Press Advertising: Not Dead. Just Wearing New Glasses.
We know what you’re thinking.
“Press ads? Do people still read the paper? Isn’t that just for lost cats and angry letters to the editor?”
Well, surprise! Despite the digital takeover, press advertising is alive, well, and quietly getting results. In a world of pop-ups, pre-rolls, and pixels, sometimes there’s nothing more powerful than good old ink on paper—or its modern cousin, digital news media.
If you’re a brand that wants credibility, longevity, and audience trust, then press ads deserve a seat at your marketing table (right next to SEO and that social intern who’s always filming TikToks in your office plants).
📰 What Exactly Is Press Advertising?
In case it’s been a while since you picked up a newspaper that wasn’t used to wrap fish and chips:
Press advertising refers to placing adverts in:
- Local and national newspapers
- Lifestyle magazines
- Industry-specific journals
- Trade press
- Digital news platforms (think The Guardian Online, but also The Jersey Evening Post)
These ads can be anything from a single-column “sale on now!” notice to a double-page branded masterpiece that makes readers do a double-take over their Sunday coffee.
🧠 Why Should I Bother With Press Ads in 2025?
Great question. Here’s your answer:
1. 🧓 Trusted Medium, Familiar Format
People trust the press. It’s been around for centuries. Your ad placed next to thoughtful journalism gains instant credibility. (Even if it’s next to an article about squirrels stealing post.)
2. 🛑 Less Noise, More Attention
Unlike digital, where a thousand ads scream at once, press offers space to breathe. Your ad might be one of five on the page. You’ll get seen, not scrolled past.
3. 🗺️ Hyperlocal Reach
Want to reach residents of St Helier? Or local decision-makers in Jersey? Press lets you get hyper-specific, right down to postcode or publication niche.
4. 🧾 Tangibility = Memorability
There’s something about a physical object. People keep newspapers on tables, clip out articles, or dog-ear pages. Your ad lingers longer than a 3-second Story view.
🛠️ How Island Solutions Makes Press Work for You
Press advertising can be powerful. It can also be a pain in the print tray if you go it alone.
That’s where we come in.
✍️ 1. We Craft Killer Copy & Design
Your ad needs to do more than fill space. We write, design, and format creative that:
- Stands out, even in black and white
- Speaks clearly, no waffle
- Works within the ad dimensions, because yes, there are rules
And yes—we’re fluent in headline puns, tasteful fonts, and sneaky QR codes.
📍 2. We Place It Where It Counts
From The Times to The Little Parish Post, we know the press landscape and help you:
- Choose the right publication
- Find the right size and placement
- Ensure your ad runs on the perfect date (not the day after your sale ends)
Plus, we use our offshore charm to get great rates on media space. 😉
🔁 3. We Track, Optimise, and Repurpose
This isn’t a “print and pray” situation.
We help track results through:
- QR codes
- Custom URLs
- Unique phone numbers
- Customer surveys (“Where did you hear about us?”)
And we make sure that print ad also works for:
- Social media graphics
- Email campaigns
- In-store posters
One message. Many touchpoints. Genius.
🔍 Myth-Busting Time
❌ “Print is dead.”
Nope. It’s just… evolved. Many still read papers, especially local and professional audiences.
❌ “It’s too old-fashioned.”
Design something smart and it becomes timeless—not dated.
❌ “It’s not measurable.”
We use digital integrations to track effectiveness. You can measure ROI, even in print.
❌ “It’s too expensive.”
With offshore media buying and good planning? It’s often cheaper than digital ads—and it lasts longer.
🎯 Who Should Use Press Advertising?
Short answer: more people than you’d think.
- Estate agents listing luxury homes
- Event promoters selling tickets
- Financial advisors seeking high-net-worth clients
- Charities promoting awareness campaigns
- Local businesses running offers
- B2B brands targeting niche industries
If your audience is a reader, press works.
🧰 What Makes a Great Press Ad?
A few key ingredients:
✅ Strong Headline
Make it punchy. No one reads fine print if the headline is boring.
✅ Clear Call to Action
What do you want the reader to do? Visit? Call? Scan? Tell them. Don’t be shy.
✅ Consistent Branding
Use your fonts, colours, and voice. Look like you, even in print.
✅ Smart Placement
The best ad in the world won’t work if it’s hidden on page 92 under the horoscopes.
💡 Top Tip: Combine Print with Digital for Maximum Impact
Run a press ad on Monday. Retarget readers on Instagram on Tuesday. Send a cheeky email on Wednesday. It’s all part of the funnel, darling.
Press advertising should complement your online strategy, not compete with it.
🧑💼 Why Island Solutions?
- 💼 We know press. Digital, print, hybrid—you name it.
- 🏝️ We use offshore media buying to maximise your budget.
- 🎯 We plan, create, place, and track everything.
- 🧠 We’re creative and strategic (with a dash of humour).
- 🥸 We’ll never talk you into buying a full-page ad in Ferret Fancier Monthly… unless that’s your niche.
🛎️ Final Thoughts
Press advertising may not be the newest marketing tool on the shelf, but it’s one of the most reliable, respected, and underrated. With the right partner (ahem), it can deliver brand awareness, leads, and loyalty in a way digital alone just can’t.
So if you’re tired of the algorithmic arms race and ready to make your mark in print, we’re here with the paper, pens, and plenty of puns.
📬 Want to Get in the Papers (For All the Right Reasons)?
Let’s make it happen.
👉 Visit our Contact page
📧 Email us at info@islandsolutions.co.uk
Because when everyone else zigs online, you can zag—right into your customers’ hands.
