How Rural Consumers’ Values
Differ from Urban Consumers
The first step in engaging Rural Consumers is to acknowledge that their needs are not typically the same as general-market consumers. The divide is felt more distinctly in rural areas, where consumers feel more separated and less understood, particularly by marketers.
Nearly 70% of rural Americans believe their values are different than urban Americans, a distinction marketers should factor in when building a marketing strategy to reach this valuable audience.
Source: The Washington Post1
Source: Pew Research Center
They Respond to Media Differently
Understanding that advertising strategies which drive results for urban consumers may fail to engage consumers in small towns and rural communities is crucial to success in these markets. Brands who focus on digital advertising strategies need to understand the difference in media access and shopping behavior in order to compete.
- Rural Consumers are less digitally driven; they are active online 11% less often than urban residents on a daily basis.
- Despite a 9% increase in home broadband adoption since 2016, rural residents are still less likely than those living in suburban areas to report having home broadband. 2
Rural Consumers are less likely to use digital coupons because they still prefer traditional print options, and because coupon sites like Groupon and Living Social are targeted to large metro areas and not as relevant for rural residents.
The Opportunity to Grow Your Market Share in Rural America
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Economic Fluctuations Impact Rural Consumers Differently
Consumers in small and rural markets are impacted by inflation 9% more than their urban counterparts, which affects their spending and shopping behavior.
Rural Consumers are 5% more likely than urban consumers to decrease their overall spending as prices rise.
These small-market consumers are more price and budget conscious and hungry for deals and value, making them 21% more likely to use more coupons than urban consumers.3
Mspark delivers value to the Rural Consumers most likely to become your best customers.
If this audience is important to your business, we can help you reach them. Mspark specializes in driving brand growth and customer engagement strategies for national and local advertisers in these important markets.
Reach Rural Consumers
Sources: The Washington Post1; Some digital divides between rural, urban, suburban America persist | Pew Research Center 2; Prosper Insights & Analytics 3
