Marketron

Navigating the New Auto Purchase Journey

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Think of the last time you went to buy or lease a new car. What were the steps you took? How long was the actual shopping and buying process? If you are like most people, it took about three months to shop, and a lot of it was done online.

The greater question is, what impact will COVID-19 have on the auto purchase journey?

Continue reading “Navigating the New Auto Purchase Journey”

Local is a Driving Force

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Local truly matters. If there is one thing that everyone has learned during this pandemic, it is how important local businesses and communities matter – to everyone. When this all began, little did anyone realize how much walking into local businesses would be missed. You walk in, say “hello,” and if you frequent them enough, they call you by your first name. This event has been a very painful reminder of how much these local businesses mean to all of us.

Kelton Global, a consumer insights and strategy consulting firm, has been analyzing consumer behavior and sentiment since the onset of the pandemic. The most current data shows that 52% of Americans believe that the long-term effects of the coronavirus will be mostly positive than negative, and 9 out of 10 believe that there will be one positive change to come out of the outbreak.

Continue reading “Local is a Driving Force”

Radio Ad Categories Web Increases During COVID-19

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

It may be hard to imagine, but it was just a few years ago that headlines focused on how a particular generation was changing and impacting everything – from the workplace, to food and shopping. It is without question that 2020 will be marked as a year that impacted how and where all consumers shop.

Continue reading “Radio Ad Categories Web Increases During COVID-19”

Reaching Black and Hispanic Populations through Radio and
Other Media

Contributor: Gabriel Soto, Manager of Research, Edison Research

Under the current climate of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to disseminate information to various communities effectively. Often overlooked, African-American and Hispanic communities can benefit with a few insights into each group’s media consumption.

Continue reading “Reaching Black and Hispanic Populations through Radio and
Other Media”

Radio on Main Street Podcast Featuring Erica Farber’s Conversations with Radio Personalities About Their Role as Influencers

Listeners have a personal connection with Radio’s influencers – the on-air talent.  They have a personal connection with their favorite station because of their favorite radio personalities and during this very challenging time, the connections between the on-air personalities and their listeners have never been greater.

In this episode, Erica Farber, President and CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau, speaks with several on-air personalities across the country to ask them about the connections they have with their audiences and why those connections can be so important to advertisers. Even though these conversations were recorded before the Covid-19 crisis, we thought the content was so appropriate for what everyone is dealing with today that we wanted to share it with you.

Here’s What Listeners Are Thinking

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Understanding the mindset of the consumer has always been important for advertisers. However, during these times, what resonated with consumers pre-COVID may no longer be relevant. How a consumer currently feels, their concerns and their trust has never been more important for advertisers to recognize than now.

Continue reading “Here’s What Listeners Are Thinking”

Advertising During Difficult Times

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

It can’t be said enough – these are extremely unusual and difficult times for everyone. As each day passes, I think it is safe to say that we all hope and look forward to things getting better. They will, but it is just a matter of when.

I am certain that many of you have gone to local businesses in search of certain products or items and looked at the people in those businesses in a way you never had before. They are on the front lines, making sure that we have what we need.

Continue reading “Advertising During Difficult Times”

The Spirit of Radio – Connecting in Times of Business Unusual

Author: Tammy Greenberg, SVP/Business Development, RAB

“There’s something about the spirit of radio. It helps us all to know each other better and gives us a sense of purpose and community in a time where we need those things more than ever.”
– Adam Grant, Creative Director, AKQA (abridged).

Historically speaking, in periods of great challenge, truly there is no more important medium than local radio. In uncertain and unpredictable times, broadcast radio has proven that it is the backbone of the country’s information distribution system, with increased listening among consumers across all of its platforms.

Continue reading “The Spirit of Radio – Connecting in Times of Business Unusual”

Insights from The Infinite Dial

Contributor: Laura Ivey, Director of Research, Edison Research

The most telling image from The Infinite Dial 2020 presentation is a screenshot of our presenters, Edison Research SVP Tom Webster and Triton Digital President of Market Development John Rosso, leading the webcast with over 1,500 attendees from their respective homes. No one could have anticipated that our setup would be driven by social distancing precautions. Now seems like a most appropriate time to talk about the most recent findings on the “infinite dial” of podcasting, digital, audio, radio and social media that connect us all.

Continue reading “Insights from The Infinite Dial”

Radio. It’s On!

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Cancellations, social distancing, empty streets, working from home, virtual classes – this has become the new norm for many of us. We are all anxiously waiting to get back to how it used to be. In the interim, there is one thing that everyone can count on. Radio. It’s On.
Continue reading “Radio. It’s On!”

