It’s no secret that the rise of the internet and digital platforms has transformed the way businesses advertise. In fact, digital advertising spending in the U.S. is projected to reach over $455.90 billion in 2025, surpassing traditional media for the first time in history.

As consumers increasingly spend more time online, advertisers have quickly adapted to meet them where they are. In this blog, we’ll discuss which form of advertising is most commonly used today, and why businesses continue to rely on multiple methods to get their message out.

What Is Advertising Important?

Before diving into the specifics let’s talk about why advertising matters in the first place. We all know the purpose of advertising for all businesses. As we all know, advertising is essential for businesses because it helps to:

• Increase Brand Awareness: People need to know about your product or service before they can consider buying it
• Drive Sales: Advertising communicates a brand’s message and prompts consumers to take action, whether that’s making a purchase or visiting a website
• Foster Customer Loyalty: Consistent and engaging advertising helps businesses stay top-of-mind with their audiences

Different Forms of Advertising

Understanding which advertising methods are the most commonly used will help companies make more informed decisions about where to allocate their marketing budgets.

To start, there are two main categories of advertising: traditional advertising and digital advertising. Let’s break down each one.

Traditional Advertising

• TV Advertising: Once the king of advertising, TV ads still have a large reach. Advertisers can use TV to reach a broad audience, making it particularly valuable for brand-building. However, the increasing use of streaming services and the ability to skip ads has made TV less common for specific targeting.
• Print Media: Newspapers, magazines, and other print publications have been staples of advertising for centuries. While these mediums have seen a decline due to the rise of digital platforms, they are still a go-to option for local businesses or products that benefit from high-quality, visual marketing.
• Radio: Radio advertising continues to have a solid presence, particularly in local markets. It’s an effective way to reach commuters and specific demographic groups. However, streaming platforms like Spotify and podcasts are slowly taking some of its market share.
• Outdoor/Out-of-Home (OOH) Ads: Billboards, transit ads, and digital screens in high-traffic areas remain a common and effective way for businesses to capture attention in public spaces.

Digital Advertising

• Social Media Advertising: Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have become some of the most popular advertising venues today. Their ability to target specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and behaviors makes them incredibly powerful. Whether through sponsored posts, influencer marketing, or video ads, social media is a dominant force in the advertising world.
• Search Engine Advertising: Platforms like Google Ads have transformed the way businesses advertise. Search engine marketing is incredibly common because it reaches people at the exact moment they are searching for products or services, making it highly effective.
• Display Ads: Banner ads, pop-ups, and retargeting efforts are visible across websites, offering businesses the chance to grab attention and drive traffic. These ads may be less direct than search ads, but they are still widely used.
• Email Marketing: Email remains one of the most cost-effective forms of direct marketing. Brands send personalised messages, offers, and updates to customers, keeping them engaged and fostering loyalty.
• Programmatic Advertising: This is a more automated form of advertising that uses data to purchase digital ads in real-time. It’s growing fast, but still considered more niche compared to other digital advertising methods.

Which Form of Advertising Is the Most Common?

With so many options available, it is hard to pinpoint which form of advertising is most commonly used. But after considering the different forms, digital advertising is the clear leader in terms of common usage. 

The shift from traditional to digital advertising has been dramatic, and it’s easy to see why digital advertising now dominates. Here’s why:

• Widespread Reach: Billions of people use the internet and social media, making digital ads incredibly accessible.
• Affordability: Digital ads are cost-effective for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large corporations.
• Targeting: Digital platforms allow for highly targeted ads based on user data, ensuring ads reach the right audience.

While digital advertising has claimed the top spot in terms of commonality, traditional advertising methods—such as TV, radio, and print ads—remain highly relevant, especially in certain industries and markets.

For example, smaller businesses, particularly in specific regions, often use these mediums to connect with consumers in their geographic area. Local newspapers, community radio stations, and regional TV channels remain essential tools for businesses that depend on local visibility.

Conclusion

It’s clear that digital advertising is currently leading as the most common form of advertising today. With the large reach of social media platforms, search engines, and other online platforms, there is no wonder why digital ads dominate the advertising landscape.

That said, traditional forms of advertising, such as TV, radio, and outdoor ads, still hold significant relevance in specific markets. These methods remain common, especially for businesses targeting broad, diverse audiences or looking to reach people in specific local areas.

Despite this, the ‘best’ form of advertising today is still a combination of both traditional and digital strategies. Businesses need to be agile, adapting their advertising mix based on their target audience, goals, and available resources.