Four States Small Business Blog

Radio personalities have a ton of influence among their listeners, which can be leveraged beyond radio to help businesses reach and engage their target audience. To date, 56% of all radio listeners state that the on-air talent is the main reason they tune in. Additionally, 8 out of 10 listeners say they would consider trying something their favorite radio personality recommended.

After almost 100 years, radio remains an effective channel for marketers looking to advertise their product or service. There are a number of benefits to using radio as an advertising tool, including increased brand awareness, improved brand recognition and recall, boosted sales and more qualified leads. What’s more, sound - like music, voice and effects - can be a powerful tool that influences customer behavior, while helping to define the identity of a brand.

Did you know that only 2% of website traffic converts on the first visit? Retargeting can effectively help local businesses re-engage potential customers that visited their website but did not take action. And… it works. Retargeting can result in a 147% increase in average conversion rates when properly integrated. Additionally, retargeting has been found to increase branded search results by at least 500%.

It’s no secret that many auto shops have trouble attracting women to their business. And although they also need car maintenance, you’ll find that not too many shops really cater to women on their level. Done right, marketing to women can create a huge opportunity for auto repair shops, as 85% of people bringing in their vehicles to be serviced is women. Here are 4 strategies auto shop owners can use to better market to women:

Great branding is key in attracting clients, developing brand equity and fostering top-of-mind awareness. For small business owners, branding can be one of their biggest challenges. Attending a BrandsFormation workshop, however, can help businesses develop their brand and discover what sets them apart from the competition.

We live in a world where individuals crave convenience – especially when looking for services. And they often look to reviews for simple guidance that help them make smarter buying decisions. In fact, 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as recommendations from a friend or family member, while 73% of them have more trust in a local business with positive reviews. Negative reviews are just as impactful, as 94% of customers say an online review has convinced them to avoid a business.

Advertising jingles are short pieces of music that are associated with a specific brand, product, or company. The best ones are as memorable as good logos, and people can recall them for years - or even decades - after a campaign that features them. Coming up with a good one, however, can be hard for those who don't have the skills or practice to do it. To help with this challenge, we offer Jingle Workshops.

Shopping local provides far more benefits than a unique, personal experience. It supports the creation of local jobs, which in turn improves the local economy. It also helps promote a sense of community, as well as preserve the community itself. When customers shop local, they not only support the business, but also the people around it.

Today, we are highlighting one of the area's top local businesses: Henkle’s ACE Hardware. Even though ACE is a national brand, each branch is owned locally and provides all of the benefits of being a company that's right in town.

Non-profit organizations are committed to serving and improving the local community, but marketing is often a major challenge. To help support their missions, the Zimmer Cares program gives $50,000 of free radio advertising to a select number of non-profit organizations each quarter that were selected by Four States listeners. This allows the organizations, which often struggle to get their message out, to benefit from the power of the radio group's reach and advertising skill. Such a boost can result in a significant increase in donations for the charity, and therefore, to the good that it can do in the community.

Tractor supply businesses can be a targeted market, so it can be difficult to reach the right customers without wasting money on market segments that have no interest in these products. This is a common marketing challenge, and it can hinder your ability to get the attention of those who would be eager to buy.

Fortunately, digital marketing options can help solve this problem quite effectively. They allow for the advanced targeting needed to bring about the maximum possible ROI (return on investment) from marketing campaigns. These methods also make use of today's most popular online tools and channels, such as social media, online search, and digital promotions. They can be combined with broader options, like radio advertising, for even greater impact.