It’s Not Business as Usual

Author: Jeff Schmidt, SVP, Professional Development, RAB

“Be safe, be mindful and be calm.” – Erica Farber, RAB President and CEO

One thing is for certain, we are in times of uncertainty. Change is happening hour by hour. Our government leaders, medical community, service organizations and our business communities are all trying to respond appropriately and immediately to the ever-evolving situation.

Continue reading “It’s Not Business as Usual”

Vital Help In Times of Need

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

“Tough times never last, tough people do.” Dr. Robert H. Schuller

There is no doubt that we are all experiencing a difficult and stressful time. Natural disasters and current events have everyone unsettled. Staying up to date on local news is important – whether you are impacted by the events or not.

Continue reading “Vital Help In Times of Need”

Under the Weather? Radio Can Help

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Recent headlines may have some Americans considering not only who their doctor is, but also when they last saw them – if they have one.

There are many ways to select a doctor or physician of any kind. Health.gov provides a few tips for adults on selecting a doctor. Those tips include asking for recommendations from family, friends or colleagues, as well as checking with insurance providers, considering distance to location and hours. Of course, most doctors have all this information available online, but how do you get them to the site? Radio, of course.

Continue reading “Under the Weather? Radio Can Help”

Targeting the Affluent Consumer

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Today’s uncertainty in the economic landscape is top of mind among consumers and businesses alike. This uncertainty is impacting everyone – including those who are considered affluent.

According to the YouGov Affluent Perspective 2019 Global Survey, only 44% of respondents stated that they were extremely/very confident in the strength of their personal economy. Perhaps that is why 76% state that they are making fewer and more meaningful purchases.

Continue reading “Targeting the Affluent Consumer”

Radio by the Numbers

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Artificial intelligence. Autonomous vehicles. Robotic pets. It is easy to become enamored with technology and the latest gadgets, because they provide us with something that we didn’t know we needed or wanted. However we have also seen some technology or gadgets that some thought would be the next hottest thing, fizzle out.

Despite these tech advances, people today still use and appreciate the value of Radio. At its core, Radio remains relevant and prevalent, regardless of the device or platform used to tune in.

Continue reading “Radio by the Numbers”

Looking Into Her Shopping Cart

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Women make up most of the U.S. population – and they control $15 trillion in spending. They hold incredible influence in household purchase decisions – 75% to 80%. Marketing to women is an important element to the success of brands – but it’s not as simple as making things pink.

Continue reading “Looking Into Her Shopping Cart”

Celebrating the Black Consumer

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

February is Black History Month, also known as African American Month. It celebrates and recognizes the roles that African Americans have played in shaping U.S. history. Originally established as Black History Week by American historian Carter G. Woodson, it was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1976.

As consumers, African Americans have a buying power of $1.3 trillion and are 47.8 million strong. They are socially active – as end-users as well as influencers. They also spend more time with media across devices – specifically radio, than the U.S. population in general.

Continue reading “Celebrating the Black Consumer”

The Pulse on Audio

Author: Tammy Greenberg, SVP/Business Development, RAB

Staying in tune with the advertising community, with regards to their opinions as it relates to radio and audio, is key to success for radio stations and advertisers alike. Opinion research provides a solid read on the pulse of the community, who are surveyed on specific topics. Brands are able to see how their brand compares and gain valuable strategic insights. Radio stations can also gain insight into current perceptions that can be shared and addressed among the advertising community.  For these reasons, in 2019, RAB launched Audio Pulse™ – a polling mechanism to gauge the advertising community opinion on radio, as well as audio’s value and core competencies.

Continue reading “The Pulse on Audio”

Insights into CES

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

Once viewed as an event for techies, CES has radically evolved. CES 2020 was not about consumer electronics, it was about the consumer experience. Technology is shifting everything. It is driving brand transformation and enhancing the experience for consumers, while also having an impact on everything they do – banking, cooking, shopping and raising families.

Continue reading “Insights into CES”

Getting Perspective

Author: Annette Malave, SVP/Insights, RAB

When it comes to consumer behavior, awareness of their views and attitudes will be an important component to understanding their purchase journey. In fact, 2020 is being deemed as the Year of the Consumer across various industries. Like it or not, today’s consumer has greater opportunities and platforms to express their views and opinions – ranging from goods, to brands and causes.

Consumers today are used to immediate satisfaction and “get it today” – all driven by emotion and attitudes.

Continue reading “Getting Perspective”