How many types of outdoor advertising are there?

Outdoor advertising can take many forms—billboards, building wraps, etc. Each form has its strengths and weaknesses. To choose the right type of outdoor advertising for your company, it's important to understand the advantages and disadvantages before deciding.

What Is Outdoor Advertising?

Outdoor advertising, or out-of-home (OOH) advertising, allows a business to promote its products or services in public places such as sidewalks, bus benches, or billboards. It can target a specific demographic and be convenient for consumers. OOH can effectively reach people who are out and about and might need more time to read ads in newspapers or magazines.

Why Use Outdoor Advertising?

• A way to reach your target audience that won't break the bank.
• Many people will see your brand, which can help it become more visible.
• Targeted campaigns help you to reach more of your potential customers.
• Promotes special events, sales, and other news.
• Personalize your message so that it is more likely to be noticed.
• Personalize your message so that people will be interested in reading it.
• Building awareness of your brand and creating associations with it can boost sales.
• Get your message in front of local, regional, or national audiences.
• Complements other marketing efforts.

Billboard Advertising

Billboards are one of the most popular and effective forms of outdoor advertising, which use large, printed signs to promote products, services, or events.

Billboards are common sights along busy roads and highways, where drivers and passengers can easily see them. Although a billboard's size may make it difficult to ignore, its effectiveness as an advertising tool is debatable. Some people consider billboards to be very effective; others consider them to be a waste of space.

Here are some tips to help you create effective billboard ads:

• Communicate clearly and concisely.
• Add images that attract attention and are easy to understand.
• The best place to put a billboard is in a highly visible area.
• Choose a place to put your billboard that will be seen by people interested in your product.
• Make sure your billboard is big enough for people to see from a distance.
• Use bright, attention-grabbing colors.
• Use attractive fonts and text layouts.
• Get your audience interested with a compelling offer.
• Test out which messages and images work best by trying them on different people.
• After you have determined your results, make the necessary adjustments.

Static

Although digital and mobile advertising is gaining popularity, static billboards still have their place. The cost of building and maintaining a static billboard is much lower than creating or maintaining a digital one. Because drivers have nothing else to do while waiting at traffic lights, they have plenty of time to read and digest the advertisements.

Finally, billboards are often more visible than other forms of advertising, so they are more likely to be seen and remembered.

Mobile

A mobile billboard is a truck or trailer with a large advertisement. Mobile billboards are often driven around the busiest streets and highways to reach as many people as possible with the product or message being promoted.

Digital

Digital billboards are computer-controlled electronic displays that show high-resolution images and videos. They can display static or animated advertising content, which businesses may rent on a short- or long-term basis. Digital billboards are generally located along highways.

Augmented Reality Billboards

The latest trend in outdoor advertising is the use of augmented reality billboards. Augmented reality allows users to interact with digital content in real life. Users can view and interact with three-dimensional images superimposed on their surroundings using a smartphone or other device.

In addition to immersing viewers in an interactive experience, augmented reality billboards can create interactive games or quizzes that users can play in public spaces. For example, they might view a three-dimensional image of a product and then purchase it through their smartphones.

Lamp Posts

A lamp post advertisement is a form of outdoor advertising that involves attaching a banner or poster to a lamp post using specialized attachments. A lamp post banner or sign is usually about 2 meters wide and 3 meters tall, although this can vary depending on the lamp post's size.

A form of outdoor advertising, such as banner or poster advertisements in front of lampposts, can be effective in high-traffic areas such as shopping districts, business districts, and residential areas where people walk to and from work or run errands. The signs should be placed at eye level to make them easily seen by passersby.

Bridges

Advertising on a bridge can be done by hanging banners or signs, painting murals on the surface, or using the bridge as a canvas. Bridge advertising is an inexpensive way to reach people in a city without investing in other outdoor advertising.

Bridge advertising campaigns are an effective way to reach city commuters since bridges are often located near major thoroughfares or busy areas. For instance, if a company seeks to reach commuters in a city through bridge advertising, it would be wise to advertise on a bridge that spans a busy highway.

Advertisements on bridges can also be used to advertise local events and teams, such as banners and signs promoting a significant sporting event in a city.

Guerilla Advertising

As marketing trends shift from traditional television and radio ads to digital and interactive advertising, businesses must find new ways to reach their target audiences. Guerrilla marketing—a form of marketing in which ads are placed outside traditional media outlets, such as billboards or posters—is often overlooked despite its apparent advantages.

Guerrilla advertising is a marketing campaign in which unconventional methods are used to get attention for a product or service. Some of those methods include surprising the audience and creating an experience that viewers will remember.

Guerrilla advertising campaigns can be executed in a variety of ways, including using a variety of methods.

Ambush marketing

Companies sometimes use this technique to get their message out by sponsoring the event or activity of another company. In the hopes of being seen on TV during the Super Bowl, a company might give out branded t-shirts or hats to people lining up outside the stadium.

Street teams

Brand ambassadors are people hired to promote a product by handing out free samples, flyers, or other promotional items.

Flash mobs

A flash mob is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then quickly disperse, often to advertise or promote a product or service.

Guerilla projection

It is a form of advertising that uses video or images on public surfaces without the owner's permission. This kind of advertising is often seen in high-traffic areas to reach a large audience.

Building wraps

A banner or other promotional material is posted on the exterior of a building to attract attention to the business's new product or service.

