If Advertising Doesn’t Work… Then Why Is It Everywhere?

One of the most common objections we hear in media sales is: “Advertising doesn’t work.” It’s usually followed by something like, “I tried it once, didn’t see anything from it.”

But here’s the truth: advertising works. It works so well that entire industries, products, politicians, and household names have been built on it. If advertising didn’t work, Coca-Cola wouldn’t spend over $4 billion a year on it. McDonald’s wouldn’t run a commercial every five minutes. And there wouldn’t be a billboard on every highway, a sign in every storefront window, and a sponsored post in every social media scroll.

Last year - $11 BILLION was spent on terrestrial radio advertising in the United States. Not streaming, not Pandora or Spotify, but regular, on your dial, terrestrial radio. 

The real issue isn’t if advertising works. It’s how you use it.

Think about your everyday life. You drive past signs for stores, see restaurant specials in windows, hear local business ads on the radio, get postcards in the mail, and scroll past ads on your phone. Without even realizing it, you’re being influenced by hundreds of brand messages a day. You may think you aren't But you are. That catchy jingle you hum. The lunch special you decide to try. The car dealership that "just came to mind.” That’s advertising working—quietly, consistently, and effectively. 

But here’s the key: the businesses you remember didn’t just run one ad and hope it stuck. They built a presence. They stayed consistent. They showed up again and again—on the radio, on the billboard, in the paper, online—until they became familiar and trusted. We didn't say it would be cheap. But you get what you pay for. Dipping your toe in advertising does not work - that we can say with confidence. 

At Peterson Media Group, we help businesses become that presence. We don’t sell one-off ads and walk away—we build campaigns that put your business in front of the right people, over and over, across four radio stations and strong digital platforms in Coffee, Bedford, Franklin, and Moore Counties. We can help you build your websites, your Google presence and even your social media presence. 

So next time someone says “advertising doesn’t work,” take a look around.

Because if advertising truly didn’t work... nobody would be doing it.

Let’s talk about how to make it work for you.

Contact us today at office@petersonmediagroup.net or 931-393-3500 and let’s build your presence together.