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Many people remember to market their brands online and on TV, but advertising in the local newspapers is often overlooked. Print advertising comes with several benefits that you might not know about.
We put together this list of reasons you should advertise in local newspapers and how it can benefit your marketing strategies. Let’s begin!
1. It’s Affordable
The first reason you should advertise your business in local newspapers is that it’s affordable. Most newspapers will charge a rate based on the size and placement of your ad, allowing you to tailor it to your budget.
For instance, a small ad at the bottom of the paper will always cost less than a full front-and-center advertisement.
Many local newspapers also offer discounts when you run ads over a certain period or choose to run so many ads.
2. You’ll Reach Your Local Audience
Putting ads in the newspaper is a great idea to reach your local area. The newspaper won’t go outside a particular area, so you’ll know where it’s going and won’t have to worry about seeing people outside your service area.
If you’re a local business, you want to ensure people near you know about your company. No matter what you happen to sell.
You can even reach your target audience easier. Most people have newspaper subscriptions because they want to read about what’s happening near them. So you can reach those already interested in learning more about your business.
In the U.S., about 8.3 million people subscribed to daily papers, while 15.4 million subscribed to Sunday papers. While newspapers aren’t as popular as they used to be, there’s still a massive audience there for you to reach.
Your newspaper ads are very likely to reach people interested in your business.
3. People Trust Local Papers
Next, most people view newspapers as trustworthy and providing only facts. You can get your current audience to trust you more when they often see your brand appearing in the newspaper.
People have a positive view of their local papers, and you can benefit from that relationship when you advertise with them. Your business will also appear credible and trustworthy, allowing you to attract more customers.
Most people find local news to be more trustworthy than national news.
4. You Still Design the Ad
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You’ll also get to design the advertisement alongside the newspaper staff. That way, you can have help if you need it.
Newspapers will let you choose the images, size, and text you put on your ads. You can also send newspaper staff more information on what you want to completely customize the ad. Most newspapers will value your input and want to help you make an advertisement that speaks to your brand identity.
So, if you have a specific message in mind, don’t worry! The newspaper will help you get that across to their readers.
5. You Can Put the Ads Online Too
Many people don’t realize that most local newspapers come in print and online editions. So, you can also work with the newspaper to get your digital ads on their site. Your ad will reach more people that way. You might get a better deal since you’d advertise online and in print.
Make sure your digital ads link to your website! Doing so will direct more people to your online shop.
Some newspapers also print magazines and brochures, so you’ll want to see if they can put your ads in those too.
6. Newspaper Readers are Proactive
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Newspaper readers are very proactive and are actively looking for deals in their community. Consider including information on sales and coupons to get their attention.
Adding them can make your advertisements more noticeable, especially if these are special deals that people can only get through the newspaper.
Newspaper readers also tend to be older, so they have more spending money available, meaning they’ll be more likely to become your customer.
Most people read the newspaper to learn about what’s happening in their local area. They’ll keep their eyes open for sales, making your ads stand out to them.
6. Positive Reactions From Readers
Additionally, many people view ads in the newspaper much more positively than ads they see online. Print ads don’t get in the way of what they’re reading, don’t make sound, and are overall less distracting.
So, people will almost always view print ads more positively because they aren’t as intrusive. They’ll view your brand in a better light as well.
7. Print Has Staying Power
Unlike digital ads, newspapers are around forever. Your ad will exist in print somewhere forever after the newspaper comes out. You never know when someone will see it and decide to look more into your brand.
Staying power allows your ads to have a much longer impact.
8. You Get a Positive ROI
Finally, since you get a better value out of print ads, you’ll get a positive ROI (return on investment) much easier. Most print ads tend to do better than digital ads too.
You can run a test ad, then calculate the ROI that’s come from it. Many business owners do this by putting a coupon in the paper and seeing how many customers bring the coupon in with them. It’s a great option if you have a brick-and-mortar store.
Print ads increase engagement overall and work great with other forms of marketing. You can combine it with social media and other ads to get the possible ROI from your campaigns.
Place an Ad in Your Local Paper Today!
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to advertise in your local newspaper. It’s affordable, as you can adjust the price of the ad. You can also expect to reach more people interested in your brand near you.
So, why not place an ad in your paper today? The newspaper has a long-lasting staying power, so you’ll see its benefits for a while. Contact your local paper and see what they can do for you.