How to Measure OOH Advertising

Advertising surrounds us everywhere we go, whether it’s in our homes, cars, or even outdoors. With the advancement of technology, advertising has become even more effective, as it is easier to measure the results. We can collect data on the number of viewers, impressions, clicks, and so on. However, how do we measure outdoor advertising, such as billboards? Out-of-home advertising has survived centuries of advertising methods and is still evolving. In this article, we will explain how to measure OOH advertising and why it is worth investing in it.

how to measure OOH advertising

What is Out-of-Home Advertising?

Out-of-home (OOH) advertising refers to any advertising that people come across while they are outside of their homes. It includes advertisements on billboards, in transit stations, on public transport, and at other outdoor locations. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, OOH advertising is a form of advertising that people see or hear while they are out and about. It is worth noting that this form of advertising is a significant contributor to the advertising industry, with approximately 29 billion dollars being spent on out-of-home advertising each year.

Types of Out-of-Home Advertising

The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) has identified several types of outdoor advertising. This category is quite broad and encompasses numerous types of advertisements. There are many excellent examples of OOH advertising from around the world. As a result, it is easier to divide OOH advertising into four primary categories:

  • Billboard-Type Advertising
  • Street Furniture
  • Transit
  • Place-Based OOH

These advertising methods are widely used by businesses to reach out to their target audience and enhance their brand visibility.

Why Use It?

Almost everyone encounters out-of-home advertising, whether it’s during their commute, while running, or shopping for groceries. According to the OAAA, individuals spend around seventy percent of their day outside of their homes, which makes them highly susceptible to outdoor advertising during a significant portion of their day.

According to a study conducted in 1975 by the Institute of Outdoor Advertising, which was later changed to the OAAA, the name recognition of the current Miss America increased by an astounding 940 percent when it was advertised on a billboard. This demonstrates the significant impact that out-of-home advertising can have on the average consumer. Billboards currently dominate the landscape of outdoor advertising, accounting for approximately 65 percent of all examples.

Another important facet is that out-of-home advertising has the advantage of holding a captive audience, since unlike many digital ads, billboards and other outdoor ads cannot be closed.

Measuring the Effectiveness of OOH Advertising

Measuring the effectiveness of out-of-home (OOH) advertising has been a difficult task for many years, just like with other types of advertisements. Nonetheless, several techniques have been devised by companies to assess the success of outdoor advertising, demonstrating that it is a highly effective way to promote their business.

Traffic Data

Out-of-home advertising is typically placed in areas with high traffic, which guarantees a large audience for any advertisement. According to the American Driving Survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the average American driver spends approximately fifty minutes behind the wheel each day. The survey also revealed that drivers collectively traveled over 2.6 trillion miles in 2016 and 2017, with these numbers representing an increase from previous years. This suggests that more people are driving longer distances, indicating that out-of-home advertising will only become more prevalent over time.

In 2009, the Arbitron National In-Car Study found that 98 percent of U.S. residents aged 18 or older traveled in a car over the previous month. It was also found that 71 percent of drivers looked at billboards they passed along the road. This shows that an enormous amount of eyes glance over billboards each day. Another finding was that viewers retained the information from billboards, including going to a restaurant or watching a show because of one.

Return On Investment

Another way businesses are measuring the effectiveness of billboards is by checking the Return On Investment (ROI). ROI is defined as a performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment. The research found that for every dollar spent on billboard advertising, nearly six dollars were generated in profit.

Giant companies like Amazon and McDonald’s have found that an overall increase in sales often follows advertising through billboards in a particular region. A company in Phoenix, AZ found that after campaigning using billboards, 64 percent of consumers reported learning of them through their OOH advertising, leading them to keep investing in outdoor marketing.

Unique Advertisements

Companies have also started to use specific phone numbers, QR codes, and custom landing pages to evaluate how well their advertising is working. By placing a phone number only found on the out-of-home advertisement, a business can gauge exactly how many people have found them because of that exact ad.

The same can also be done with a unique QR code and digital tracking. A custom landing page for a company website found only on an outdoor advertisement also helps a company calculate an ad’s performance. Another example of this is displaying a distinct slogan only found on an out-of-home advertisement and analyzing how often those words pop up in a company’s analytics.

Case Studies

Over the years, many case studies have been conducted to show that out-of-home advertising is a viable way to grow a business and increase sales. In 2019, the Nielsen Out of Home Advertising Study found that 33 percent of their interviewees looked up a website because of an out-of-home advertisement. It was also found that close to a quarter of the interviewees talked about an advertisement that they had seen away from home with a friend.

At bMedia, we understand that measuring the success of OOH advertising campaigns can be complex. However, we are confident in our ability to demonstrate the lasting impact of our campaigns on the marketing industry. Let us show you tangible results that speak to our expertise and enthusiasm for this field.

what is OOH advertising

OOH Advertising Trends

Today, virtually any outside space can be transformed into some sort of OOH advertisement.

There are new forms of media emerging all around us, such as car wraps, murals, art installations, and digital signage. Out-of-home advertising no longer ends with static billboards and transit posters. Thanks to the digital shift, it has become incredibly innovative. Digital billboards, street furniture, light shows, and transit signage are now lighting up metropolitan areas all around the world.

Digital signage offers more flexibility than traditional static billboards. It can display moving images and interactive content, which is great for catching the attention of passerby-ers and making a greater impact. Additionally, digital signage allows for multiple ads to be displayed on the same medium, with some ads programmed to change at specific time intervals. This variety keeps viewers engaged and receptive to your ad’s message.

Geotargeting and Mobile Integration

Mobile integration paired with an out-of-home advertisement is known to bring impressive results for any business strategy. Billboards are now using geotargeting technologies that allow companies to generate data that points them to the right demographic, the right location, and the right times to display their advertisement. By targeting the right audience, there is a better chance of a conversion.

Geotargeting delivers content and advertisements to consumers based on their geographic locations. This could include geographical proximity to a mobile billboard or proximity to a store, and etc.

Analytics and data surrounding your marketing campaign ensure adequate media planning. Another benefit to geo-targeted ads is that it allows companies to track and monitor their campaign’s performance.

Interactive Brand Communication

Interactive advertising can be experienced through store displays, kiosks, and digital signage everywhere. It encourages consumer participation, allowing them to provide feedback and become part of your ad’s dialogue.

Because these types of out-of-home advertisements are incredibly innovative, consumers are excited to engage with the ad, increasing their conversion and ROIs. These types of advertisements are eye-catching and can become an experience in itself for the consumer.

Through the use of hashtags and interactive games, the consumer becomes involved in the ad, making the branding process more compelling and effective.

Brand Storytelling

Storytelling is a way for brands to create a human connection with their audience. An advertising campaign with a capturing narrative can impact the subconscious, ultimately creating a relationship between the brand and consumer. A consumer-brand relationship is important because you want to have dedicated consumers who’ll remain loyal to your product or service.

When storytelling with OOH ads, brands can design billboards or digital displays that tell only a part of the story, leaving consumers wanting and waiting around for the next saga of your campaign. This creates excitement and hype around your campaign, which later translates into increased ROI and brand awareness.

