Four States Small Business Blog

With 3.5 billion Google queries being made each day, search engines are critical to the customer journey. Savvy, empowered customers use search engines like Google and Bing to find and research the products and services they ultimately purchase.

TV and radio advertising have been two of the most consistent mediums for reaching consumers. For years, they were the only two methods for getting the word out to target audiences, delivering branded messages and promotions. However, the emergence of other channels - specifically digital - has given advertisers more options for reaching their audience. Interestingly enough, while TV watching is declining, radio listening remains strong.

Local businesses face a number of challenges when it comes to marketing. These include limited time, limited marketing expertise and limited staff. Although these are real constraints, marketing is a critical function that should not be overlooked. By outsourcing this function to a trusted marketing partner, the business can still achieve marketing success.

Great advertising doesn't happen accidentally - it's created by a combination of factors that includes reach, exceptional messaging and content that is specifically created to appeal to your target audience. Ad content can take a variety of forms across media channels: text, audio, images and video. But regardless of the medium, it's the quality of the content that will drive people to your product or service. See first-hand why data-driven, relevant, informative and engaging content can make the difference between advertising that is simply good or truly great.

Are you looking to build awareness, spark engagement or even drive sales for your brand? If so, an integrated advertising approach that pairs radio and digital can work well in helping you achieve your goal.

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:

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.