When people think of radio advertising they usually picture one thing: a 30-second ad in a break between songs. That’s still the backbone of most campaigns, but it’s not the only way to get your business on air.
Here are the types of radio advertising we offer on Chilli FM, what each one is good for, and how businesses on the Costa del Sol tend to combine them.
Classic radio spots
A short, produced ad that plays in our regular ad breaks throughout the day. It’s the format most people know, and for good reason. Played often enough, a spot is what turns your business name into one people recognise.
Spots are good for:
- getting your name known
- special offers and seasonal pushes
- events, openings and anything with a date on it
There’s more than one way to make a spot. A straight read is one clear voice telling people who you are, what you offer and how to find you. A conversation uses two voices, maybe a customer and a friend, so the message feels like a recommendation. A funny spot takes more work to get right, but people remember an ad that made them smile, and they repeat it to others.
Whatever the style, the spots that work best on the coast keep to a few rules. Say one thing, not five. Say your name more than once. Make it easy to find you: a simple web address, a town, a landmark people know. And sound like your business. A beach bar and a law firm shouldn’t sound the same.
You can supply your own ad or we can write and produce it for you. Production is priced separately from the airtime.
Show sponsorship
Chilli FM is mainly music, so instead of long chats our shows carry sponsorship in a few set places: the show’s intro and outro, and the top of the hour. Your business is named as the sponsor, every time, in the same moments listeners already hear each day.
It feels less like advertising, because you’re presenting the show rather than interrupting it. Over weeks and months, people start to link your name with something they enjoy. Our morning show, for example, carries a sponsor this way.
Sponsorship suits businesses that want a steady, long-term presence more than a quick push.
The Chilli Chair
A short interview on air where you tell your story in your own words. No script, no hard sell, just a relaxed chat with our host (and sometimes his dog Milo). It’s the most personal format we have, and it’s great for businesses where the people behind it are part of the appeal. Read more about the Chilli Chair.
Spotlight
Not on air, but on our website: a permanent page about your business, with photos, contact details and why we recommend you. It keeps working long after an ad has played, and it helps people who search for businesses like yours find you. Have a look at our Spotlight page to see some.
Website banners
Banners on the Chilli FM website, where people come to see what’s playing, check the schedule and read about the coast. They work well next to a radio campaign: listeners hear your name on air and then see it when they visit the site.
Which one is right for you?
Most of the businesses we work with use two or three of these together. A common mix is spots to build your name, with a Chilli Chair interview or a Spotlight page to tell the fuller story. A restaurant launching a new menu might want a short burst of spots. A local service building trust over the year might prefer a sponsorship.
If you’re not sure, that’s fine, it’s exactly what we help with. Tell us about your business on our advertising page and we’ll suggest the formats that fit, with a quote. If you want to know what affects the price first, read what decides the cost of radio advertising.