Increased Budget and Investment for OOH Advertising

The arrival of smartphones saw companies turn more to mobile and web advertising, thinking out-of-home advertising was a thing of the past when in fact, OOH advertising has seen steady growth since 2012.

Many companies are catching on to the reliability and growth that OOH ads can bring and are increasing their budgets for this form of advertising. Out-of-home advertising represents a large portion of advertising spending. In 2017, OOH advertisements represented $29 billion across key markets globally — some of the companies spending the most on OOH advertisements include Apple, Google, and Amazon.

Additionally, major companies such as Netflix and Alibaba are investing big in outdoor ad companies as out-of-home advertising formats are becoming increasingly valuable forms of commercial real estate.

SMART Advertising

Consumers are becoming more and more tech-savvy every day, resulting in more of us relying on our smart devices more and more. There are smartphones, smart TVs, smartwatches, and beyond. It’s no question that almost every technological device is transitioning to SMART technology, and it’s the same for billboards and other outdoor signage.

We are now seeing the integration of billboards and SMART technology, known as SMART billboards, which can further increase the visibility of your brand.

Some features of SMART billboards are:

  • Built-in cameras and computer databases.
  • Analytical tools that can pull information from databases and social media to change visuals on the billboard in real-time.
  • Using social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to provide relevant content that engages the consumer.
  • Providing live updates on weather and traffic.
  • Built-in sensors to trigger ads.
  • Personalized content based on consumers’ reactions and activities.
  • High-tech LED lights and sound systems.

The steady growth of out-of-home advertising is driven by its adaptability to change and global digitalization. This dynamic advertising strategy demonstrates that “traditional” advertising methods are still relevant in today’s market. If you want to maximize your marketing strategy, it’s wise to include billboards and other forms of out-of-home advertising.

OOH advertising trends

OOH Advertising Examples

A key innovation in the OOH advertising space has been digital OOH advertising. While there are many digital billboards that could be considered effective OOH advertising examples, the best comes out of New York City. Times Square is saturated with digital billboards that play video advertisements nonstop. Digital OOH ads manage to combine the bright colors, movement, and sound of ads like TV commercials with the size and unblockability of traditional OOH ads. The result of this is a new, hybrid advertisement that blends the benefits of multiple forms of advertising.

Billboards

Billboards are one of the most common forms of OOH ads. Because of how many billboards there are worldwide, it can be difficult to make a billboard ad that stands out. You aren’t sure if drivers passing by will notice it. To solve this, effective billboard advertising should be creative and memorable.

One company that’s done a great job with its billboard advertising is Apple. In 2015, Apple launched its “Shot on iPhone” campaign. The campaign offered iPhone users the opportunity to capture images on their phones that would then be used on billboards, commercials, and other ads. Apple’s Shot on iPhone campaign displays the importance of engaging consumers and being thoughtful with image selection.

Another fantastic billboard example was a Formula toothpaste billboard in Indonesia. This remarkably creative advertisement shows a man whose teeth are so strong that he is literally ripping the billboard off of its supporting structure. This billboard is a wonderful example of using creativity to stand out.

Posters

Posters are another extremely common form of OOH advertisements. Because of their small size and widespread use, it’s extremely important to design a poster that will immediately stand out. Eye-popping colors and creative images will help ensure that your ad will be noticed.

Some tips for effective poster advertising include:

  • Create the poster to cater to a specific audience
  • Use your brand’s color scheme
  • Include a call to action
  • Pick high-quality images
  • Use text sparingly; include only the information that consumers really need

Airports

Airport advertisements are a subset of place-based advertising. Many companies consider airports a gold mine for ads. They are a fantastic place to either stick with traditional billboards or posters. You can also utilize other aspects of airports, such as conveyor belts, to create incredibly unique advertisements.

One example of creative airport advertising is at the Venice Marco Polo Airport. The Casino de Venezia decided to turn a baggage collection belt into a life-sized roulette wheel. This fun, unique advertisement did a fantastic job at keeping people engaged during an otherwise mundane activity of waiting for your luggage. In addition, the Casino reported that visits increased by 60% after installing this advertisement.

Another interactive airport advertisement was installed in the Tokyo Airport in anticipation of the 2020 Summer Olympics. The Tokyo airport turned an entire airport terminal into a running track. This incredibly creative advertisement is a great example of utilizing the entire airport to promote an event.

Street Furniture

Street furniture advertising is most commonly seen at bus stops or on benches. Advertising on street furniture can be a great way to engage those walking by. Nike is well-known for its creative and thought-provoking advertisements, and its ads on street furniture are no exception. In one example, Nike placed its iconic swoosh logo along with the word “RUN” on a bench in Madison Square Park in New York. They then removed the seat of the bench. This simple yet eye-catching ad, combined with the action of removing the seat, is memorable and perfectly aligned with Nike’s message that everyone is an athlete.

Transportation

Advertising on public transportation, such as buses or subways, is also extremely common. Many people on public transportation tend to be bored. They are looking for some form of entertainment while they travel.

Startup mattress company Casper realized this, and developed a riddle campaign in the NYC subway system that simultaneously entertained riders while advertising their product.

The riddles they put up engaged subway riders, which helped ensure that their advertisement and company would be remembered.

These are just some of the most effective OOH advertising examples, but there are plenty more!

OOH Advertising with bMedia

Looking to increase your company’s profits? Consider investing in OOH advertising. With a creative and memorable campaign, you can attract more customers and increase your bottom line. And if you’re advertising in Puerto Rico, there’s no better partner than bMedia, the island’s top OOH media and advertising company.

We’re passionate about helping your business succeed, and we’ll work closely with you to ensure your ads are effective and memorable. So why wait? Contact us today and let’s get started.

Billboard Advertising Effectiveness

Billboard advertising effectiveness has never been in question. That’s one main reason we still see billboards even today, after being around for so long.

With the emergence of social media advertising and other digital marketing trends, some may consider that outdoor advertising is past its hay-day. But that misconception is largely unfounded.

In fact, with the rise of the digital age, billboard marketing may even be more relevant and effective today. Not to mention, the measurables and key performance indicators alike are easier than ever to track, like impressions, reach, etc.

With ever-developing effects, such as digital screens, 3-D figures, or different structures, the concept of the billboard and why it works remains the same.  Companies should instead consider the billboard as a key (if not main) method of advertising and a staple across all industries.

Any way you look at it, billboard advertising works, and its effectiveness has proven itself for decades. Here are some of the top reasons for billboards advertising effectiveness:

Billboard advertising effectiveness

The World is On the Move

Over time, countries all over the world have become more mobile. People spend less time at home. Whether enjoying a road trip or travel, commuting to work, or simply seeking a new experience, the citizens of the globe are on the move. There’s always somewhere to go. Are you in their path?

All that time in our cars adds up, and advertisements placed roadside where travelers and commuters can see them are sure to be noticed.

 

Drivers are a Captive Audience

Drivers’ eyes are on the road, but their eyes can also fall upon the large, visually appealing billboards by the roadside.

It has always been true that drivers are a captive audience and it is becoming even more true with harsh legislation banning texting and driving, as well as driving while distracted tickets rolling out every year.

While drivers can turn down the radio or subscribe to a completely ad-free channel, they jeopardize their very safety by taking their eyes off the road. With very little else to safely distract them, chances are they will spend a few moments peering at that billboard.

