Bay Area Marketing & Advertising Blog 

According to a Nielsen report, radio still commands the highest shares of collective trust in advertising. Given the portability of radio, marketers can reach their target audience on the go and at their convenience, allowing them a competitive edge over their competitors.

Chances are that you not only have a radio station you prefer over others but a favorite radio host. They are engaging, funny, and relatable. You may have even met them at a community event. When a trusted radio show host recommends a business, product, or service, you take notice.

In the last decade, there has been a dramatic change in how people consume information. With the advent of social media and smartphones, people can access information faster than ever. However, one form of advertising is still thriving: radio influencer marketing.

Influencer marketing is a highly effective strategy for increasing brand awareness and driving sales. In fact, 93% of marketers have used influencers for their marketing campaigns. In 2016, the influencer market totaled $1.7 billion. This year, it is projected to reach $16.4 billion.

Radio influencers have been around since 1906, when Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian voice, produced a one-hour talk show and music. Today, radio is uniquely personal and invokes listeners' imaginations by creating mental images around broadcast sound. Radio is the soundtrack to our lives, and creates an emotional connection that other advertising mediums simply cannot recreate.

Today's research shows that it would be a colossal mistake to overlook local influencers when advertising your brand. Using a radio influencer can help you reach your desired marketing objective, especially when you choose one that resonates with the Bay Area audience you intend to reach.

Influencer marketing using broadcast and digital drives impressive results for Bay Area marketers. Eighty-nine percent of marketers surveyed reported that they realized the same or better ROI from influencer marketing as compared to other platforms. That is attributable to 49% of customers that rely on recommendations of influencers to make purchasing decisions.

Radio personalities have a unique connection with their audiences. Listeners place a high level of trust in them, and they value their opinions as if they were friends or family. Partnering with someone who isn't part of your business but has a high trust factor with your target market increases confidence and credibility in your brand. A radio influencer can be a smart investment of your marketing dollars, as evidenced by a recent survey that showed 89% of respondents recognized a comparable or improved ROI with influencer marketing over other networks.

The power of local influencer marketing is evidenced in a recent RAB case study. A major tech company that leveraged the on-air and social media power of local radio personalities realized a 66% lift in earned media and a 30% lift in store traffic compared to non-endorsement markets. The opportunity isn't limited to large corporations. Small businesses can also tap into the power of word-of-mouth marketing for brand awareness by collaborating with local radio influencers.

The influencer marketing industry is expected to grow to around $9.7 billion in 2020, and it continues to be one of the fastest-growing marketing channels. However, not as many marketers are focusing on some of the most effective influencers out there: radio influencers.