4 Local Advertising Ideas For Retail Stores and Businesses

Investing in local advertising can prove to be a smart investment that results in more customers, sales and ultimately profits. As a retail store owner, you need to constantly promote your business through various platforms. It's no secret that retail stores rely on the sales from local customers; therefore, common sense should tell you that local advertising is the most effective. Here, we're going to reveal 4 local advertising ideas that's sure to give you the most bang for your buck.

#1 - Radio Commercials

Even with all of the technological advancements of satellite radio and MP3 players, most drivers still resort to their local radio stations. You can use this to your advantage by promoting your retail store on a radio commercial. Contact some of the various stations to request a report of their user base along with commercial rates and requirements. Ideally, you want to run a commercial on the radio station that your customers are most likely to listen to.

#2 - Mail Advertisements

You might be surprised to learn that placing flyers on mailboxes is illegal. Thousands of companies risk fines and even lawsuits for this type of promotion. A smarter method of advertising is through the local postal service. Most USPS offices have advertising options for small business owners to use. You can pay the office to have your flyer or advertisement sent out to a given area, which is a highly effective form of local marketing for retail stores. Either call or visit the USPS office in person to ask them about their mail advertising options.

#3 - Television Commercials

Of course, we can't talk about local advertising options without mentioning television commercials. As the old saying goes -- a picture is worth a thousand words -- holds true in retail marketing. As long as you have the capital and resources to create an launch a television commercial, this is definitely one avenue you shouldn't overlook. Not only will you receive direct sales from it, but you'll also increase your brand exposure, which is a huge benefit of television commercial advertising.

#4 - Sponsorship

Another local advertising idea that's frequently overlooked by store owners is sponsorships. Little league baseball and other kids' sporting events will display your store's logo in exchange for a donation. It's a win-win scenario that increases your store's exposure while helping out youth organizations. Call around to some of the youth sports organizations to see whether or not they are looking for sponsors.

The Importance of In-Store Advertising

Many retail business owners underestimate the importance of in-store advertising. They are stuck in the mentality that marketing is no longer necessary once a customer walks in the door. The truth, however, is that in-store advertising and marketing is essential to every retail business. If you store depends on revenue generated from customer purchases, then you need to encourage people to buy your products, and there's no better way to do so than with in-store advertising.

Generally speaking, visitors walking into a retail store fall into one of two different categories - people who are in search of a specific product, and people who are simply there to browse. If a person enters your retail store dead-set on buying a specific item or product, then you really don't need to do anything extra to convert them into a paying a customer. On the other hand, people entering your store simply with the purpose of browsing around to see what you offer may need some encouragement to make a purchase. This is a case where in-store advertising is necessary to increase your store's sales and overall revenue.

Types of In-Store Advertising

One of the most commonly used forms of in-store advertising are gondola shelving signs. As the name suggests, these are signs which are attached directly to a gondola. People walking down the isles of your store will notice these signs, and hopefully it will encourage them to make a sale. The key thing to remember when using gondola signs is to place them next to their respective product. I know this sounds like common sense, but you would be surprised at how many owners place their signs far away from the advertised product.

Another form of in-store advertising includes free-standing signs. You can purchase metal frames that are designed to stand freely without the use of gondolas or other fixtures. Just attach a sign directly in the center of it, and then you can stand the advert up anywhere you desire. Some owners prefer to use free-standing signs around the checkout lines to naturally draw the attention of customers as they are waiting to pay.

No matter what form of in-store advertising you intend on using, it's important to frequently change it out with new signs and products. Studies have shown that customers grow immune to seeing the same sign or advert over and over; therefore, it will lose its effectiveness. Allow your signs to run for a week or so and then swap them out for new ones.