 

And, unlike other advertising mediums, outdoor ads cannot be turned off, hidden, or thrown away.

Billboard Marketing Effectiveness

 

Billboards Inspire New Ideas

An effective billboard for a restaurant, attraction, or even a unique shop can generate instant sales for travelers who are looking to explore a new area. Some billboards for certain products can be seen actually right outside the storefront!

With a growing culture of exploring off-the-beaten-path and seeking unique experiences, a well-placed billboard that provides directions to an unusual spot can generate instant sales.

This makes a billboard a surprisingly cost-effective method of advertising, as well. Although the original billboard itself can be pretty costly to design and erect, if placed effectively, it will more than make back its cost in sales.

Advancements in billboard technology have also added a new dimension to billboard advertising effectiveness, with the ability to display multiple ads throughout the day.

Why Billboards are Effective | bMedia Group

Brand Repetition & Exposure

High brand awareness lies in repetition and exposure. While a tried-and-true marketing strategy, may help your brand awareness efforts, doing so is not only expensive but also increasingly difficult to get noticed (unless you dish out some major cash on ad platforms).

Billboard advertising is the only marketing media where the advertiser has full control of the ad space. The ad has constant exposure – no other media allows your message to be displayed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s is a powerful marketing tool.

Advertising Effectiveness Billboards

If what audiences see in your billboard makes them laugh, inspires them, reminds them of a positive memory or any other avenue of emotional connection…you’ve probably secured a loyal customer.

Let’s face it– today’s consumers are constantly barraged with advertisements in print (maybe not as much these days), online, over the radio (again, starting to see less of this too), commercials on television, and even on social media. And because you probably typed in something like, “Billboard advertising effectiveness” into Google, you’ll probably get some more ads (not from us) delivered to you with that message.

With a constant stream of sellers courting each consumer, a very particular method of selection based on an emotional connection has emerged. Think about it: if an advertisement can charm you or make you laugh in the few seconds it takes to view it, don’t you think more positively about that company?

The same concept applies to billboards and works in Out Of Home (OOH) advertising better than many other advertising avenues. You have a captive audience guaranteed to glance over your billboard for at least a few seconds, think about it while they drive, remember the visual, and engage in their mind.

Photo of effective billboard | Why billboards work

Impact & Creativity

Billboard marketing is big, bold, colorful, and creative.

With all the technological advancements and swirls of advertisers globally, companies are encouraged to top one another in creativity and thinking outside the box. Consumers have come to expect this and celebrate it.

For example, Chick-Fil-A is just another fast-food sandwich stop, isn’t it? Wrong.

Chick-Fil-A is a globally recognized brand for a myriad of reasons, including their top-notch customer service, good works, and their famous billboards.

The second you glimpse a familiar black and white billboard in the distance with hand-painted splashes of red, you know what you’re looking at. That’s even before you see the 3D cows posed in a variety of amusing positions, or the humble red Chick-Fil-A logo. The cows “vandalizing” the billboard has become an expected and creative part of their advertising strategy, and to look at their earnings, we think its’ working. You know exactly what their message is and the creative aspect of cows delivering that message is the difference – “Eat More Chikin.”

So if you are looking to stand out from the crowd, reach people faster and more effectively, consider billboard marketing in your arsenal and budget.

If you’re interested in outdoor advertisement opportunities in the Puerto Rico area, there are plenty of options and areas from which to choose. Contact bMedia to learn more.

The Future of Billboard Advertising

Billboards have stood the test of time. While they have evolved and adapted to an ever-changing ad climate, it is still considered one of the most traditional and classic ways of advertising. However, as technology, ad placement, and digital media continue to advance, what does the future hold for billboards? Here’s our prediction on the future of billboard advertising:

Why Choose Billboard Advertising?

Billboard advertising has always been an effective medium for building brand awareness. Located in busy areas, billboards get a lot of foot and vehicular traffic. They offer businesses opportunities to broadcast their products and services. They are a good means of launching new products and advertising special events. 

Compared to other advertising techniques, return on investment in billboard advertising is by far the best marketing investment for your business’ advertising dollars. Billboards generate nearly six dollars for every dollar spent on them.

Americans spend almost nine hours a day engaged in outdoor activities. They are a ready market for outdoor advertising. For them, outdoor marketing is inevitable. They can’t turn it off. They see it consciously and subconsciously. Logos, slogans, and images stick with them.

Studies show that almost forty percent of drivers consciously look out their windows at billboards as they are driving. Nearly sixty percent say they learned about a brand, a new product, or an event from a billboard ad. 

One in four people go to a restaurant, explore a new business, or purchase a product on the same day that they saw it advertised on a billboard

the future of billboard advertising

The Evolution of the Billboard

Billboards are not a new form of advertising. The first American billboard is believed to have been erected in the 1830s. It was created by Jared Bell to advertise circus acts. 

By the 1860s, businesses purchased outdoor space for billboard displays. These billboards were often huge colorful hand-drawn and hand-painted creations.

Major Milestones

First Billboard

The first twenty-four sheet billboard appeared at the Paris Expo. After that, twenty-four sheet billboards became the usual size.

Increased Traffic

With the introduction of the Model T Ford, owning a car became affordable. Roads and highways to accommodate drivers’ cars quickly became the chief means of transportation in America. It naturally followed that billboards sprang up along these well-traveled thoroughfares.

During the twentieth century, 49,000 miles of The Interstate Highway System connected states on safe and efficient roads. This made billboard advertising even more appealing.

simple billboard advertisement

Characteristics of Successful Billboards

Less is more. Because the target market of billboards is drivers and walkers, billboards have ten seconds to get their message across. So, they have to keep their words to a minimum.

Catchy slogans and memorable graphics are vital. Using only a few words, billboard advertisers need to explain their product and how it is going to impact the potential customer. Further, they need to convince the viewer that their product is better than its competitors.

Like real estate, the location of billboards is crucial. Brands need to be where thousands will see them each day. Billboards should be visible from a distance.  The message must be neat and legible font enough to be read from a long distance. Billboard should be where they can connect with their target market. 

Color choice is also important. Catchy, bright, vivid colors get billboards noticed. Color also stimulates various viewer’s emotions. It carries with the subconscious association to various things and characteristics. Billboard colors should be eye-catching, bright, and vivid to grab the attention of its audience.

The Future of Billboard Advertising

Today, billboards cost only 7% of advertising dollars. Yet they have the highest return on investment of any advertising medium. 

Even though times have changed, there is still a future for the billboard.

Ten years ago, billboards were seen as outdated. However, the online marketing boom has changed all that.

Billboards have become, once again, the hottest marketing medium. Look around you. You will see ads for Apple and Google on huge fourteen-foot-by-forty-eight-foot vinyl sheets. Companies like Netflix, Everlane, Airbnb, Asana, and Twilio occupy building walls, subway cars, bus shelters, and park benches.

future of billboard advertising

Across America, there are over 370k billboards. There will be over fifteen thousand new ones added annually.

They are owned by over a thousand advertising businesses that rent them out on a weekly or a monthly basis.

More companies are focusing on feelings and emotions they want their brands to elicit. Today’s advertisers want an emotional reaction from their viewers. 

