According to a new Ad-ology Research study, more than 48% of U.S. adults believe that a lack of advertising by a retail store, bank or auto dealership during a recession indicates the business must be struggling.
Conversely, a vast majority perceives businesses that continue to advertise as being competitive or committed to doing business.
Ranking low in the key findings, the word "radio," (".. TV, newspaper, direct mail, and Internet top local media from which consumers saw/heard an ad within the last 30 days that led them to take action.."
Is it that these respondents simply don't realize at the
conscious level that radio's ads impact them? Or, do they want our ads and offers to be more easily searchable online and on mobile devices? I'd bet it's both of the above.
Meanwhile...* 40% of consumers use coupons more now than a year ago
* Most consumers are as willing or more willing to pay more for ‘healthy' or ‘organic' products than they were a year ago
* A ‘deeply discounted price' was the number-one factor that would make consumers more likely to purchase a big-ticket item (+$1,000)
* Store Web sites ranked second only to search engines as the way consumers research products and shop onlineI didn't like that they seem to have short-changed radio's ability to influence, but do love this conclusion of the study, as C. Lee Smith, president and CEO of Ad-
ology Research, says
"It is critical to advertise in the current economic climate, to maintain long-term positive consumer perception of your brand... advertising... assures consumers of a business' reliability... "
The good news is: a) we're not alone and b) though the first half of 2009 has drops in ad spending across all media—even online— advertisers are more optimistic about the latter part of the year, according to JPMorgan. 
