements in the edition published on the weekend. If all the advertising space sells out over the weekend, don’t be disappointed. Place flyers between the newspaper’s pages.
Offer Coupons with Your Newspaper Ads
The conventions can be slightly bent to outperform the competition because a lot of advertisers will be placing their ads in the local newspaper on weekends, increasing the likelihood that your ad will get lost in the shuffle. Place an offer coupon in the editorial for the middle of the week, and pay the local station to promote the offer during one of their well-known programs.
Request that they make specific mention of the newspaper coupon. Few daily readers actually read through all of the newspapers. They mostly only look at the first and last pages. Therefore, invest in placing the ad on the first or last page of the newspaper once a week rather than posting it three times per week in the middle pages.
Most newspapers do not offer competitive protection, so an advertisement for a business may be placed next to that of a rival. Tell the salesperson about this circumstance and request a guarantee from them.
The Decline of Local Newspaper
Every year, there is a decline in the number of regional newspapers. Only about a thousand newspapers run daily in the United States. Currently, local residents rely on weekly papers or newspapers with a local section. Numerous local newspapers are occasionally under the sole control of one publisher. All local newspapers are printed in one location, with only the front page changing.
The target audience should be considered when placing an advertisement in such publications. If the wrong customer is reached, all the effort and money are wasted, and the outcome might be negative. It’s a wise strategy to combine various media for advertising rather than use just one. Together, they can address each other’s weaknesses and make the overall advertising campaign a huge success.
3. Celebrity Branding
Celebrity branding is a form of advertising that enlists a celebrity’s help to advertise a good or service by leveraging their notoriety and social standing. This strategy takes a variety of forms: a celebrity may simply appear in a commercial or may be contracted to attend events to promote products. Start a product line using their name as a brand as an alternative strategy. The largest product categories included in this promotion are clothing and perfume.
It is common knowledge that all of the top actors, singers, and models endorse particular brands or officially approved goods. A while back, Jennifer Lopez launched her own clothing line, which consists of designer clothes that she has personally created.
Consumer are Influenced by Celebrities the Like
The purchasing habits of consumers are greatly influenced by famous people. Associative learning principles are used by marketing professionals to analyze celebrities’ lifestyles and properly assign them to brands that accurately represent them. A thorough review of their sense of style, appeal, awareness, fame, and public image is conducted to assign them the appropriate charitable work or product.
The principles used to conduct analysis include repetition, blocking, CS pre-exposure, extinction, overshadowing, belongingness, and association set size. For example, the famous Indian beauty queen Aishwarya Rai, who has stunning eyes, was chosen to promote an eye donation project because of her campaign.
Some of the celebrities have distinctive voices that are well known. The voice-over technique used in advertising was inspired by this idea. Their voices are only used in commercials to draw in viewers.
The Growth of Celebrity Advertising
Today, celebrity endorsements are used in almost 20% of the advertising sector. Over time, a celebrity will undoubtedly endors many different goods and companies. Every time a different portrayal of a celebrity is shown to the general public, the business should continue to act in accordance with its former identity.
Maintaining the interest of the audience by portraying a different person each time will help, but the two personas shouldn’t compete with one another. David Beckham, the captain of the England soccer team, has promoted numerous goods. When he was promoting Gillette, his hairstyle preferences were taken into account, and he was made to look bald. When he ran for police, David Beckham was shown wearing a lot of jewelry, and his love of fashion was clear everywhere.
The long term Benefits of Celebrity Branding
If a celebrity doesn’t like how they are portrayed each time, they can design their own graphic image or logo that can be used each time they promote a certain product. The font of the logo can be stylish if the celebrity is fashion-conscious, as is the case with Jennifer Lopez, who designed the JLO logo, which is used to promote her own clothing line and perfume.
The logo can also reflect the personality of the respective celebrity. Another benefit of this strategy is that the brand can continue to appeal to the masses even after the celebrity has lost some of their appearance because they don’t need to be seen to be recognized, which helps in long-term negotiations. The style and attitude are conveyed by the celebrity logo itself.
Every year, marketers spend millions of dollars to secure the endorsement of super stars for promotional purposes. An agency run by Davie Brown Entertainment is solely responsible for selecting celebrities to endorse goods. They not only assess a celebrity’s ability to influence brand affinity and consumer preferences, but they also create the advertisements that will use the celebrity.