Technology is changing rapidly. This will change the look of billboards.

Technological advances are also becoming cheaper. Ideas that were cost-prohibitive a year or two ago are now affordable.

Smart Billboards

Digital billboards are now being replaced by smart boards. These smaller digital screens are starting to appear in bus shelters, shopping centers, and other high-traffic areas. Smart billboards can be placed on any flat surface anywhere.

Where digital boards could be ignored, smart boards are reactive.

They change the content on the screen based on information about the viewers.

In the future, billboards and digital screens will make use of such technologies as cameras, radar, infrared, and antennae. These will provide the data to see and react to their environment.

billboards over a city

How can bMedia Help?

There are a lot of reasons for choosing bMedia billboard advertising. 

At least seven in ten Americans are aware of looking at and reading billboards as part of their daily commute.

Our company, stationed in Washington state, is an international provider of outdoor advertising.

The company provides traditional, digital, and trivision marketing alternatives.

Our outdoor marketing specialists use the latest technology to design a billboard that is unique to the needs and wants of each client. Our experienced professionals will help you create a billboard that will attract your target market. Together, you will decide on a format and location that will make your brand recognizable and desirable.

Using today’s technological advancement, our billboards are highly individual in both form and content. We’ll help you customize your billboard to deliver an appealing message to your niche market.

Give us an opportunity to demonstrate why the interest in outdoor ads increased by almost 5% last year. 

We’re so sure you will be delighted by our compelling billboards that we’re offering a free trial.

For more information on how to make outdoor advertising an effective part of your brand recognition or to inquire about a free trial.

 

14 Benefits of Billboard Advertising

Advertising on billboards has been around for decades and there is more than one reason that it’s still an effective way of communicating your message, product, or brand. We’ve put together our top benefits of billboard advertising.

What is Billboard Advertising?

Billboards are best described as large posters. Since the time of the ancient Egyptians, billboards have been used to advertise goods and services.

Advertisers have paid to get their message on display in large outdoor advertising spaces. Billboards aim to attract the attention of pedestrians and motorists who regularly pass by them.

Billboard advertising uses a large print. The message must be read and understood in seconds. Thus, advertisers often include images that elicit emotions. The intent of billboard advertising is to market a company, a brand, a product, a service, a special event, or a campaign. 

billboard_highway

What are the Benefits of Billboard Advertising?

Billboards have captive audiences

Billboards usually appear in high traffic areas.

This includes cities, along busy highways, on buses, near airports, near arenas, or on building walls. The aim of billboard advertising is to get viewed by large numbers of riders, drivers, or walkers.

Research shows that we may be exposed to as many as four thousand ads each day.

North Americans spend 17,600 minutes in a car. That works out to 300 hours per person annually. Viewers are a captive audience

Viewers pay attention

People DO look at these roadside advertisements.

Research shows that 75% of the people to drive, ride, or walk by these billboards consciously look at billboards when they are driving or riding.

There are many billboard opportunities

Billboards are a popular advertising medium.

In the USA alone, there are 350,000 billboards. Opportunities to erect a billboard along a highway, atop a building, on a wall, on a park bench, or on the side of a bus abound.

You can match the location to a niche market

Because billboards are everywhere, you can select a location where traffic includes a large percentage of your target market.

Billboards create brand awareness

If you are trying to get increased traffic to your website, billboards are not the most effective advertising medium. Nor are billboards apt to increase the number of visits to your store.

However, billboards excel at getting and increasing brand awareness. Here is why. Most people see the same billboard many times. Thus, they remember your brand. 

Catchy, witty, or memorable images or slogans offer a great way for potential customers to learn about your business.

Later, when they want your product or service, they will remember they saw your billboard ad. Your brand will be engrained in their minds.

billboard downtown

Billboards have changed with consumer preferences

Billboards aren’t a one-size-fits-all advertising medium. Billboards have changed with the times. For example, eight thousand American billboards were digital by 2019.

Viewers are mostly amused and engaged by billboards

Over half the population admits to finding a billboard ad highly engaging within the past month.

Billboards work 24/7

A costly Super Bowl ad is over in seconds. Radio and television ads run an equally short time. Magazine ads depend upon subscribers and readers paying attention to the ad as they flip through the magazine. The cost of your billboard ad guarantees it is played not just a few times a day but all day every day. 

Billboards provide repeat exposure to your ad as passersby have a regular route. They see your ad at least twice a day five or more days each week.

Less is more 

The billboard’s message is short.  It has to be read and understood in the time it takes to pass by. Research has shown that these images and/or catchphrases stick in the viewers’ minds. The most effective billboard ads reduce the message to one compelling phrase or image.

Billboards have a wide demographic

With billboard ads, your company can reach a wide variety of customers.

And you can do this one advertising tactic. Instead of spending your advertising dollars on several types of ads, you can touch many types of target customer groups.  Moreover, you don’t have to research which niche market to target. You don’t have to spend your advertising dollars and time attempting to reach potential customers. By using billboard ads, you may even find potential buyers in areas undreamed of.

black screen billboard

Billboards have a high return on investment (ROI)

Because billboards are located in such busy areas, they have the highest number of views and reactions to any marketing strategy. Billboards have a proven high return on investment.

Research has shown that for every advertising dollar spent on billboards, the return on investment is almost six dollars

Billboards will never go out of style

Despite new forms of advertising, billboards are here to stay.

As long as people drive, walk, bike, jog, or run to work or to run errands, they will remain a target market for billboard advertising. Billboards will always capture a part of advertising budgets.

Even in unusual times like a pandemic, people will still go out—if only for curbside pickup. During their drive to pick up preordered items, drivers will see and remember billboard ads.

Billboards appeal to all ages

If you doubt the effectiveness of billboards to even young children, you need only drive by billboards advertising mouthwatering foods, toys, or an event like a circus. Research has shown that children recognize ads for the “Golden Arches” before they can even talk.

The child target market is a powerful one. Smart marketers have learned that at a very early age, children build brand loyalty. Thus, advertisers strive to foster a relationship with the youth market.

Billboard advertising reflects changing attitudes

The first electronic billboard was installed in 1904 in New York City. It advertised whiskey. Since that time, there have been—and will continue to be—changes in product, services, and styles of billboard advertising

As times change, products and services that appeal to the consumer also change. So, too, do the billboard styles, messages, and images.

Urbanization continues to grow. Thus, billboards will expand, enlarge, and become more technically attention-getting.

There is a trend toward more interactive billboards. Advertising spaces have become increasingly responsive and flexible towards audiences. These new interactive billboards will appeal to the niche market with personal, engaging messages based on carefully researched information about their habits, interests, and consumer preferences.

New advertising trends will focus on what the consumer wants; what he needs; his shopping times; product appeal.

For more information on how to find the right billboard and location for your business, contact bMedia Group.

How Long Does a Billboard Stay Up?

Billboard advertising uses a large print advertisement to market a company, a brand, a product, a service, or a campaign. Billboards usually appear in high traffic areas in cities, along highways, on buses, or on building walls where they are seen by large numbers of riders, drivers, or walkers.

billboard of musical overlooking city highway

All About Billboard Advertising

We see them everywhere in every size and color. Technology has changed them but they are still an in-your-face type of advertising that not even social media can surpass. Here are some things you might not know about billboards.

