Radio commercials provide a great venue to broaden your market, promote your product and increase your revenues - when done right. You can hire an agency to produce your ads or go the cheaper route and let a local station produce them in-house. Either way, your radio ad production rates are determined by such factors as length, run time and run frequency. You also need to know the demographics of your targeted audience so that you choose the right stations to run your commercials.
Radio stations sell ad spots in 15-second increments (15s; 30s; 60s), and run times offer different exposure and rates, with morning runs usually costing more and evening runs less. Another cost saver is to simply write and record your own radio commercials, but make sure the end product doesn't too sound cheesy, otherwise you may turn off your targeted audience.
If you decide to invest in radio advertising production, here are things to consider:
1. Let a professional agency produce your radio commercials.
2. Do the radio commercial production yourself.
3. Find a radio station with the right target audience for your business and products.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Find an agency that specializes in radio advertisement production
Look for an agency that writes good copy and does professional voiceovers. Also, check the agency's website for past clients - especially those in your industry - portfolios of radio spots and testimonials. Some agencies can even write jingles for you.
I recommend: Cashman Commercials writes original copy and produces original music for its radio commercial ads. They categorize client radio spots by industry and provide on-site testimonials.
Push Button Productions offers jingle-writing as part of its radio advertisement production.
Do your own radio advertising production
The right message, the right pitch, the right voice and the right music are the main ingredients to producing a great radio ad. Find companies that provide services you need to do your own radio ad production, including voiceovers and music - and for a lot less than you'd have to pay a full-service agency. Then put together your own radio commercial.
I recommend: JeffSounds provides radio commercial voiceovers as well as free scripts.
Voice Over Guy also offers dub services for your script. Get award-winning music for your radio ads from
First Take Music Library, which offers a variety of music genres to meet your needs.
Find the right radio stations to air your radio commercials
Reaching the right audience is the goal to your radio commercial production, otherwise it's just a waste of your time and money. It's important to find the radio station that reaches your targeted market. Search local and national radio stations by format and market data to find the radio stations to broadcast to your audience.
I recommend: Radio-Locator lets you search by location, station call letters and frequency, while
Arbitron provides ratings data on radio stations by markets.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Consider online radio as another great venue to promote your company with radio advertising commercials. You can find agencies that produce spots specifically for Internet radio.
The official source of Radio Advertising Production is
the Radio Advertising Production page at Business.com
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