Radio as an advertising medium
Radio reaches 5.5 million Hungarians every day. Why is it a cost-effective advertising medium, and how should you go about advertising on it?
It has celebrated its centenary, and is regarded as the first true mass medium; as a marketing channel, it remains one of the most effective tools to this day. We’re talking about the radio, which, according to the latest figures, reaches half the Hungarian population on a daily basis.
According to NMHH figures for 2019, around 5.5 million people listen to the radio every day and around 7 million every week among the Hungarian population aged 15 and over. Half of the population listens to radio programmes daily, and three-quarters do so weekly.
According to an Inspira survey, for 48% of Hungarian consumers, the radio is the primary medium for accessing information – this is accompanied by focused attention, which also translates into engagement with advertising content. The other main motivation for listening is entertainment and an emotional connection: the medium also functions as a ‘background noise’.
It is a huge misconception that radio is the preserve of multinational companies
The SME sector can run a successful radio campaign that reaches a mass audience just as cost-effectively as larger companies. Whilst a TV campaign will cost at least several million forints, you can advertise effectively on a radio station with an audience of one million for just a few tens of thousands of forints.
What should you advertise, and how?
You can provide that final nudge before a purchase with specific offers and promotions. A classic example of a promotional campaign is an advert for a food promotion, which directs people on their way home to their local supermarket. It is also flawless at reinforcing messages communicated through other channels, making it an essential part of the media mix.
3 types of advertisement
- Advert campaign – A 10–20–30-second advert during the break between programmes, featuring a well-known voice-over artist.
- BTL / non-spot – prize draws, programme sponsorship, pop-up events; excellent for brand building.
- A unique look – PR discussion, professional interview.
Aiming
The potential customer segment can be clearly differentiated on the basis of demographic factors, the programme’s subject matter, the audience figures for the time slot, the station’s popularity and the composition of its listener base.
Summary
Radio is one of the oldest media, yet it still effectively reaches huge audiences today. Its broad consumer base can be easily segmented, and the travelling audience provides a huge added bonus. It is perfect for promotional campaigns, brand building, positioning and reinforcing messages.