Vehicle wraps

Promotional message wrapping on vehicles is a popular form of mobile advertising, which can help generate brand awareness and reach a large audience.

Street art

Leaving branded messages or images in public spaces can take many forms, such as graffiti, wheat pasting (applying an adhesive material to surfaces), and street chalk art.

Public relations stunts

Companies sometimes seek publicity by doing outlandish things, such as setting a world record, hiring a celebrity spokesperson, or creating an attention-getting advertisement.

Point-of-Sale Displays

A point-of-sale display is marketing material placed near the cash register or point of purchase in a store. This display aims to attract customer's attention and persuade them to purchase a product. Point-of-sale displays can be made from cardboard, plastic, or metal, as well as from temporary materials.

There are several different types of point-of-sale displays.

Signs and Posters

Signs and posters are the most basic and affordable type of point-of-purchase display. They can advertise specific products, promote sales or discounts, or brand your store. Signs and posters can be placed on walls, shelves, or anywhere within sight of customers who are making a purchase.

Shelf Displays

Shelving is often used in grocery stores and other retail establishments to promote products, increase brand awareness, or drive sales. These displays are made from various materials, including paper, cardboard, wood, or metal.

Coupons

Point-of-sale (POS) displays that display coupons can increase sales by offering customers discounts on slow-moving items. These displays can be placed at the POS or given to customers in person.

Interactive Displays

An experiential marketing campaign often involves interactive displays. These may range from simple games and contests to elaborate virtual reality experiences. Point-of-sale (POS) displays that interact with customers by engaging them directly or offering games and contests can help you excite them about your products.

Floor Displays

Floor displays can help promote your business with special offers, new products, and seasonal items. Customize your trade show displays with your company name, slogan, and contact information.

Countertop Displays

The countertop display is smaller than the floor display, but it's just as effective. The materials used to make countertop displays are cardboard, wood, acrylic, and metal. Impulse purchases are common at these displays and can be placed near the register or in high-traffic areas.

Window Displays

Use window displays as point-of-sale (POS) displays to promote your products, brand, or sales. Many retailers use them in their storefront windows but can also be used in other high-traffic areas of the store. Static or interactive displays can be created depending on the objectives of the display.

Hanging Displays

Hanging displays are a type of point-of-purchase display. They can be hung from a ceiling, wall, or rack and are typically made of cardboard, paper, or plastic.

Trade Show Displays

Trade show displays are posters or kiosks used to promote businesses or products at trade shows. They usually incorporate some graphic design to emphasize the company or product and often include a space for attendees to leave their contact information so they can be followed up after the event.

Sampling Stations

A sampling station is a physical location where a product or service can be tested. Tasting samples, product demonstrations, and short service trials are all examples of sampling stations. These "try-before-you-buy" opportunities help companies connect with potential customers and collect customer feedback—either directly from customers or via the assessments of staff members at the sampling station.

Transit Advertising

Transit advertising involves using buses, trains, trams, and subways to deliver advertisements. Bus and train passengers are a captive audience who see a message multiple times throughout a journey; this makes them a good target for advertisers. Transit advertising can reach many people within a short period in a specific area by targeting specific demographics. Companies of all sizes can benefit from transit advertising because it helps them reach customers in their area.

Retail Advertising

Retail advertising is outdoor advertising that promotes special sales or events at a retail store. It can be found on signs or billboards near the store window, in newspapers, on television, and online.

Retail advertising promotes special sales or events, such as holidays or clearance sales, to encourage customers to shop at a specific store and increase interest in that store's products or services. It is often used to announce brand-new products or services and promote upcoming events.

Retail advertising is typically short-term and intended to create a sense of urgency. Ads are often placed close to the store so customers will see them as soon as they pass by. Combining this type of advertising with other marketing efforts, such as in-store displays or promotions, can effectively market your business.

Street Furniture

Advertising on street furniture can be a good way to reach people in the city. Here are nine types of such advertising:

1. Bus shelters
2. Street benches
3. Phone booths
4. Street lamps
5. Newsstands
6. Taxi cabs
7. Subways
8. Airports
9. Buildings

Aerial advertisement

Aerial advertising is made up of two types: skywriting and banner towing. Skywriting involves an aircraft flying through the sky and using smoke-emitting devices to write a message. This advertising method was widely used during World War I to boost morale. Banner towing involves lighter-than-air aircraft pulling a banner across the sky to promote a business or event.

Banner towing is an aerial advertising technique in which a banner is attached to a large helium balloon and flown behind an aircraft while in flight. This form of advertising has the advantage of reaching a large audience, though it is costly. Before deciding whether or not this is the right strategy for your goals and budget, consider how it can be used to promote concerts, festivals, and other events.

A-frames

A-frames, also known as sandwich boards, are outdoor advertisements used by small businesses and individuals. They are made of sturdy cardboard and feature a graphic on both sides. By drawing pedestrians' attention, A-frames can effectively increase foot traffic to your business.

A-frames are used for various advertising purposes, including promoting sales or special events, advertising upcoming products or services, or directing customers to your business. A-frames can also serve as directional signs for your business, helping customers find it. Use bright colors and eye-catching graphics to make your A-frame stand out. Make sure your message is clear and concise to grab the attention of your target audience.

How To Design Outdoor Ads?

If you do not have in-house designers, it is possible to hire freelance designers or agencies to create your outdoor advertisements. It would be best to consider the consistency of your graphic design needs and your budget when choosing between hiring an individual designer or a company that provides outsourced services.