4. Billboard Advertising
Outdoor advertising is a low-cost and efficient way to promote a business’s goods. The most sought-after technique out of all of them is billboard advertising, which has recently been shown to be the most effective sales strategy. According to data from the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, nearly 5.6 billion dollars were spent on billboard advertising alone in 2006.
Billboard Advertising Effectiveness
The best option for outdoor advertising is billboard advertising, which is also reasonably priced. Additionally, the money is worthwhile given the exposure the product receives. Cost effectiveness has been one of the main reasons for billboard advertising over the past few years, among other factors.
One of the reasons is that an advertisement in a local newspaper or on television is seen for only thirty seconds, whereas the same advertisement displayed on a billboard is seen all day long for several months.
Every day, thousands of people pass by billboards on their way to work or home, so they get more attention than an advertisement that is placed in a newspaper or magazine. The message is delivered frequently and continuously. Like billboard advertising, no other form of advertising can capture people’s attention. It increases name recognition and brand awareness. Online advertising alternatives such as billboards work great on highways and other highly trafficked places.
New Technology Is Better Than Ever When it Comes to Billboard Advertising
Technology is one of the factors contributing to the low cost. The early billboards were hand-painted, which resulted in a high labor cost. A computer-aided printer is now used by advertisers to design and print their advertisements on large poster boards or vinyl boards, which is very economical.
The highest level of creativity can be attained easily and cheaply. The more vibrant, colorful, and inventive the advertisement is, the more attention-grabbing it is. Because of technological advancements, creating billboards with virtually endless possibilities takes very little time.
It is best to conduct research on the interests of the local population before posting a billboard advertisement in a particular area. For instance, if an advertiser wants to place a billboard on a highway, he can select a motel, cafeteria, or gas station to place the advertisement instead. Specific potential customers should be targeted based on the area.
How Much Do Billboard Advertising Cost?
The price is very affordable. The monthly cost ranges from $1,000 to $3,000. The cost of ten advertisements is about $30,000. Although it may seem like a large sum, it is almost as expensive as running a full-page advertisement for just one day in a newspaper. Newspaper advertisements are not even close to being as effective as billboard advertisements when effectiveness is taken into account for both methods. A customer should reach out to see an advertisement when it is placed in a newspaper or magazine, but when it is displayed on a billboard, it is like the customer is reaching out to the advertisement.
Billboard Adverting is both Effective and Affordable
Therefore, billboard advertising is both a highly effective and reasonably priced form of advertising. The benefits of billboard advertising are numerous; the ones mentioned above are just a few. And for that reason, all different kinds of businesses and companies opt to use billboard advertising. Any product can be advertised to any audience by placing a billboard at a multiplex theater, on a highway, at an airport, or even by sticking it to a car. And you should never undervalue its effectiveness.
5. Advergaming or Advertising Through Video Games
Advergaming is the practice of using video games to advertise a specific service or business. This phrase was first used in a column by Wired magazine in 2001 to refer to the commissioning of free online games by major corporations. The three types of advertising games are ATL advertising, BTL advertising, and TTL advertising.
ATL Advergaming is best described in the broadest terms as a promotional video game. In order to increase customer awareness of their product, the company includes interactive video games on their website. Additionally, this technique is used to increase website traffic and draw in more visitors. If the games are meant to promote a product, the product will be shown in a big way. Online advertising alternatives in gaming can work wonders for you too depending on the type of your business niche.
How Gaming advertising came around
Prior to the development of the internet, games and subsequent products were advertised on floppy disks and then on compact discs. Floppy disks were initially used primarily to raise awareness and promote products.
Chef Boyardee, who created American Home Food, distributed the first advertisement game. Following suit, Taco Bell and Coca-Cola distributed promotional games on floppy disks to customers. Chex and General Mill released the first advertisement game on a CD. These games’ graphics have advanced from the flashy arcade style to three dimensions.
What type of Video Game Advertising Suits your Business?
In-game advertising, militiamen, and entertainment make up BTL Advergaming’s recruitment resources. In these games, the hero is typically represented by the company’s mascot. The mascots employed in the promotional games created by Pepsi and Burger King, respectively, were Pepsi Man and Burger Man. The plot of these games can be political, educational, or commercial, such as the game American Army, developed to persuade more young people to join the military. Games that are meant to promote sports, such as Formula One racing, are also a part of this strategy.
