Top 10 Types Of Advertising & How To Use Them In 2025

There are many different types of advertising media, from traditional radio and newspapers to online advertising through social media platforms, email campaigns, and videos.

Knowing which types of advertising would work best for you is helpful if you’re running a business. Every advertising strategy has strengths that can help you reach your target audience.

In this guide, we’ll count down the top 10 types of advertising and explain how to use each effectively.

What Is Advertising?

Advertising is paying to promote a product, service, or message to a specific audience. Simply put, you tell potential customers what products or services you sell when you advertise your business.

An effective ad campaign helps you connect with your customers and encourage them to take action, whether visiting a brick-and-mortar store or purchasing online.

These advertising techniques do more than announce a business’s products to the world. They help people understand why they should choose one company over another and build trust in your brand.

Advertising technology has transformed how businesses promote themselves, and reaching target audiences is easier than ever.

Digital Advertising Vs. Traditional Advertising

When promoting your business, you can use traditional, digital, or both types of advertising. Traditional media includes newspapers, billboards, radio, and TV ads. It’s the kind of marketing we’ve seen for decades, often used to reach a broad audience.

Also known as broadcast advertising, traditional advertising methods can effectively build brand awareness locally or nationally. However, it can be expensive, especially TV ads, which are hard to measure and don’t allow for interaction with your audience.

Digital marketing, or digital advertising, uses the internet to deliver ads through websites, apps, and online platforms. It includes social media ads, SEO for search engines, Google ads, sponsored posts, and email campaigns.

One of the biggest advantages of digital marketing is targeting customers based on their interests, location, behaviour, and more. It also makes it easy to track your results in real time, so you can see what’s working and make quick changes.

For many small businesses, digital advertising offers a flexible and cost-effective way to connect with the right people at the right time.

Read more: Best small business ideas to get you started as an entrepreneur.

Top 10 Types Of Advertising Campaigns

Whatever your business type, chances are you will have an advertising strategy. The advertising landscape keeps changing, but some campaign types stand out for their versatility and impact. These include social media campaigns, search engine ads, email marketing, influencer partnerships, and content marketing.

Traditional routes like TV and radio ads, print advertising, and billboard campaigns still matter, especially for local reach. The best advertising techniques mix creativity with strategy, and choosing the right approach depends on your goals, target audience, and budget.

Here are 10 types of advertising campaigns businesses use to get results across different platforms and markets.

10. Radio Advertising

Despite the popularity of podcasts and streaming music, many people still listen to the radio. When you place a radio advertisement, you create a short audio message to play between songs or shows on radio stations.

Radio advertising uses voices, music, and sound effects to catch listeners’ attention without using visuals. Local businesses and national brands use radio ads because they can reach many different types of people and are usually reasonably priced.

When using radio advertising:

• Identify your target audience and determine which radio stations they might listen to. Although not strictly radio, podcast advertising is big business. Consider approaching podcasts that your customers might be interested in to reach more niche audiences.
• When creating your radio ad, keep it simple and memorable. To do this, use a distinctive voice, catchphrase, or catchy tune that people will come to recognize.
• Focus on just one aspect of your business rather than trying to cover everything too broadly. Repeat your business name several times so listeners remember it, and include a simple website or phone number that is easy to recall.
• For best results, run your radio or podcast ads regularly over a period of time. To check if your ads work, create a website link just for listeners to track traffic from the radio advertisement.

9. Direct Mail Advertising

Direct mail advertising involves sending marketing materials such as postcards, brochures, catalogs, or letters to people’s mailboxes.

Even in the digital world, receiving something real can get people’s attention and make you stand out in a way that emails or online ads sometimes can’t. After all, when was the last time you had anything interesting come by post?

The great thing about direct mail is that you can choose who receives your materials, whether it’s everyone in a specific neighborhood or past customers you’d like to win back. You can also easily track results by including special codes or offers that are only available through the mail piece.

To grab people’s attention, consider:

• Do you want to target past customers, certain neighborhoods, or individuals matching specific characteristics like age or interests?
• Design your mail to stand out visually using bright colors, simple shapes, and high-quality materials that feel special when handled. Include the recipient’s name whenever possible and tailor your offer based on what you know about them.
• To encourage prompt action, include a clear next step, like “Visit our store this weekend for 20% off. ” To connect your physical mail with your online presence, include a QR code so people can scan it with their phones to take them directly to your website.
• Before spending money on a large mail-out, do a test first by sending different designs or offers to smaller groups. Keep track of how many people respond and use this information to improve future mailings.

8. Outdoor Advertising

Outdoor or street advertising includes billboards, bus shelter ads, signs on buses and taxis, and digital screens in public places. It easily catches people’s attention as they spend their day outside their homes.

Unlike online ads that people can skip or ignore, outdoor ads become part of the environment and are seen repeatedly. The repetition helps people remember your business, even if they don’t recall seeing the ad.

