The advantages of magazine advertising can be broken down into categories such as audience targeting and longevity of the ad. Since magazines tend to have very specific audiences that read them, it is much easier to concentrate on a particular market segment with these publications than with newspapers or other print media. It is possible to find magazines that cater to specific age and income demographics in addition to various niche interests. These advertisements tend to last longer than newspaper ads as well, since people often keep magazines for weeks or months instead of days. Other advantages of magazine advertising include the fact that the physical quality of the ads also tends to be higher than can be found in other print media.
Audience targeting is one of the main advantages of magazine advertising because certain groups of people are often more likely than others to be interested in a particular good or service. If this target audience is known, magazine advertising can provide the best way to reach them. Each magazine has a particular demographic and interest that it serves, so it is often possible to find a publication that has a readership which closely matches the potential customers of any given business. This type of targeted marketing can result in a much higher return on investment than other forms of advertising.
Due to the fact that many magazines are read by niche enthusiasts, there is often a high level of reader involvement. Readers may be inclined to support the magazine by patronizing sponsors, especially if the advertisements are relevant to the subject matter. Since the reader is likely to be highly engaged with the subject matter, relevant ads are also much more likely to be of interest.
Magazine advertisements also tend to have a much longer shelf live than other print ads. Newspapers are often recycled on a daily basis, while people often hold on to magazines for weeks or months. The chances of any given ad being seen and remembered can rise because a person spends more time reading through a magazine. It is also possible for magazines to be shared between friends or colleagues if they contain interesting articles, which can further increase the viability of an ad.
Another one of the advantages of magazine advertising is the physical quality of the ads. The paper and ink quality found in magazines is typically very high when compared to other print media, such as newspapers. Magazine ads are often full color, which can improve the aesthetic qualities of an advertisement and even place a product or service in a better light.