They’ve been around for thousands of years—even before newspapers. An obelisk advertising a runaway slave was set up in Thebes, Egypt.

Electronic billboards are not as new as we might think, either. They’ve been around for a century. In 1904, a billboard pioneer, Oscar Gude installed the first electric sign in New York City. It advertised whiskey.

The largest billboard is in Madrid. At 5,265 square meters, it is the size of twenty tennis courts or an American football field. It weighs as much as a male hippopotamus.

New scented billboards appeal to sight and smell. A North Carolina grocery store billboard erected a “smellvertising” billboard with a grilled steak aroma.

Research shows that we may be exposed to as many as four thousand ads each day. An Arbitron study found that nearly three in four viewers notice ads and read them

blank digital billboard

The Power of Billboard Advertising

Advertising on Billboards: How Much does it Cost?

Many factors determine the cost of billboard advertising. These include the size of the billboard, its location, traffic volume in the area, and estimated viewership Billboard advertising costs are usually monthly. They may range from $250 on a rural highway to $22,000 in New York’s Times Square.

The world’s most expensive billboard is in Times Square. Google paid $2.5 million to rent the billboard for its debut. The cost was $625,000 a week. That’s 125 times the average NYC billboard rental. Times Square’s daily traffic is 300,000 people. Google’s billboard was viewed by nine million tourists and New Yorkers that month.

Along with the cost of the space rental, you need to consider the cost of ad design, the creation of the billboard-size advertisement, and the cost of installation.

A successful billboard can be read and appreciated as you pass by. Moreover, it takes viewers on a four-second journey. Since drivers can read only a few words in passing, the message must be the essence of an idea. Text-less messages can be powerful.

Effective billboards interact with their surroundings. Their bright colors and eye-catching graphics build brand recognition and elicit an emotion from the viewers. This is emotional marketing. The best ones for 2019 were selected by Edina

New Trends in Billboard Advertising

Urbanization continues to grow. Thus, billboards will expand, enlarge, and become more technically attention-getting.

More billboards will be digital.

There is a trend toward more interactive billboards. Advertising spaces will be increasingly responsive and flexible towards audiences. These new interactive billboards will present the niche market with personal, engaging messages based on information about their habits, interests, and consumer preferences.

New trends will focus on the consumer—what he wants; what he needs; his shopping times; product appeal.

fashion billboard next to old building

What Goes into a Billboard Advertising Decision?

Thanks to digitalization, billboards have become effective advertising tools of the twenty-first century.

Billboards provide multiple “touches”. The number of exposures is important when attempting to convert viewers to buyers.

With billboards, you have a captive audience of riders and walkers in high traffic areas. TV viewers can speed past commercials. Those slick, costly magazine and Internet ads often go unnoticed.

When an individual decides to advertise on billboards, many things determine this decision. Companies have specific goals for their advertising. They want to get the most exposure for their limited advertising budget. They weigh the odds of how many in their niche market will see a billboard, remember its message, and want to find out more about the product or service. 

Biggest takeaways from billboards

  • Billboards are huge. Thus, by their very size, they command attention.
  • For small businesses with limited advertising dollars, billboards are effective.
  • Billboards reach a widely diverse viewership.
  • Billboards can deliver results—if the conditions are right circumstances.
  • The average American spends almost an hour a day driving or riding.
  • Three in five Americans learned about an event, a restaurant, a product, or service on a billboard. Of those, three in five later visited the location.
  • Even expensive billboards deliver a lower cost per impression when you calculate how many people see them.

How Long Does a Billboard Stay up?

There is no one right answer to this question. It depends on several things. Is the billboard still generating new customers? What are your campaign goals? Do you have the budget to continue paying for this ad? Have you measured your return on investment? Are you getting your money’s worth?

If you are advertising an event, the billboard is time-sensitive. After the event, you are wasting your advertising dollars leaving it up.

Is it time to make a change to another location where more of your target market will see your ad? Have you considered switching to a larger ad? Is it time to go digital?

Have you thought about a building wall ad, a bus side ad, or a bench ad?

A general rule is that billboards stay up at least one month. Many campaigns are up for several months.

If you have decided that billboards are right for your company, check out the outdoor advertising information.

Why Are Billboards Effective?

They’ve been around for so long and continue to be something we see frequently. So why are billboards so effective? Even though many consider billboards to be antiquated, they still comprise a significant amount of advertiser spending.

Billboards may be antiquated, but they are undeniably effective. Due to their effectiveness, a good billboard is an invaluable piece of advertising that can easily lead to greater brand awareness, greater sales, and greater profit.

People Spend A Lot Of Time On The Road

The total population of Puerto Rico is 3.2-million people. For every 1,000 people, in Puerto Rico, 614 people own and drive a car. There are a lot of drivers in Puerto Rico, and people in Puerto Rico spend a lot of time on the road. Since there are so many drivers in Puerto Rico, it’s very easy for billboards to be noticed and seen.

You Can Place A Billboard In Areas With Heavy Traffic

The San Juan area, in Puerto Rico, is exceptionally busy. The busiest highway in San Juan sees an average of 286,600 people driving across it every single day. That is a lot of people, many of whom are spending large amounts of time on the road, waiting for the traffic to lessen so they can get to wherever they need to be.

Since billboards are, more often than not, large advertising displays that are placed along roads, they can be set up in areas like San Juan. By being set up within those areas, you are able to convey what you offer to many, many people. So consider the number of eyes on billboards when you ask yourself, “Why are billboards so effective?”

empty billboard in san juan, puerto rico

A Good Billboard Is Very Memorable

A billboard, if it is well-designed, can be extremely memorable.

So memorable, in fact, that it not only spreads awareness of your brand and what you are offering but inspires the person who noticed the billboard to follow up and see what you offer.

A Good Billboard Conveys What You Offer In A Compelling Manner

A billboard, if it is well-designed, conveys exactly what you offer in a manner that is genuinely memorable and compelling.

Through the use of images and words – among others, if you’re using a digital billboard – you are able to create unique advertisements that capture people’s attention, showing them what you offer while also entertaining them with the advertisement’s design.

People Will See Your Billboard More Than Once

Just about everyone has a familiar series of routes that they take. Each one of these routes makes it easy for people to get to work, school, home; and anywhere else that they need to go. By placing a billboard on a popular route, it is very likely that those same people will see and engage with your billboard many, many times.

As science has shown, if someone sees a particular advertisement over and over, it will become internalized and associated with a particular service or idea. Billboards allow your brand and services to be noticed and internalized by the people driving by them, allowing more and more people to know what you do and to follow up on what it is that you offer.

People Enjoy Looking At Billboards

Just over a decade ago, a study known as the “Arbitron National In-Car Study” was conducted. One of the most interesting pieces of information this study uncovered was that around 71% of drivers actively look at and engage with the billboards that they see while driving. Billboards break up the monotony of driving – especially long drives – and give people something nice to see and think about.

You Can Use A Billboard To Advertise Anything

As a form of advertising, billboards are extremely versatile. Much of this versatility comes down to the medium itself, which can make use of unique colors, drawings, words, shapes, and figures; among a plethora of other elements.