Modern digital billboards can even change their message based on the time of day or weather, making outdoor advertising more flexible.

To reach your audience:

• Consider the best locations for your ads where potential customers will see them during their daily routines.
• Keep your design bold and simple since people usually only glance at outdoor ads briefly. Use large images, bright colors, and a few words (ideally seven or fewer). Your message should be readable from a distance and understandable at a glance.
• If you’re using digital outdoor displays, use their ability to show different messages at different times of day. If you have an online store, include simple ways for viewers to connect with your business, like a QR code. For local businesses, include clear directions or mention how close you are to local landmarks.

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7. Print Advertising

Print advertising involves placing ads in magazines, newspapers, and local directories. Even with the rise of digital media, many people still enjoy reading print media and spend more focused time reading them than they do online platforms.

Print ads often feel more trustworthy, especially in niche magazines where readers already care about the topic.

For example, a flower business would find an engaged audience in bridal magazines, while a B2B company might advertise in industry publications read by decision-makers.

To make print advertising work for you:

• Choose publications whose readers match your ideal customers. Most publications provide information about their readership’s age, income, interests, and other characteristics to help you decide if they’re a good fit.
• Design your ad to catch the reader’s eye with quality images and an attention-grabbing headline. Match your message to the publication’s specific audience; an ad in a parenting magazine should speak differently than one in a business journal.
• Place your advertising content near related businesses or in premium positions like inside covers, where more people will see it. Add QR codes or simple website addresses to encourage readers to connect with you online. Consider special formats, such as inserts or unusual paper, to make your ad stand out.
• Community newsletters and regional magazines often provide better value for local businesses than national publications. Keep track of responses using special offers or codes to see which publications bring you the most customers.

6. Native Advertising

Native advertising is content that looks and feels like regular material on a website, social media platform, or publication, but is a paid promotion.

The secret to native ads is that they blend in with their surroundings. They might be a sponsored article on a news website, a promoted product listing on a shopping site, or a recommended post in your social media feed.

People often find native ads less disruptive than traditional ads because they match what they engage with. While these ads tend to have the label “sponsored” or “promoted” to maintain transparency, they typically receive more attention than banner ads or pop-ups because they provide value through interesting or useful content.

For native advertising:

• Identify websites, publications, or platforms where your potential customers spend time. Work closely with these partners to understand what type of content their audience enjoys.
• Develop content focusing first on being helpful, interesting, or entertaining rather than only promoting your business. For example, if you have a photography business, create a sponsored article called “10 Easy Steps To Taking The Perfect Photograph.”
• Share any native content you create through your email or social media accounts, as this will help to extend its reach. Track how people engage with your content; how long they spend with it, whether they share it, or take action afterwards.
• Remember to identify sponsored content as advertising, as this will help to build and maintain trust.

5. Display Advertising

Display advertising refers to visual ads on websites, apps, and social media. Think of interactive, image, and banner ads designed to catch your eye while browsing online content. Modern display ads are much more targeted and relevant than the random pop-up ads of the early internet.

Today’s display advertising uses data about online behavior and interests to show ads to the people most likely to be interested in them. For instance, if you’ve been looking at hiking gear online, you might later see display ads for outdoor equipment stores.

When utilizing this type of advertising:

• Ask yourself if you are trying to build awareness for your brand, drive traffic to your website, or generate immediate sales.
• Define who you want to reach based on age, interests, and online behavior. Design several eye-catching ads in multiple sizes to fit different spaces on websites and apps.
• Use strong visuals, minimal text, and clear calls to action (CTAs) that tell people exactly what you want them to do next. “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Sign Up Today” are all good examples of CTAs.
• Create different versions depending on your goal and target different audiences to see what works best. Take advantage of targeting options to show your ads in their relevant contexts, such as on websites related to your business, to people who have shown interest in similar products, or to visitors who have been to your website but made no purchase.
• Set frequency caps to prevent the same ad from being shown to the same person too many times, which can create a negative impression. Regularly check performance data to see which ads and placements work best, and adjust your approach accordingly.

4. Paid Search Advertising

Paid search advertising means placing ads that appear when people search on Google or Bing for specific terms. These ads typically appear at the top of search engine results pages, marked as “sponsored” or “ad.”

Unlike most advertising that interrupts something else people are doing, search ads show up exactly when someone is actively looking for information related to your business.

Paid search advertising works on a pay-per-click model (PPC ads), which means you only pay when someone clicks on the ad, which takes them to your website.

