WJBD RADIO HELPS LOCAL BUSINESS ON-AIR AND ONLINE

WJBD Radio

618-548-2000

310 W. McMackin St., Salem, IL

Local News | South Central Illinois' News, Sports and Weather Station

Whether on a broadcast, on their high-traffic website or through their Facebook page, WJBD Radio is dedicated to helping grow the local business community.

“I always say that radio and digital fit together in an amazing fashion,” said owner Bruce Kropp. “Radio is able to create top-of-mind awareness, whether [the listener] is looking for [a product or service provided by the promoted business] now, or if they need something later and it helps that business stand out.”

“The digital part adds to that,” Kropp continued. “Once that awareness is created, and they are looking at the news on the website, all of a sudden, the ad pops up there and you get the chance to click on the ad and go to their website or Facebook page for more information. I really like doing the combo of radio and the internet, because I think there’s a good correlation there.”

Kropp said his advertising method also helps businesses utilizing Facebook, as it oftentimes helps them cast a larger net than the social media platform’s algorithm allows.

“Even though you may have a lot of followers, Facebook is only going to distribute it to a very small percentage of people,” Kropp explained. “We are drawing people to their Facebook page to get more details, where they not end up necessarily, because even though the ad has been placed there, it’s not going out to all of their followers.”

“If a business puts their flyer on our Facebook page, they can then use the radio to promote some of their top deals for the week.”

Kropp, who served as WJBD Radio’s manager, lead reporter and radio host for 43 years, purchased the business in 2024.

Whilst celebrating his first year as owner of the popular station, Kropp said he looks to continue expanding and exploring new ways to share and report news.

“My goal is to provide an information source for the community on a daily basis and also an avenue for businesses to be able to get the word out about what they’re doing,” Kropp said. “We’re going to do some more video, and we’ll be streaming here shortly. The goal is to keep adding things and doing some more unique things that most small-town stations don’t do.”