5 Reasons Why Local Advertisers Need to Adopt a Digital-First Mindset

In today's world, it's more important than ever for local advertisers to adopt a digital-first mindset. With the proliferation of smartphones, social media, and other online platforms, consumers are spending more time online than ever before. If you're a local advertiser who hasn't yet embraced digital advertising, you're missing out on a huge opportunity to reach potential customers where they are spending their time.

Here are 5 reasons why you need to adopt a digital-first mindset:

1. Your customers are online.

Today, the vast majority of consumers turn to the internet to research products and services before making a purchase. This is especially true when consumers are looking to purchase a “big ticket” item: auto dealers, jewelers, electronics, and mattresses are four examples of categories researched by roughly 80% of potential buyers. And this research doesn’t just happen at home. 77% of shoppers do their product research on a mobile device, and 59% of shoppers will engage in comparison shopping - looking at different products, prices or stores - while in-store.  The bottom line: if you're not advertising online, you're missing out on a huge audience of potential customers.

2. Digital advertising is cost-effective.

Compared to traditional advertising methods like TV, radio, and print, digital advertising is often much more cost-effective - especially when campaigns are run via an advertising automation platform like Frequence. Frequence enables media companies to target specific demographics and interests for their ad buyers, ensuring that your ad dollars are being spent on the people who are most likely to be interested in your product or service.

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81% of retail shoppers conduct online research before buying, according to GE Retail Capital Bank research.

3. You can track your results.

One of the biggest advantages of digital advertising is that you can track your results in real-time. Using Frequence, you can see exactly how many people are clicking on your ads, how long they're staying on your website, and how many of them are converting into customers. This data can help you optimize your ads and your website to get better results over time.

4. Digital advertising is flexible.

With traditional advertising, you often have to commit to a certain amount of time and money upfront. With digital advertising, you can start small and scale up as you see results. Digital advertising offers an array of products, from display ads to streaming audio commercials, that can fit your budgetary requirements while reaching the audiences you’re looking to connect with. And unlike print or TV ads, digital advertising allows you to adjust your ads on the fly based on what's working and what's not, giving you the flexibility to experiment and find the best approach for your business.

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Omnichannel strategies drive an 80% higher rate of incremental store visits, according to Google.

5. You can reach a wider audience - and a more personalized one.

Digital advertising allows you to reach a wider audience than traditional advertising methods. Geofencing allows you to reach local - or even hyperlocal - customers who might be drawn to an area business. And digital advertising lets you reach people who are outside of your local area, which can be especially beneficial if you offer products or services that can be purchased online. Combine that with the ability to target people based on their interests, behaviors, and demographics, you can ensure that your ad is seen by the people who are most likely to be interested in your product or service - wherever they may be. 

Statistics show that consumers want personalized digital advertising, so if you're a local advertiser who hasn't fully embraced digital advertising, now is the time to do so. Beyond those statistics are the stories of traditional advertisers who’ve seen tremendous success after they’ve added digital advertising to their ad mix. By adopting a digital-first mindset, you can reach more customers, track your results, and grow your business in ways that were never possible with traditional advertising methods. And when you work with media companies who are using Frequence, you can be confident that your campaigns will be successful.