Types of Advertising

Traditional Advertising

Traditional advertising is what most people think of when talking about advertising or marketing. This includes the “usual” venues for media placement, such as newspaper, radio, broadcast television, cable television, or outdoor billboards.
Typical collateral materials needed for your business – like stationery, business cards, or brochures – would also fall under traditional advertising. These are the products that people normally expect from an established business, and are useful for building your business’ brand, identity, and image.

Traditional advertising is usually well-established and easy to place. It’s also very measurable in terms of viewership and who sees your ad. However, it also can become expensive – especially in larger markets – and it is often more regulated. A traditional ad must often meet the norms and standards of the media in which it is placed.

Non-traditional Advertising

Non traditional advertising can encompass a variety of efforts and methods of getting your message seen. Unlike traditional advertising, non-traditional advertising often involves utilizing an unusual or uncommon advertising space or method.

Although the Internet is largely mainstream, its use and some advertising methods online are still considered non-traditional advertising. Google ads, for example, or banner ads, help businesses reach potential buyers that they may have otherwise missed without a non-traditional web presence.

Also included under non-traditional advertising are approaches such as mobile advertising, aerial advertising, placards, guerilla marketing, buzz agents, flyers or other literature distributed in unusual places or circumstances, blogs, YouTube videos, t-shirts, magnets or other promotional items handed out to potential clients, wall murals or vehicle wraps, and myriad other things.

Non-traditional advertising works well for people with a limited budget and an audience that could be easily reached through a means of communication other than TV, radio or newspaper. It’s an effective method of displaying your message and making it more memorable because of the unusual way in which it may be shown. It is useful for a very targeted audience and can often be less expensive than traditional advertising. However, it is also difficult to measure and may require more time to organize or place a campaign.