How to Get Free Radio Advertising

Radio advertising is usually a fairly affordable option for a small business that wants to get the word out to a targeted area. However, radio advertising is more expensive in larger metropolitan areas due to the higher concentration of people. If you're on a very tight budget, it is sometimes possible to get free radio advertising for your company. You must create some type of value for the station's producers to convince them to talk about your product, service or company on the air at no cost.

Instructions

1. Review your listing of products and services. Choose one or more of your top offerings that you would want to feature on the radio.

2. Call the radio station producer to ask if you can provide the station with free products from your inventory or free services to give away on the air. Sometimes stations give these items away for contests or giveaways to callers. When listeners compete for these contests they stay tuned to the station --- the sweeter the prize "pot" the better.

3. Ask for a mention on one or more of the station's radio programs in exchange for the free items of value. If the disc jockey promotes the contest or giveaway he will usually say a few words about your product or service, which equals free radio advertising for your business.

4. Provide the station producer with show ideas that could help tie your product or service into the radio program. For instance, if you sell a computer software program for scheduling events and one of the radio programs discusses life matters, you can suggest a radio show idea for organizing your life.

5. Prepare a short blurb regarding the product or service including features, benefits and company contact information. Keep the blurb to about 15 to 20 seconds long. Present this blurb to the station producer when you send or drop off the free products to the station.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind that your offering must really appeal to the listeners of each station in order to be considered seriously for a free promotional giveaway on the air.

• Ask the producer if you can come in for an interview on the air if your product closely relates to the subject matter of the show. If the producer agrees, that translates to even more free advertising for your business.