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How important is connecting with your community when advertising?

How important is connecting with your community when advertising?

Local advertising is the heartbeat of local businesses and getting it right can be a tremendous advantage. One of the best ways to achieve this is by actively engaging with your community across multiple channels, including print, digital, and leaflet distribution.

But how essential is it to connect with the local community? And how can you advertise in a way that feels genuine?

The value of community connection

In today’s digital age, connecting with audiences online is easier than ever. However, when it comes to reaching people where they live, work, and shop, nothing quite matches the impact of connecting locally through trusted community channels.

Local advertising through platforms like RH Uncovered – whether in the form of magazine ads, leaflet drops, or community-driven stories – enables businesses to build meaningful relationships within the communities they serve.

This approach benefits not only local businesses but also national brands looking to establish a trusted presence in new areas.

Case study: National brand success in the local community

For example, Pub in the Park, the UK’s largest food and music tour, chose RH Uncovered to help promote its first event in Reigate. By combining a cover story, email campaign, and door-to-door leaflet distribution, RH Uncovered connected Pub in the Park to over 132,000 households in Reigate and beyond, building excitement and driving high attendance for the event. Read more about how RH Uncovered helped Pub in the Park’s successful debut here.

For many businesses, especially those without the reach of a national brand, having a consistent presence in a local publication like RH Uncovered is invaluable for building brand recognition and trust.

When residents repeatedly see your brand featured month after month, it solidifies familiarity and establishes credibility. This regular exposure means that when they’re ready to make a purchase or need your services, your brand is top of mind.

Establishing yourself as a staple in a trusted community magazine like RH Uncovered can lead to long-term customer loyalty and a strong reputation within your local area.

Building brand recognition and trust locally

Every community has unique characteristics and needs. By becoming a familiar name, you’re positioning yourself as a reliable choice when locals are ready to make a purchase. Familiarity breeds trust, and that trust develops only through repeated, genuine interactions.

RH Uncovered offers advertisers the opportunity to establish this consistent presence with a trusted community magazine, as well as through digital channels and leafleting campaigns.

In fact, 86% of RH Uncovered’s customers rebook their advertising each month. This high rebooking rate highlights the effectiveness of maintaining consistent visibility, as businesses see measurable value in sustained campaigns. With repeated exposure over multiple issues, your brand builds deeper connections with the community, fostering trust and recognition that convert into long-term success.

Our research reveals that 91% of readers refer to their copy of RH Uncovered at least once a month, and 66% contact local advertisers, underscoring the impact of community-focused advertising.

The power of local print advertising

Local print advertising is just as powerful today as it ever was – perhaps even more so. With digital platforms being highly saturated, print stands out as a tangible, trusted medium.

In fact, 56% of UK consumers find print advertising the most trustworthy form of media. Print’s reliability, coupled with its high visibility, makes it a valuable part of a community-oriented marketing strategy.

At RH Uncovered, 60% of readers keep each issue for at least two weeks and often until the next edition arrives, allowing multiple exposures to your message. For businesses looking to maximise reach, there’s the option to run a coordinated leaflet distribution campaign alongside magazine advertising. This dual approach helps advertisers extend their message even further, reaching the community at multiple touchpoints.

For many small and medium-sized businesses, this consistent visibility is essential for building trust and familiarity. Our monthly magazine and digital channels complement each other, ensuring that your message is seen in the places that matter most – where your customers live, work, and interact within their local area.

Leveraging RH Uncovered’s local reach

At RH Uncovered, we’re not just a magazine; we’re a community hub dedicated to supporting businesses and residents alike.

By partnering with us, you benefit from our monthly distribution to over 154,000 households across Sussex and Surrey, along with our digital reach to more than 10,000 email subscribers. This broad yet targeted approach is difficult to accomplish through digital channels alone.

If you’re considering a local print campaign, we offer flexible options for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re interested in a full-page spread, leaflet drops, or multi-media campaigns, we can help you create a solution that aligns with your goals.

Additionally, a consistent campaign of six months or more allows for deeper community integration, enabling you to build a solid reputation and increase brand recall.

RH Uncovered was ideal as it essentially offered me a one-stop-shop to reach the entire geographic I needed with a multi-channel approach.

Tips for successful community advertising

To maximise your impact in the local community, here are some best practices for advertising with RH Uncovered:

  1. Craft a Clear Message: Ensure that your advert communicates a value proposition that resonates with your community.
  2. Use High-Quality Visuals: Invest in professional design and imagery to make your ad stand out. Our team can assist with this!
  3. Include a Call to Action: Encourage readers to take specific actions, whether it’s visiting your website, calling for an appointment, or exploring a special offer.
  4. Leverage Local Themes: Connect your message with local events, seasons, or community initiatives for greater relevance and trust.
  5. Track and Measure: Use unique phone numbers, promotional codes, or dedicated URLs to assess the effectiveness of your advertising.

 Want insights into how your marketing efforts are performing? Take our Marketing Health Check Quiz to see where you’re excelling and where there’s room for growth.

Ready to connect with your target community?

Advertising is more than just promoting a product – it’s about building a relationship with the people you serve. By becoming a familiar face in RH Uncovered’s magazine, leaflets, and digital channels, you’re positioning your business as a trusted part of the community that residents can turn to when they need your services.

Get in touch today to explore how RH Uncovered’s multi-channel approach can help your business make a lasting impact.

Sources: 1. Harvard Business Review 2. Statista, 2023

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