Resource Center »Ten Most Overlooked Types of Advertising Media
Which advertising opportunities are you missing?
There are thousands of different ways to promote a company with advertising. Unfortunately, some businesses overlook many advertising methods because they think they don’t work very well. Here are ten advertising sources that are generally overlooked even though they provide great promotional help!
Motel rooms (and motels in general) are great advertising sources. Many hotels and motels give local businesses the chance to advertise inside their rooms, usually on a small placard or in their information packet for travelers. Companies can also advertise in the lobby or place their own flyers out for display in the common areas. Custom shampoos, hand lotions, and logo sunscreen packets are popular room additions that can be given away to get your marketing message seen by more patrons. Putting a physical product in your customers' hands helps increase brand recognition.
Billboards are another form of overlooked advertising media. These large advertisements are placed on the side of the road and sometimes with a floodlight underneath them; this ensures that people see them at all times of the day and night. More and more digital billboards are popping up as well - these tend to be even more eye-catching and interactive. People spend a lot of time in their cars, so this is an excellent way to get their attention while they're on the road!
Benches on the side of the road or by a bus stop are attention-grabbing options for local companies to advertise. Usually these are popular with the real estate industry, but any company can advertise there. People read them as they're passing by, driving by, or even while they're sitting on them. You have potential to reach a large viewing audience on any given day. Unbeknownst to many, benches have the potential to get your logo or slogan seen very often!
High school and college yearbooks also tend to get overlooked for advertising. The backs of yearbooks usually have a certain number of pages devoted to advertising space, and individuals or businesses can purchase a small or large ad depending on their budget. Schools use the advertising dollars they earn to pay for the printing and publishing of the books, so the money goes to a good cause, and yearbooks are frequently passed along from person to person. This means that your message may get noticed by friends, family members, and anyone else who reads a student's yearbook.
School sports and drama programsoffer advertising space as well. Like yearbooks, school programs have large ad spaces and small ad spaces available depending on your needs. If you offer products or services that appeal to students or education, then you'll be particularly successful. However, nearly any company can purchase space inside the program and if it's for a larger event then you can almost guarantee that a lot of people will see the advertisement!
Sponsorship deals are yet another way to advertise. This can be the sponsoring of a local team or sponsoring a charity event in the area. Sponsoring a local little league or soccer team is a great way to spread the word about your company and it helps foster spirit within the community. As an added bonus, the advertising dollars you spend will also benefit local children or causes! When going this route, you could consider personalized team t-shirts, sports bottles, or foam cheering noodles.
Flyers, especially those with coupons attached, can be handed out at local businesses, left on cars, or placed in the mail to advertise to customers. Placing a coupon on the flyer helps ensure that people keep them instead of throwing them away. Or, try customizing colorful luggage tags with your message at conventions and public events for a special touch that other companies may not have considered!
Employees could wear costumes and hold signs or simply make a presence and hand out flyers to get the word out about your company. Since the employees already work for the company, the overhead costs are low and it is often a successful form of advertising. For added impact, add a message to each sign that offers customers a special discount if they mention it when visiting your business.
Cars or vehicles of the company or of employees can help your company connect with people. Your company logo, your contact information, or your slogan can be turned into advertising that fits directly on the car. As people sit in traffic or simply drive by, their attention turns to that advertising and there is a good chance they'll remember it later when they need a service like landscaping, plumbing, or whatever your business provides. You could either have the information directly printed on your vehicle or order some promotionalcar magnets to achieve this result!
Radio ads are overlooked because many companies have switched to television advertisements or online strategies. However, because people listen to the radio whenever they’re in their cars, your company could create a fun jingle or advertisement to capture their attention and stick with them. Get your client base involved too - launch a jingle contest and give local artists an opportunity to come up with something catchy for you!