Since billboards can make use of those elements, billboards can be used to advertise just about anything. This means that no matter what you offer, you can use a billboard to reach large numbers of people with ease. But, of course, for this billboard to be successful, it must be well-designed and it must make use of an effective billboard marketing strategy.

digital billboard in Turkey

You Can Place A Billboard Just About Anywhere

Most people, when they think of billboards, think of large, colorful boards that are on the side of a road. That is, generally speaking, quite accurate. But, the billboard medium is so varied and diverse that you are able to not only advertise anything, but you can place a billboard just about anywhere.

Moving billboards and digital billboards are two examples of the versatility that billboards offer.

Billboards Can Be Very Dynamic

Why are billboards so effective? Because they’re ever-changing.

Digital billboards are only becoming more and more popular. It isn’t difficult to see why this is the case, since digital billboards allow for incredibly versatile and dynamic advertisements to be created with the kind of ease and efficiency that traditional billboards simply don’t allow for.

For many advertisers, one of the most unique benefits that digital billboards offer is their inherently dynamic nature. Digital billboards can be set up to display jall kinds of unique and dynamic advertisements that make use of videos, various sounds and musical compositions, animations; and a wide variety of other extremely unique elements. Each one of these elements allows for dynamic advertisements that are genuinely distinctive and incredibly memorable.

You Can Change A Billboard Quickly And Easily

A traditional billboard is, essentially, completely static. You can change a traditional billboard, but doing so is expensive and labor-intensive. Because of this, when you set up a billboard with a particular advertisement, it’s likely that advertisement will remain there for as long as you are using the billboard.

Traditional billboards aren’t the only billboards that you can use, though. More and more advertisers are using digital billboards, which can be changed very quickly. If a particular message isn’t working, you can change the message that’s being displayed with the click of a few buttons.

Because of this, digital billboards make it easy for you to respond to what isn’t working, and what is, with the same ease that internet advertising – to name one example – allows for.

Why are billboards so effective? Simply put, they’re large and attractive, they’re in high-traffic areas, and they’re effective.

Billboard Design Tips

Technology is boosting marketing practices in amazing ways, but outdoor advertising is remaining as strong as ever. From design to development, creating a successful billboard is slightly more complicated than just drawing the idea on a napkin and getting it made.

It requires a lot of planning, a lot of measuring, and sometimes a lot of tweaking. However, with these billboard design tips, you’ll save budget on design, even if you don’t end up designing the billboard in-house.

Billboard ideas can stem from a variety of factors and inspiration. With a few billboard design tips, you’ll start thinking about the larger picture – not just what’s on the billboard.

Where Do I Start With Billboard Design?

billboard ideas

Designing a billboard can be intimidating, especially if you don’t can’t envision what it’ll look like or what it’ll say. How can a designer know what to design if you don’t know what to tell the designer? Start with these main billboard design tips before you even start creating the design.

Every design starts with these main steps:

Step 1. Define the Goals

As with any marketing strategy, don’t just make a billboard for the sake of doing it. You need to decide what you want to get out of your campaign, and then you’ll be able to think of the ideas that will accomplish that. Some billboards advertise a promotion, others announce a new product, and many simply remind consumers of your brand. The respective goal for each of those could be to get customers into the store soon, educate them that there’s a new product available, or just make sure your company is fresh in their mind next time they need to make a buying decision.

Step 2. Market Analysis

Great billboard ideas often start with research and analysis. One of the key aspects of creating a billboard is location. For example, a busy road into an urban center will be seen by many commuters, and one at the entrance to a shopping center will carry a message to customers about to spend money. You can get quite detailed information about how many people will pass by your sign on a daily basis, and thinking about the area where they’re going will help you determine their demographics.

creative outdoor marketing ideas

Step 3. Define the Target

Coming up with the appropriate target group is quite similar to setting the goals of the billboard. Outdoor advertising will usually be seen by a variety of people from different backgrounds in various demographic groups, but it’s a good idea to target it to someone more specific. People in a different age group or income level generally have different interests, and speaking successfully to one group is a much better idea than falling short of all of them.

billboard for the Chevy Malibu used software recognition to identify drivers of similar cars and tell them why this one is better. This is an extreme example, but it shows how the creators were only targeting groups that were interested in certain vehicles.

Step 4. Have a Clear Message

Once you know the goal, target, and location of the billboard, you need to figure out the exact message you want to say. Billboards generally need to be simple and straightforward, so trying to get more than one message across usually won’t work. Don’t tell your customers that your store now has a new brand of shirts and that children’s clothes are on sale. Pick only one, and stick to it – otherwise, they won’t hear either of them.

Step 5. Pieces of a Bigger Campaign

Billboards can stand alone, but they’re generally more impactful when combined with a whole campaign. It’s a good idea to use them to reinforce ads given online, on TV, or through some other advertising medium.

Xbox once made a “Survival Billboard” to advertise a new video game, but it was part of a competition that was streamed online. Even though the sign itself wasn’t physically viewed by a ton of people, it was part of something bigger – and it worked.

more billboard design tips

Step 6. Get Creative

Once you know what your sign should say, you need to think of a clever way of communicating that. Don’t be afraid to outsource this part if you’re too close to it, but also don’t be afraid to keep it in-house if you have a great idea. It won’t be as noticeable if it looks like all signs advertising something similar, but if it does it in a unique way (like this anti-smoking billboard), people will really engage with it.

Step 7. Keep It Simple

One thing to remember about a billboard is that people usually see it as their going past (often while driving a car), so they only have a few seconds to take it all in. You should use as few words as possible (try to keep it under 6 or 7), and don’t put anything on it that’s unnecessary. Even your logo doesn’t need to be included every time.

some billboard design tips

Step 8. Avoid Gimmicks

It’s easy to create a silly billboard that people will notice, but it’s worthless if it isn’t your target audience talking about the message you want them to hear. Your design and message have to resonate with your audience.

Reebok recently made a running billboard that’s a good example of successfully using an unusual idea. It wasn’t just a gimmick because it appealed to the competitive nature of its target group, and it followed their new brand concept of pushing yourself to Be More Human.

Step 9. Think Outside the Sign

As technology and billboards are getting better, they don’t have to be just a sign. They can use technology to let people play along (like this McDonald’s video game) go to dramatic lengths to highlight a problem (like this mosquito billboard), or even help people out (like this sign that gave drivers a safe place to rest).

Step 10. Measure, Analyze, and Repeat

As with all marketing and advertising, you should measure the results and see how well it worked. For great billboard ideas, plan to continuously update your strategy to match your business goals, and don’t be afraid to reuse the successful elements of your campaigns.

design

What Makes a Good Billboard Design?

Okay, now that we’ve got the hardest part out of the way, we can actually focus on the design aspects of your billboard. Here are some other billboard design tips to consider to have your brand and message stand out:

Be Consistent

Whatever your message is, make sure you get your story straight. There should be brand guidelines that you follow for all billboards, ads, and creative you produce. Find your identity, find your story, find your voice, and keep that consistent.

Be Bold

The bigger, the better. Be loud. Remember, your audience is driving or engaged in something else, so the easier it is to read and understand your message, the more impactful it is. Don’t be shy, use actionable words like “do,” or “now.”