The in-game advertising is more of a commercial nature and is only intended to advertise the product through the game. Even movies are being promoted in this way as it really takes off. Like on the The Mummy website, there are games that have a plot resembling the film and teach the player information about the film and its subject, the Egyptian Mummy. Games that convey a moral lesson to the players are referred to as “educational advertising games.
In some cases, such as in the EA Sports video game, where Pepsi banners cover the game’s frame, these games can also serve as a form of advertising. Companies are able to offer consumers low-cost or free games by employing this tactic. This works well in lowering the cost of games with monthly fees.
TTL Advergaming
The most uncommon type of advertisement gaming is TTL, or through the line advertising gaming. A game has URL links embedded in it that direct players to websites with BTL Advergaming. Different strategies are employed to draw the player to a specific website. Enter the Matrix is a video game.
The player is compelled to click on the background-depicted URL hyperlinks in order to learn details about the next level’s plot while also receiving product advertisements. Although it may not be necessary to click in order to complete the game, the player is drawn in by their curiosity to learn more about the theme. Since one link will lead to another, these games are frequently referred to as “link-chases.
Sometimes a prize is offered to tempt website visitors to click the URL.
This marketing strategy is very helpful because it not only raises awareness among the player but also among his friends who visit the website on the recommendation of their friends. Advergaming, also known as viral marketing, depends on word of mouth for its success. This industry had 105 million participants in 2004 and produced $83.6 million.
6. Using the Yellow Pages to Advertise you Business
In some cases, but not always, it is true that yellow page advertising does not elicit the same kind of response as other forms of advertising. There is undoubtedly a decrease in the number of people choosing to advertise in the traditional yellow pages. According to a recent report, even the most attractive advertisement in a particular section isn’t getting the same response from callers as it once did. On the other hand, the cost of running ads in directories is going up, which tells a completely different story.
In reality, the rates of decline for various categories vary. As an example, the category of lawyers is experiencing the greatest decline, whereas the section of emergency service providers has the same call rate. Additionally, due to rising consumer demand, industries like furniture, real estate, and mobile phones are growing. A change in the advertisement’s size or appearance no longer works wonders.
Yellow Pages Advertising Plays A Small Part
According to experts, relying solely on the yellow pages to find customers is insufficient. Along with it, other options should be taken into account. Nearly half of all Internet users regularly access the web now that it is available in every home. They prefer to make purchases online while seated at home. Research should be done online to find reviews of the product. People who don’t typically shop online are choosing to do so because information is readily available with a mouse click. Customers who have used the product and provided feedback about it make it simpler for people to trust.
Yellow Pages Adverting Online
The idea of an online version of the yellow pages is a more recent idea. They have the advantage of being updated frequently (unlike printed directories) and being accessible from anywhere in the world. Research indicates that the response has been growing by 25% annually. Therefore, those who are interested in making an online investment in yellow-page advertising can do so.
SEO to Create Directories
Search engines receive directories as input, and when a user types in a word or phrase, the results appear. SEO for Small businesses may also appear on the pages produced by the outcome. If the online yellow pages contained all the necessary information about the business, the cost of developing a website could be reduced. Watch out for the deadline for renewing the directory listing; if a change is required, it is not a big deal in the online yellow pages. Some new websites offer free advertising space in their yellow pages. On the Internet, look for such websites.
Blog and Link your Site
Larger corporations can launch their own websites and include links to them in online white pages. It is possible to write articles about the company and submit them to magazines and websites that are concerned with the industry. Some websites also permit free article posting. Although the yellow pages are primarily used to attract potential customers, this does not mean that current clients should be ignored. By upholding the caliber of the products that are supplied to them, steps should be taken to strengthen the relationship with them and win their trust. Once they are completely satisfied, they won’t care about the price increase and will recommend the business to their friends, bringing in new clients.
The goal is to choose the best advertising strategy and work smartly. Yellow page advertising is not the only way for a business to advertise; this can lead to issues and a failure of the product to sell. Determine whether the number of customers the business receives is desirable by examining the amount of money spent on placing ads in directories. Whenever a potential customer calls, find out how they learned about the company. This will make it easier to determine which form of advertising is best for the company. It is never too late to choose the proper course of action and correct a mistake.
Thank you reader for following along. Let us know if you miss an advertising venue that can be helpful for us business owners.