What is an Ad? Definition, Type, Function, and Media Used

The term advertising may already be familiar to the general public. Advertisements often appear in various media, be it television, radio, newspapers, magazines, online media, road billboards.

What is an Ad?

The definition of advertising is a message whose purpose is to present products to the public on certain media platforms. Advertising is an important tool in the marketing process. In practice, advertising becomes part of the marketing promotion.

As the era progresses in a more digital direction, there has been a change in the form of a more varied advertisement. For example, you can find various advertisements on social media or on billboards that create advertisements. All of these have an objective goal, namely how the public/audience becomes aware of the ad and is interested in buying the product offered.

In addition to advertising, there is the promotion process, which refers to the costs that must be allocated to sponsors in the form of ideas and products to promote goals. Advertisements must be persuasive so that people are interested in buying the products offered in various ways.

Supriyanto, in his book Making Profits from Printing Banners, says that advertising is the promotion of goods, services, businesses and ideas for which sponsors must pay a certain amount. Who is the sponsor? Sponsors are specific companies that become customers.

Ad Type

Advertisements can be divided into two types, namely commercial advertisements and non-commercial advertisements.

1. Commercial Advertising

The purpose of this type of advertising is to target people who are looking to buy or use the advertised service.

2. Non-Commercial Advertising

This advertisement is aimed at the public to provide information, education, appeals and socialization of the program.

Meanwhile advertisements are also divided according to media into print advertisements and electronic advertisements.

1. Print Media Advertising

This advertisement is in print form. This type of advertisement is often found in newspapers, magazines, posters, billboards, stickers, etc.

2. Electronic Media Advertising

This ad uses electronic media such as television, radio or social media for marketing. In addition, ads can be print ads, column ads, column ads, and display ads.

Advertising Function

From the several points above it can be concluded that the meaning of advertising is always related to the promotion of a product (goods and services) to the public. But what is the objective function of heavily promoted advertising?

• Provide information to target consumers

• Encouraging people to buy the products offered

• Maintain consumer memory and remember certain products

• Bringing value to the products being marketed

• Become a vehicle of assistance than other company efforts

Media for Promoting Ads

Media is an important element in advertising. Why? Because the media is a vehicle for promoting and marketing a product or social campaign. Here are four advertising media:

• Print media, such as newspapers and magazines

• Electronic media, such as radio and television

• Interactive media, such as the internet with a social media platform

• Alternative media, such as advertisements on videos, advertisements on traffic signs, and advertisements in other public places

In short, advertising is a medium used to promote products, services or target the general public.