6 Traditional Advertising Methods You Might Have Forgotten About

Although our technology has come a long way and digital marketing is essential for the majority of brands, it’s good to remember that these traditional methods can still be effective. From billboards to leaflet drops, we’re going to cover 6 traditional marketing methods you may have forgotten about and could be the missing piece in your marketing strategy.

Traditional Advertising Method 1: Billboards

Seeing is believing, and billboards are the giants of traditional advertising that capture the attention of commuters and pedestrians. Choosing the right location is crucial, targeting high-traffic areas maximises visibility, but it's equally important to reach the right audience. Consider where your target demographic frequently visits or what type of transport they use to place your billboard effectively.

A compelling key message and bold graphics are essential for making an instant and lasting impression. Strategically placed billboards remain a powerful tool for boosting brand awareness and ensuring your brand gets noticed. Last year we worked with our client, Natures Menu, on a big campaign and part of this was to create animations for digital billboards, check out the campaign below.

Traditional Advertising Method 2: Direct Mail

Thought the time of direct mail was dead? You’re wrong. In recent studies, 84% of marketers agree that direct mail provides the highest ROI of any channel they use and over the last three years that number has been increasing. It turns out direct mail can be quite influential in consumers' purchasing decisions.

Direct mail proves most popular among millennials compared to Gen X and Baby Boomers. The key to using direct mail is to only send to existing customers or people who have shown high interest in your company, otherwise you risk your DM just being thrown away. By being selective with who you send it to you save money and help increase ROI.

Traditional Advertising Method 3: Email Marketing

First impressions are everything. This is certainly the case when it comes to email marketing. 47% of email recipients say they open an email based on the subject line and 69% mark an email as spam just based on the subject line alone. Email marketing is a great way to connect with your audience but you don’t want to flood their inbox with information or deals they’re not interested in, otherwise they will unsubscribe. A lot of customers love personalised offers but are concerned about data privacy. It’s important to strike a balance between the two and offer them personalised content but in a way that they don’t feel like their data has been over-used.

No matter how you choose to use email in your marketing strategy, always remember to be transparent with how you collect and use your customer data!

Traditional Advertising Method 4: Print Advertising

Printed media is still massive for a lot of brands today, from magazines to posters and newspapers. For some brands, print advertising is key to their successful marketing strategies. We recently wrote a blog on the history of print and how it’s still important in this digital age, head here to find out more.

Traditional Advertising Method 5: Flyers & Brochures

Flyers and brochures are a bit like Marmite, some people love them, and others hate them. However, depending on your target audience they can be a successful part of your marketing strategy. Flyers and brochures can be handed out at events, in busy shopping centres or strategically placed in other points of interest. They can be used to help your business grow and get your brand's name out there.

They can be helpful as some people prefer to have something tactile to receive information from, rather than seeing it digitally.

Traditional Advertising Method 6: Networking

You know the common phrase, ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’ Networking and word of mouth are vital for businesses, as putting a face to a name can make a significant impact. Whether B2B or B2C, networking serves different purposes for different goals. The aim is to connect with your target audience on a deeper level to understand their needs, wants, and pain points. For B2B businesses, peer networking involves connecting with professionals in the same industry who can provide valuable insights.

The one amazing thing about networking in today’s world is that it doesn’t always have to be face-to-face. If in-person meetings aren't possible, attending or setting up virtual meetings and events can be an effective way to connect with others.

_____

Whilst we know digital technology tends to dominate most marketing strategies, it’s still important to understand the significance traditional advertising methods hold. Depending on your target audience some of the above traditional methods will work wonders for your business. Each of them can play a crucial role in an overall marketing strategy. However, the key is to know your audience and know how best to communicate and reach them.

These methods can complement digital efforts, reaching diverse audiences. By considering these tried and tested techniques, brands can discover new opportunities for engagement and growth.

If you'd like to hear how our award-winning team could help your brand, contact the team today.