Every week, Canadian business owners ask us the same question. Should they spend more on digital ads or focus on flyers instead. Both options have value, but the results between them are not equal.
Here at Flyer Canada, we run campaigns for businesses across every province. We see how well each channel performs. And after comparing thousands of digital and print campaigns, the pattern is clear.
Flyers consistently deliver stronger, more affordable results for local businesses.
Digital ads still have a place. But when it comes to reaching nearby homes, building trust, and driving real response, flyers continue to outperform. And in many cases, they outperform by a lot.
Our average flyer conversion rate is 4.4 percent. The industry benchmark for flyers is 1.41 percent. Digital ads often see a conversion rate of only 0.12 percent. Numbers like that change the conversation.
Digital platforms were not built for small neighborhood targeting. They are broad. Automated. Competitive. When you place an ad, you are bidding against national brands with massive budgets. That reality pushes costs higher every year.
We hear this from clients every day. Online ads get more expensive. Clicks get less reliable. Algorithms shift for no clear reason. A campaign that once produced strong leads suddenly slows down without warning.
Digital ads crowd screens. People scroll fast. Attention is short.
Flyers experience none of those limitations. They arrive physically. They arrive locally. And they arrive without competing for space on a busy screen.
For a deeper look at this difference, visit our comparison guide on Flyers vs Digital Ads: Which One Actually Delivers Better Results.
A flyer reaches people at home, where decisions happen. It lands on the kitchen table, the entryway shelf, or the fridge. It becomes a physical reminder that stays visible longer than any online ad.
People look at their mail. They check the items left in their lobby or mailbox. Flyers appear at a natural pause in their day. That creates a moment of focus that digital advertising rarely gets.
Relevance also plays a major role. Flyers let you target the exact homes where your most likely customers live. A cleaning company does not need city-wide visibility. It needs homes within a few kilometers. Same for gyms, restaurants, and service businesses.
This simplicity is why our campaigns help businesses cut customer acquisition costs by 51.8 percent on average.
If you want more insight into neighborhood-based targeting, you can read How to Choose the Right Neighbourhoods for Flyer Delivery in Canada.
Even with the rise of online advertising, people still engage deeply with physical items. A well-designed flyer feels trustworthy. It feels like a real invitation from a real business. That kind of connection does not happen often with online ads.
Flyers are not disruptive. They do not interrupt your scroll. They do not compete with dozens of posts or notifications. They arrive quietly, and people respond.
We design flyers to match the environment they land in. Clear headlines. One strong offer. Clean visuals. Direct calls to action.
These principles are outlined in our guide on How to Make Flyers Impossible to Ignore.
Flyer performance depends heavily on delivery. A great design still needs to land in the right place. That is why we map routes using local household data, proven response patterns, and years of delivery experience.
We plan drops carefully. We avoid oversaturation. We optimize based on neighborhood type. We track response with QR codes, promo codes, and unique landing pages.
This approach keeps campaigns strong week after week. It also shows businesses exactly how well their flyers perform.
You can learn how we maximize engagement in our post on How to Deliver Flyers That Actually Get Read.
Local customers want to know their neighborhood businesses. Flyers help build that relationship. They feel personal because they show up physically. They communicate care. They communicate presence. They communicate that your business is part of the community.
Digital ads feel distant. Flyers feel close.
This emotional factor, combined with strong targeting and timing, is why so many industries rely on print. Restaurants. Gyms. Medical offices. Contractors. Retail shops. Real estate teams.
All of them need local reach. Flyers make that reach efficient and predictable.
Our broader breakdown of local flyer success is available in Why Flyers Work for Canadian Entrepreneurs.
This comparison is not about choosing one channel and abandoning the other. The best results come from blending both.
Many of our clients use flyers to drive awareness and then use digital tools to convert. QR codes on flyers lead to booking pages. Promo codes track sales. Social media reinforces the same offer shown on print.
When you combine both channels, you get the impact of physical marketing with the convenience of digital.
This hybrid approach is covered in our post on 10 Flyer Marketing Strategies That Actually Work.
Local marketing is strongest when it is simple, focused, and direct. Flyers make that possible. They outperform digital ads in local response. They lower acquisition costs. They build trust. And they deliver predictable ROI for Canadian businesses.
Here at Flyer Canada, we have supported more than 10,000 businesses nationwide. We know how to reach the right homes, at the right time, with the right message.
With our 4.4 percent average conversion rate and proven cost efficiency, flyers remain one of the smartest advertising tools available today.
If you want to see what targeted flyer delivery can do for your business, reach out through our contact page, explore options in our store, or call 437-524-5287.
We are here to help you connect locally and grow confidently.