Newspaper advertising is one of the most common ways to advertise in many countries. Often cheaper than broadcast advertising, it usually provides advantages of greater market share in many locations. Also, newspaper marketing does not depend on the target audience having a television or radio on at a certain time in order to receive the message of the advertisement.
Newspaper advertising comes in two major division: display or classified. Newspaper ads considered display ads are those that span multiple columns horizontally and often include graphics and borders. Classified newspaper advertising is in-column advertising that follows the natural flow of the column down the page vertically.
Classified advertising is usually the cheapest option for most people and appeals to those who are after a certain market. For example, those seeking to rent an apartment, find a job, or buy a pet typically may use classified ads to aid in their searching. Although not traditional to classified ads, many publications offer small graphics and borders with classified ads. Classified ads are usually found in a specific section.
Display ads are generally higher profile ads that take up, in many cases, significant portions of the page. Typically, display ads may take up an eighth, quarter, half or full page. In some cases, the ad may take up two facing pages, those these ads are rare in newspaper advertising simply because of the cost. Display ads may either be in color or black and white, with the color option costing more. Display ads can be found throughout the paper.
In many cases, newspapers offer services to advertisers to help them design effective display pieces. In all cases, the advertiser has the right to refuse or accept this service. In some cases, the newspaper may choose not to publish an ad that it deems offensive or libelous. However, newspapers must be careful when rejecting ads and often work with the advertiser to revise the ad so it is suitable for publication.
In a relatively new development, some newspapers offer a package of advertising that not only includes newspaper advertising but online advertising on the newspaper's Web site as well. This helps alleviate fears among some advertisers that their target audience may not be reading the newspaper, but simply going online. Most newspapers that have Web sites offer some sort of online advertising in addition to their newspaper advertising, though not all publications package the two together.