This ad type work best when you:

• List the words and phrases people might type when looking for a similar business, like a beauty brand. Include terms related to your products, services, and the problems they solve. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to help identify popular search terms.
• Organize your keywords into closely related groups of 10-20 terms each, and create specific ads for each group. Write clear, compelling ad text that includes your keywords naturally, highlights what makes your business special, and encourages people to click.
• Make your ads more helpful and visible by adding extensions such as your phone number, location, or links to certain pages on your website.
• Create dedicated landing pages that directly address what your target customers are looking for and make it easy for them to take the next step. Set up tracking to measure clicks and actual results, such as inquiries, sign-ups, or purchases and adjust your strategy accordingly.

3. Video Advertising

Video advertising uses moving images, sound, and storytelling to promote brand awareness across platforms like YouTube, social media, streaming services, and websites. If you enjoy being on camera, becoming a YouTuber is one way to build trust, grow an audience, and promote your brabd.

Video ads vary in format depending on where they appear. Social media platforms favor short, attention-grabbing videos that work without sound. Streaming services usually show longer ads before, during, or after content, while interactive videos allow viewers to click for more information or purchase directly from the video.

To create effective video ads:

• Adapt your approach depending on the platform and viewing situations. Make short, eye-catching videos for social media feeds where attention spans are brief.
• For skippable ads on YouTube or streaming services, put your main message in the first five seconds before viewers can skip. Save longer, more detailed stories for platforms where viewers are already in a watching mindset.
• Capture attention quickly with strong visuals, emotional appeals, or surprising elements. Build brand awareness by including your logo early in the video ad and throughout so viewers remember who the ad is from, even if they are only half-watching it.
• Use targeting options to show your videos to specific groups based on their interests, demographics, or past behavior.
• Consider creating a series of related videos that guide viewers through the buying journey from awareness to consideration to purchase. Monitor your analytics to understand if people are engaging with your content and taking action.

2. Social Media Advertising

Today, a business is expected to have a social media presence and build a following through engaging social media posts. Social media advertising means placing paid content in people’s feeds on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

The power of this form of advertising lies in its precise targeting capabilities. It’s easy to create social media ads yourself without hiring advertising agencies. Even small businesses with a very limited ad spend can reach precisely the right people rather than paying for broad exposure to uninterested audiences.

Social media advertising also benefits from being seen on multiple devices. As most people now shop on their cell phones, it’s important to get your mobile advertising right.

Keep these points in mind:

• Mobile ads can look very different from desktop ads, so be aware of this when targeting digital advertising. Social media users scroll quickly, so your ad needs striking visuals, authentic messaging, and concise text that can capture attention in seconds.
• Use each platform’s unique formats, such as stories, carousels, collections, and polls, to create engaging experiences. Target existing customers, people who have visited your website, or “lookalike” audiences who resemble your current customers but haven’t discovered you yet.
• Make the most of user-generated content by asking your followers to post videos about your product for a reward. Regularly refresh your creative output to prevent “ad fatigue,” which occurs when people ignore ads they’ve seen too many times.
• Determine your customers’ specific demographics and where they hang out online. Social media advertising is particularly good for promoting small businesses.

1. Integrated Multi-Channel Advertising

Integrated multi-channel advertising means marketing across multiple platforms to create full advertising campaigns and a consistent customer experience. Rather than treating each advertising method as separate and unrelated, this approach recognizes that people move between different media outlets daily and respond accordingly.

For example, someone might first notice your billboard while driving, later see your social media ad while browsing their phone, find your website through paid advertising, and finally receive a personalized email convincing them to buy.

Integrated multi-channel works best when you:

• Research how your target audience typically discovers and researches businesses like yours. Do they begin with online searches, notice brands when shopping, or ask friends for recommendations?
• Map out their journey to identify where different advertising methods can influence their decisions. Develop a consistent look and message that adapts appropriately to each channel while maintaining recognizable elements like colors, slogans, and overall tone.
• Coordinate timing across channels to support each other. For instance, launch a radio campaign to create awareness, targeted ads to engage interested consumers, and paid search ads to capture those actively looking to buy.
• Develop systems to track how customers interact with your business across different touchpoints. This appraoch will help you understand which channels work best at different customer journey stages.

Find The Right Type Of Advertising For Your Brand

Not every type of advertising will suit every business, and that’s okay. The key is to match your brand advertising strategy to your business goals, audience, and personality. Traditional methods like print ads or local radio might work wonders if you’re a local business looking to attract nearby customers.

Digital ads, paid advertising, or mobile advertising can quickly get you in front of the right people. Start by asking, “Who do I want to reach, and where are they spending their time?” The right answer will help you pick the right platform.

If you feel uncomfortable doing your own advertising, there are different marketing and advertising companies that can help you build a campaign.

Summary

Traditional and digital advertising have a place in business today and provide multiple ways to advertise products and services.

No matter which types of advertising you choose, remember the basics: know who your customers are, create clear and compelling messages that explain why they should choose your business, maintain a consistent identity across all your advertising, and measure results to improve your approach continuously.

The right mix of strategy and execution will help your advertising do what it’s meant to—get real results.