Consumers in today's world have a plethora of media options at their disposal throughout the day. Information and entertainment options that didn't exist 20 or 30 years ago are now commonplace — and sometimes even more popular than traditional channels. Online streaming, podcasts, news apps, and scores of other platforms have made the modern media environment centered around accessibility and choice.
However, in a landscape of endless choice, radio continues to pull in millions of daily listeners, giving marketers a powerful channel to reach and engage target consumers. When leveraged properly, radio can be a valued component in your overall marketing strategy and significantly contribute to your business's growth.
Radio continues to prosper and resonate with consumers because it is viewed as an exceptionally trustworthy medium and carries significant credibility among the public. Its long-standing stature withstood the test of time, so as it adapted to media’s changing trends, listeners witnessed its innovations in real-time. That level of trustworthiness applies to radio broadly, including commercial and public radio, as radio surpasses both the Internet and social media in terms of consumer trust by double-digit margins. But listeners consider public radio, in particular, a highly credible source of news and additional information.
Per a recent study from the Katz Radio Group, respondents are more likely to trust what they hear on public radio (64%) more than what they see or read online (52%). They are far more likely to trust public radio than social media networks (26%). Radio is generally viewed as more trustworthy than network TV, cable TV, and magazines.
A study from the Pew Research Center found that the ratio of consumer trust/distrust for NPR — i.e., the number of listeners who trust NPR vs. those who don't — is 3.2 to 1. In other words, three times as many people trust NPR as those who don't.
Public Radio's trust is earned through its long-standing reputation for prioritizing accuracy, objectivity and transparency in educational and entertaining content.
With over 150 million daily listeners, there is no doubt radio is still thriving as a communication medium. It remains an effective channel for reaching consumers from all backgrounds and walks of life, and public radio has a reputation for cultivating an affluent, educated, and devoted following.
Despite the major changes in the modern media environment over the last couple of decades, radio still performs well due to the number of people listening from their vehicles, on their mobile devices and at home. The radio industry has had to adapt to the modern media landscape to stay at peak relevance. It has done so through innovations such as digital streaming and podcasts, expanding its reach and solidifying its influence.
With all that in mind, the question becomes: How can your business successfully reach radio listeners?
Apart from traditional advertising buys (i.e., spots on commercial radio), you may want to consider investing in public radio sponsorships (marketing on public radio). A sponsorship message can increase your business's credibility in the eyes of regional and national audiences. And since sponsorship messages are restricted to just 3-5 minutes per hour and are typically read by a trusted host, listeners expect them and stay tuned, yielding high recall rates.
It offers brands an excellent opportunity to reach and engage with target consumers in an appealing way.
When sponsoring public radio programs, you must ensure your brand voice and tone are appropriate to the program and your target audience's values and sensibilities. Picking shows whose audiences heavily overlap with your customer base will allow you to resonate with them, especially when emphasizing your product or service's unique value proposition (UVP) and how it can solve a key customer pain point.
Public radio is a viable but powerful medium for reaching and engaging with today's consumers. In a crowded modern media environment, you can leverage the credibility and appeal of public radio to grow your customer base, enhance your brand's reputation, and deliver messaging that will truly resonate with your audience. The benefit public radio brings to your brand will also impact the performance of your other advertising efforts by making your messaging stand out everywhere.
Ready to get your brand in front of public radio’s dedicated audience? Connect with a trusted media partner today to help guide your marketing strategy.