Over the next 12 months, Central Savannah River Area consumers are expected to spend $8.6 billion at retail.  To capture a larger share of this cash,  local small business owners should consider advertising.

The US Small Business Administration recommends that every SWFL small business advertise consistently.  “Think you have a great product?” asks the SBA. “Unfortunately, no one’s going to know about it unless you advertise.”  The SBA goes on to say, “Advertising, if done correctly, can do wonders for your product sales, and you know what that means: more revenue and more success for your business."

CSRA business owners have depended on Augusta radio to market their goods and services since June 25, 1930.  That's the day William Davenport and Clark Jack put WRDW, the first Augusta station, on the air.

Today, Augusta radio, by any key advertising metric, is still the best way for business owners to reach local consumers.

"Radio is a large part of our advertising, and it always has been," says Peter Alewine.  His family has owned and operates Pete Alewine Pools & Spas in the Central Savannah River Area since 1998.

"My father's goal, when he began the company out of our garage, was to build a few pools a year. He started with three employees, including me,  during my school vacations."

Today, the company has more than 100 employees working out of locations in Evans, GA; Aiken, SC; and Lexington, SC. In addition to building hundreds of pools per year, it has expanded into the sale of hot tubs, pool chemicals, deck furniture, and maintenance.

"Augusta radio is our dominant form of advertising," says Mr. Alewine who, is responsible for the company's marketing. "We are starting to add more online advertising to the mix as well, including social media and Google advertising. We have used a little bit of television, but it hasn't worked well for us."

It is not a gimmick. Many CSRA business owners qualify for free advertising on Augusta radio stations. They pay nothing out-of-pocket.  Zero. Zilch. Zip. Bupkis. Free.

Henry Ford understood that the continual investment in advertising was necessary for a business to be successful. “Stopping advertising to save money," he said, "is like stopping your watch to save time.”

Sometimes, though, when daily expenses challenge their cash flow, CSRA small business owners must prioritize spending. Many times, unfortunately, Mr. Ford’s advice is ignored and buying commercials on Augusta radio will move down the list behind making payroll, maintaining delivery vehicles, and replenishing stock. A lot of times, advertising doesn’t make a list at all.

Some CSRA business owners have discovered that their radio advertising doesn’t have to be sacrificed at all when belts need to be tightened. It turns out there’s a deep pool of “free money” that can be dipped into for the singular purpose of advertising. These funds are called cooperative funds, or co-op for short.