Advertising is More Than Slogans and Cute Jingles
By Carrie Cousins
Thank you to Valley Business FRONT for featuring our Vice President, Carrie Cousins, in their June 2025 issue.
I’ve loved advertising since I was a small child. The Saturday morning cartoon experience was must see TV thanks to commercials for Barbie, Lego, and Fruit Loops.
Bright colors that indulge your sense and creativity.
Fun jingles that stick in your head on repeat.
Slogans that you remember for a lifetime.
Now, I understand that’s only a small part of the picture. Advertising is a significant and vital part of the Virginia (and national) economy, that supports households (like mine) and supports jobs in other industries.
The Advertising Coalition releases national and state numbers on the impact of advertising each year and you may be surprised at the value behind the creative. The 2025 report showed that:
- Advertising helps support 754,847 jobs annually in Virginia
- Advertising helped support $143.5 billion in economic activity in Virginia in 2024
- Every 1 job in advertising supports 27 jobs across different industries in Virginia
- Nationally, every $1 spent on advertising returns about $20 in sales
It’s an element that touches almost every industry in some way, helping small businesses generate new foot traffic and customers to sustaining revenue for Fortune 500 brands.
Advertising is also ingrained in the U.S. Constitution through the First Amendment and helps consumers make educated choices before purchasing products or services.
But why is all this important today?
I was able to spend a day on Capitol Hill with the American Advertising Federation and other advertisers from around the country to share information about our industry with lawmakers. From people at Google and Meta to us here at LeadPoint Digital, the value of this industry was loud and clear – advertising is at the backbone of consumer need as well as an economic stimulator.
This industry is fueling jobs, spending, and is a central part of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (20% in 2024). It’s a necessary business expense … literally.
So, look at those ads.
Sing those jingles.
And use advertising to help you make everyday choices from which beverage you buy to picking out a new car.
Carrie Cousins is the Vice President at LeadPoint Digital in Roanoke. For 15+ years, she has helped businesses tell their stories and get better results online with practical digital marketing strategies. She is also an active leader in AAF, serving on the local and district boards, and is an adjunct professor at Virginia Tech.
