As part of our second-year push to grow Athena Magazine and get it in front of more eyes, we’ve launched a brand awareness campaign with a twist. This time, we’re taking to the streets!

You may have already seen our new ads popping up on digital billboards in Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay, and Newton Abbot. That’s right – we’re experimenting with outdoor advertising, putting Athena in the wild and letting the world know what we’re all about. We’re committed to getting our magazine out there and reaching more women in business, and this campaign is just the start.

Why Billboards?

As we dive into our second year of publishing Athena Magazine, we’re all about experimenting with new ways to boost brand visibility and get our magazine into the hands of more women across Devon. Our goal is to reach female entrepreneurs, business owners, and those looking to grow their professional lives, whether that’s through the content in Athena or the local businesses we showcase.

We’re also excited because this campaign will help promote the fantastic businesses that advertise with us! When we shine a spotlight on Athena, we shine a spotlight on our own advertisers. It’s a win-win!

First Trial Campaign: Collecting Data and Learning As We Go

This campaign is our first real foray into outdoor advertising, and we’re treating it as a trial run. We’ve placed ads on digital boards in Exeter and Plymouth, and although we had some ads running in Torbay, we’ve had to pause those temporarily due to space availability. We’re learning as we go, collecting data, and fine-tuning our approach based on the results.

And guess what? We’ve already seen a spike in website traffic since the ads went live (yay!). That’s a clear sign that people are noticing us and taking action, which is exactly what we were hoping for.

Our Vision: Reaching More Women in Business

Why are we so focused on brand awareness? It’s simple. Athena Magazine was created to support women in business, and we want as many women as possible to know about us. Devon has a high rate of self-employment, especially among women, with a large concentration of female entrepreneurs in fields like caring, leisure, and service occupations. As a magazine dedicated to helping women grow both personally and professionally, Athena is the perfect resource for women looking to connect, learn, and succeed.

While we don’t have an exact number for self-employed women in Devon, we do know that the county has a much higher-than-average rate of self-employment, and a notable proportion of those are women. According to recent stats, the number of self-employed women increased by around 100,000 in the decade leading up to late 2024, while male self-employment actually dropped. This is a market we’re eager to reach, and the billboards are just one way we’re doing that.

The Big Push: Our Second Year of Growth

Now that we’ve got the hang of publishing Athena Magazine, our second year is all about growth. This is the time for us to expand our reach across Devon, particularly to female entrepreneurs who may not yet know about us. With our budget in place, we’re pushing forward with advertising to get Athena seen by more women in business.

This campaign is just the beginning. We’ve got more plans in the works, and we’ll be sharing more as things unfold. From more billboard ads to other exciting ways of reaching new audiences, we’re not stopping here. There’s so much more to come, and we can’t wait to bring you along for the journey.

Help Us Spread the Word!

If you spot one of our billboards in the wild, we’d love to see your pics! Share them with us on social media or send them our way (nothing makes us happier than seeing Athena out and about). We’re so proud of what we’ve built and having you all help us spread the word makes it even more exciting.

Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support! We can’t wait to see where this journey takes us, and we’re so glad to have you with us as we take Athena to new heights.