Do you know what business professionals and real estate owners have in common? They both can boost their annual revenue through advertising–specifically, through street advertising, which is also called out-of-home advertising.
Have you ever been to Times Square in New York or Piccadilly Circus in London? If so, then you’ve had firsthand experience at the hubs of street advertising, and you likely noticed that those ads were more memorable than those digital ads you see on the side of a website.
If you are a business owner looking for the best way to advertise or a real estate owner who wants to boost revenue by selling ad space, then you’re in the right place. In this guide, we walk you through everything you need to know about street advertising and how you can start a campaign–read on!
What is Street Advertising?
Let’s start at the beginning. What exactly is street advertising? Well, it is any form of advertising that reaches customers when they are outside of their homes; this is why it is also commonly called Out-Of-Home Advertising (OOH). It can come in many forms, which we will discuss later.
For now, know that street advertising is all about catching the eye of potential customers as they go about their business. Every time a person commutes, they will be able to see various forms of street ads; a billboard on the side of the highway or a poster on the wall of the subway are examples of this kind of advertising.
What are the Different Types of Street Advertising?
Having mentioned some of the types of street advertising mediums that exist, why don’t we give you a full list?
Perhaps the most popular and well-known type is the billboard. These are enormous, traditional signs that are usually seen on busy roadways, such as highways or freeways.
Similar to that is the digital billboard, which is the high-tech version of the traditional one, but it still performs the same function.
Street ads are another type, and these are any ads that are seen on the street level by pedestrians. They can be anything from banners, posters, flyers, signs, stickers, and more.
Transit ads are the transit version of street ads. These are ads placed around train stations, subways, bus stops, and other similar locations.
Another type is the storefront ad, which can be window signs, sidewalk signs, and doorway banners.
Lastly, there are guerilla ads. These unconventional ads are creative and can be anything from chalk art to interactive works.
Is Street Advertising Effective in the Digital Age?
Now, with smartphones, smart TVs, websites, videos, and more, isn’t street advertising a little old-fashioned? A better phrase for it is “tried and true.” While digital web advertising is useful in the right circumstances, it lacks an important factor.
On websites with digital ads, the customer can ignore them and click away, or on video ads, they can click that little “skip ads” button, and that’s it. Every time a viewer does this, the business that bought that ad space is losing money.
On the other hand, street advertising doesn’t let the viewer ignore it or click away from it. Moreover, when you place a street ad in the right spot, you can get a consistent number of views from people who have to get to where they are going. Another benefit of street advertising is that it builds brand awareness. When people walk by a poster every day, they are more likely to feel a sense of recognition and trust in the brand that owns that poster.
How Do I Run a Street Advertising Campaign?
So, are you interested in running a street advertising campaign for your business? Yes? Then, here are some of our tips on how to do so.
There are three primary things you want to consider before buying street or outdoor ad space–the type of advertising, the location, and the timing of when you will run the ad. If you neglect one of these areas in your planning, you could lose money in the long run, which is why you want to carefully plan and analyze your campaign before it even starts.
Type
While we have already listed the main types of street advertising you can choose from, in 2023, there are now more choices than ever before. From 360° signs to motion-activated video ads, there is something for every budget and purpose.
When planning your street advertising campaign, you will want to choose the ad medium that fits your brand image, location, style, and more. Be creative with it, but make sure you are choosing the type of ad that will draw in your target audience. For example, if your audience is middle-income millennials living in the hub of New York City, the best choice for an ad would be a high-tech digital billboard or video ad.
Location
The second key factor you need to consider is location. You want to place your street ad in an area that will reach the greatest number of your target audience. Additionally, think about the sorts of places your target audience spends most of their time and how your business ties into that. For instance, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to place an ad for vegan foods outside a Texas ranch.
Calculating potential traffic and footfall levels, as well as the frequency of these impressions, can also help you determine the best location to run your ad to achieve the most significant ROI.
Timing
Finally, you will want to figure out the best time to initiate your street advertising campaign. If you are running a time-sensitive campaign, such as a short-term sale or a holiday event, you will need to run your ad before and around that time. Also, if what you are advertising is associated with a particular season, like surfboards for summer or skis for winter, you will need to book your ad space for the months around the peak time for those sales.
Once you’ve chosen the right time to run your ads, you will need to book the space at least 3-6 months in advance. So, you definitely want to plan ahead.
Ready to Generate Revenue on Street Advertising?
Are you a business manager looking to run a street advertising campaign? Or are you a real estate owner who wants to boost revenue by selling street ad space? If so, it is a good idea to get in touch with pros in the field. We at Pearl Media are here for all your street advertising needs. Contact us today to find out how we can help you achieve your revenue goals!