Be Simple

Your audience doesn’t have time for complicated messages or multiple calls to action. Be clear about what you want your audience to do and how to do it.

Be Authentic

Being genuine and “real” is the best approach. People can sense when you’re not speaking from the heart, so make sure you connect with rhetoric.

Smart Billboards

You’re being watched…we all know that the day would come that robots would invade our world. However, it looks like science fiction was being overly dramatic in a lot of horror stories; they never mentioned how profitable the robots would be.

That’s right – we live in a world where billboards are thinking.  They can read you, decide what you’re thinking, and give you the best possible ad. From there, all you can do is grab your credit card. Billboards have been around for a long time, but as technology continues to improve, billboards do, too. With the introduction of augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI), we’re starting to see more and more smart billboards.

Did you know this was an option for your business?

smart billboards

What is a Smart Billboard?

Billboards were installed in London as a test of the technology to see if it was possible for a computer to successfully design the perfect ad – on its own.  They had a digital display, and they had a camera inside to read the people looking at them.  The first step was to decide what sort of mood the person was in.  Then, depending on whether the viewer was happy, sad, or neutral, it would display a different version of the ad.  Afterward, it analyzed the responses to measure how successful the ad was.  Finally, it repeated the good ads and trashed the bad ones.

Nowadays, we all own some piece of technology that is labeled, “smart.” We enjoy smart technology in things like:

  • Smartphones
  • Smart TVs
  • Smartwatches
  • Vacuums
  • Cars
  • Smart glasses (yes, there are really smart glasses now)

And, to an extent, we’ve already been exposed to smart advertising – ads that change and optimize themselves over time. You will see these types of ads when you search for a term on Google, when you visit a website and then exit out, and when you’re on social media. Smart advertising changes depending on how they perform with different audiences that they interact with. What’s most recent, though, is how this technology has made its way to the billboard – smart billboards.

Advertising, as it’s always been, is designed to capture your attention and inspire some sort of action. That hasn’t changed.  What has changed is how technology has evolved from traditional billboards – and even digital billboards, for that matter. It’s not as easy to ignore a smart billboard that learns about you over time and therefore adjusts its message.

The Technology Inside

You might imagine that they developed some sort of incredibly advanced technology to make this happen, but that actually wasn’t the case.  This was put together by the M&C Saatchi Advertising Agency, and they were working with Clear Channel and Posterscope to make it happen.  The billboards just had a Microsoft Kinect camera inside, so they were really just using technology that had already been developed for playing video games.  Kinect is able to read people’s reactions, so it gets the job done.

How AI and AR Are Changing Billboards

Artificial Intelligence has made its way into billboards, which has obviously sparked conversation around the brands using this technology in their advertising. Here are just a few ways that Artificial Intelligence is changing the way brands do advertising (specifically on billboards):

  • Object recognition – through AI cameras and sensors, billboards can now detect facial features. This helps them decide whether they think people who are passing the smart billboard are happy or sad. It can determine a certain demographic, as well, telling the difference between ages and genders – and serving relevant ads in response.
  • Statistics/data – AI cameras and sensors can also give valuable data on billboard areas. Billboards are keeping track of the amount of traffic that the area receives each day, etc. This helps brands determine which areas are best for placing another smart billboard.
  • Recognition of climate and surroundings – not only are these smart billboards able to recognize objects, but also things like weather, noise levels, and even cigarette smoke. You’ve probably heard of the advertisement that ‘coughs’ every time it senses cigarette smoke in the air. Other smart billboards can sense if it’s hot outside and recommend a cold drink or smoothie.

smart technology billboards

Bahia:  The Coffee of the Future

Unfortunately, this whole campaign probably created a lot of angry customers.  For the experiment, the advertising agency decided against using a real brand, so they simply made one up.  The product was an instant coffee called Bahia, and it’s not the type of thing that usually draws a lot of attention.

The Evolution of the Ad

The billboard was only advertising one brand, so it was fairly limited in what it showed.  It didn’t promote sports cars to one person, laundry detergent to the next, and allergy medicine to a third.  Instead, it was programmed to use a series of different fonts, colors, and styles to see how different people reacted to the plea to buy coffee.

Why Spying on Your Customers Works

While the first instinct of many is that this whole idea is kind of creepy, it can actually work to improve everyone’s life.  If you remember that the main goal of advertising is to let people know about products or services they want, then this just helps eliminate all the noise on the street.  Instead of wasting your time, these smart billboards were able to show people what they wanted to see.  Also, since it measured reactions to seeing what people liked and didn’t like, and it can help make higher quality advertising in the future.  It’s basically like having a focus group that’s composed of, well, everyone.

smart billboard advertising

Why the Internet Isn’t As Important as We Think

The internet has become a great place for businesses because it makes it possible to measure things in a way that has never even been remotely possible.  A lot of companies have been using it as an excuse to steer away from more traditional forms of advertising media, but this could put a stop to that pattern.  Internet browsing history is a great way to build a profile of your customer, but nothing beats walking around town with them and asking them their opinions.  If this technology can be in a few bus stops in London, it might not be long before it’s all over the globe.

This Campaign Doesn’t Invade Your Privacy

One nice feature about this little experiment is that it was designed in a way that wouldn’t let it cause any invasion of privacy.  It didn’t follow the standard internet strategy of storing all your information.  Even if it did, it wouldn’t make a huge difference because it never actually knew who it was looking at.

Time for You to Do the Same

Do you use similar techniques in your business?  Even if you don’t want to go to such extreme measures as this campaign did, are you taking advantage of modern advertising strategies? The marriage of technology and traditional advertising is a key relationship in influencing consumers.

Outdoor Advertising Screens

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As far as types of billboard advertising go there are three main classes that make up the industry for outdoor advertising screens: Static, Digital & Prismavision

Most people can intuitively decipher what static and digital outdoor advertising screens represent so we are going to discuss the latter of the three, Prismavision billboards. Prismavision is often referred to as the “three-message sign.” Why? Well, Prismavision’s name comes from the way it works “Prismavision”  which uses prisms to display content, other names for Prismavision include Prismatic Display, Trivision, Three Message Sign, Tri-Face or VMS’s (Variable Message Sign).

Different Types of Outdoor Advertising Screens

Many may think of outdoor advertising as simple poster billboards displayed near roadways and high trafficked areas. While this is true, businesses should note that outdoor advertising has come a long way. With the new digital era, there are various types of outdoor advertising screens that can really enhance the overall message and provide effectiveness for increased return on investment. Outdoor advertising agencies, such as bMedia Group, can give clarity to business for the best types of advertising. In general, different types of screens include:

  • Static – As one of the most effective forms of advertising, static billboards support businesses 24/7 with around-the-clock exposure for wide viewership. As static images, they do not change and remain a constant for a business display.
  • Digital – Utilizing LED lights and timers, digital billboards offer versatility as they can be frequently updated or changed. Measuring effectiveness and readjusting is much more simple than with a static billboard.
  • Prismavision – As an alternative to static and digital, prismavision billboards are made of aluminum and can alternate between ads much like digital. Businesses can create multiple advertisements or messages within one outdoor media ad. It also stays in place for longer than digital ads.

bMedia Outdoor Advertising Options

Puerto Rico outdoor advertising agency, bMedia, offers multiple forms of outdoor advertising options. Whether you’re looking for effective signage in static formats, or looking to go digital, we can help sort through the best mediums. In addition, we also offer prismavision, which is still a widely go-to source for businesses looking for better outdoor advertising in Puerto Rico. Contact us today to learn more about our advertising services.
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Prismavision billboards consist of long vertical triangular prisms that are skewered by a rotatable poll. These polls pivot 120 degrees to show a new message each time.

