Over the years, we’ve worked with hundreds of local businesses to help them run campaigns that genuinely deliver.

Lately, we’ve noticed a shift in how people respond to advertising, with more attention now split between digital platforms and traditional print. It’s no longer about choosing one or the other; it’s about showing up in both spaces. The businesses that really stick in people’s minds tend to be the ones that do just that—by keeping their name out there across multiple channels.

Here are a couple of examples from recent campaigns that show what this looks like in practice.

Wafflicious — Growing a Brand with Personality #

Wafflicious was a new business starting on Weymouth seafront. With lots of competition from nearby ice cream shops and desserts, Wafflicious approached us to help them with a successful advertising campaign.

They ran a mix of bright, eye-catching ads in Wonderful Weymouth magazine alongside regular competitions and content on social media. Because they were already good at showing off their customer experience online, the print ads worked as an extra layer of visibility, helping them reach new audiences who might not follow them yet.

Within months, they’d built a strong local following and even picked up a national award: Best Dessert Business in England 2023.

“Placing advertisements and running competitions with Modern Magazines has helped Wafflicious grow quickly within the dessert industry.”

Work Smart Roofing — Keeping It Simple (and Effective) #

Work Smart Roofing came to us looking to increase bookings for the season. They placed a clear, well-designed quarter-page ad in one of our local property magazines and paired it with a social media post offering a free roof inspection.

The result was a surge in enquiries—more than double what they had been seeing. Within days, they had booked out several weeks of appointments. The value of the campaign far exceeded the cost of the advert, and the strategy proved both simple and effective.

By aligning print and digital, they reached more people in a short space of time and saw measurable results.

What We’ve Learned #

These success stories show examples of how thoughtful, well-placed advertising can have a real impact. Whether it’s a small business just starting out, or an established one looking to grow, the key is usually the same:

Be clear. Be consistent. And meet your audience where they are—in print and online.