In order to display a unified message, one large image is split into multiple slits that all piece together on one side of the prism in order. These vertical slits placed together make up the large image as you see in the image below:

prismavision
Each of the three sides has a new image and message across it. The rotatable poll allows for each new message to be displayed based upon a predetermined time interval. All of the prisms will rotate to the right or the left in order to present the new combined image slits marketing message.
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The clear advantage of the Prismavision is its ability to host three different messages on one billboard traffic location. This is desired as it decreases the cost of the hosted billboard ad as well as offers creative marketing opportunities.

One creative use is to purpose the rotation to display a message in the morning, afternoon and night. For instance, McDonald’s could display its Egg McMuffin on the way to work in the morning and its Big Mac at lunch. Another application could be to build a message by using all three in chronological rotation. This tactic allows you to engage the viewer for longer and display more information than on static outdoor media.

The Prismavision’s rotational movement does more than just allow for multiple messages to be displayed. This rotation catches the attention of the viewers and has been proven to increase the impact of the message’s awareness. The billboards movement also builds anticipation as the new message unveils itself to the public. In a world where digital imagery is becoming routine Prismavision can help to stand out from the crowd with its unique mechanical intrigue.

While Prismavision’s practical implications are still very current in today’s billboard marketing landscape it is not a new invention by any means. In fact, the first patent for a motorized display dates back to the very beginning of the 1900’s – over 110 years ago!

Prismavision is an undoubtedly great way to cut costs and grab people’s attention, but it is not boasted as the most common form of billboard advertising. Prismavision billboards can be very hard to come by especially on the island of Puerto Rico. But you’re in luck!

bMedia has two Prismavision Billboards on the island that you can chose from to promote your brand’s message. You can decide to purchase all three sides or cut your promotional costs by just acquiring one of them. See below for more details.
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FORMAT: PRISMAVISION

Visibility: 105K
Dimensions: 14′ x 48′
Resolution: 300DPIs
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What Makes a Good Billboard

Many often ask us, what makes a good billboard? While there are many different aspects to creating a captivating billboard, there’s usually a fixed set of rules that help to gear it up to optimally perform for its intended audience. Typically, effective billboards consist of three different factors. When these factors are considered, and their respective qualities are integrated into the billboard, then you have a billboard that is enjoyable to view and very easy to understand. From this, the billboard is able to entice the viewer to consider and learn more about what is being offered.

So what are the factors included in what makes a good billboard? Keep reading to learn. For proven outdoor advertising in Puerto Rico methodology, strategy, and launches, contact bMedia Group today!

what makes an effective billboard

Great Billboard Design

A Good Billboard Has A Clear And Concise Message

This message can be as simple as “buy our pizza”, but the message must be clear and concise so that the viewer knows exactly what is being conveyed. Without this clarity, it’s far more likely that whoever sees your billboard will be uncertain as to what, exactly, is being conveyed.

Every effective billboard has a clear and concise message. Most people don’t stare at billboards for very long, and because of that, it’s unwise to use a billboard for conveying large amounts of information and complex messages.

Instead, a billboard must have a clear and concise message that is well-defined and easy for the viewer of the billboard to understand. To give you an example of this, if you are offering a free wellness consultation for people with back problems, then your billboard should consist of an image that conveys the difficulties of dealing with back problems, and how you offer a free solution. But, since this is a billboard, there’s no need for you to dive into how you will solve the problem. Instead, you just need to entice the viewer to want to learn more about what you are offering.

To define the message that you are going to be conveying, you must think about what you are advertising, the main benefit that you are offering to customers, and then what they can do to receive what you are offering. By doing that, you will understand what it is that the billboard needs to convey, and then you can work on finding a way to convey it.

  • Have a clear and concise message that is easy to understand
  • More often than not, this message consists of what is being offered, a strong benefit that it offers, and then a call-to-action that allows the viewer to receive what’s being offered
  • To do this, you must define what you are offering and the value that it offers, before designing your billboard

good billboards

Use Seven Words Or Less

Most of the people who will be seeing your billboard have very little time to process what a billboard is saying. Because of that, using seven words or less ensures that whoever sees your billboard has time to read it and to understand what you are offering.

Most of the people who see your billboard will do so while driving. On average, a driver has around five-to-ten seconds to see your billboard, to read it, and to understand it. That’s not enough time to read along and overly wordy billboard, but that’s plenty of time to absorb a simple and memorable image, as well as a sentence that encapsulates what you’re offering and entices the viewer.

What’s important to remember, though, is that billboards are a visual medium. Words are incredibly useful at doing things such as creating memorable slogans or elaborating on specific pieces of information, but it’s unwise for your billboard to rely too heavily on words. Instead, words should serve as a supplement to the images, rather than the other way around.

  • Most of the people who will see your billboard only have five-to-ten seconds to read and understand it
  • Using seven words, or less ensures that they have time to read the billboard
  • Billboards are a visual medium, so use the words to elaborate on specific points or to create a slogan that is memorable and explains your product, rather than relying on words alone

Integrate Words And Images To Create Something Memorable

What makes a good billboard can factor how well others can remember it. Integrate words and images to create something memorable. While billboards rely on words, they are primarily a visual medium. As such, it’s very important that you integrate words and images in a manner that effectively conveys what you offer while doing so in a memorable and distinctive manner.

Billboards are, primarily, a visual medium. Words are often used as tools for elaborating on specific points or for conveying a certain piece of information that will entice the viewer of the billboard to learn more, but they are rarely used for more than that.

To integrate words and images in an effective manner, you must define the overall message of your billboard, and then you can begin thinking about the images that you can use to effectively convey that message.

creating an effective billboard

For example, if you are offering free wellness consultations that are designed to help with back problems, then you could convey that using a picture of a man’s back that is covered in a dark, silver color. This image conveys the pain of having back problems, and the feelings of being weighed down and immobile that back problems often come with.

With that image, you can then use a couple of words that convey the solution that you offer – in this case, a wellness consultation. There’s no need for you to explain the solution that you offer in great detail, instead, you can simply tell the viewer that you offer a solution. This will spread awareness of your services, while also enticing those who are dealing with back problems and would like to find a solution.

To make your billboard as memorable and as effective as it can be, you must focus on creating memorable images and designs first, because those are the first things that the viewer will see. Then, you can use words to further enhance the billboard and its message.

  • Uses image and words in an effective and memorable manner
  • Billboards are visual mediums, so it’s important that they rely more on visuals than words
  • To make a billboard that is memorable, it’s important to use large and distinct images, rather than multiple images
  • Words must supplement the images – and message – rather than having to explain the images
  • Think about your message and the images that will convey it first, and then think about the words you would like to use