Advertising in Outdoor Media

Advertising in Outdoor Media Out-of-home advertising (or outdoor advertising) is made up of more than 100 different formats. Outdoor advertising is essentially any type of advertising that reaches the consumer while he or she is outside the home. This medium is in contrast with broadcast, print, and Internet advertising. Out of home advertising, therefore, is focused on marketing to consumers when they are “on the go” in public places, in transit, waiting (such as in a medical office), and/or in specific commercial locations (such as in a retail venue).
Outdoor advertising formats fall into four main categories: billboards, street furniture, transit, and alternative. Billboard advertising is a traditional out of home advertising format, but there has been significant growth in digital out of home advertising (billboards and place-based networks) in recent years. Traditional roadside billboards remain the predominant form of outdoor advertising. Street furniture is made up of formats such as bus shelters, news-racks, mall kiosks, and telephone booth advertising. This form of outdoor advertising is mainly seen in urban centers.
Additionally, this form of advertising provides benefits to communities, as street furniture companies are often responsible for building and maintaining the shelters people use while waiting for the bus. Transit advertising is typically advertising placed on anything which moves, such as buses, subway advertising, truck-side, and taxis, but also includes fixed static and electronic advertising at train and bus stations and platforms. Airport advertising, which helps businesses address an audience while traveling, is also included in this category.

Municipalities often accept this form of advertising, as it provides revenue to city and port authorities. Finally, alternative advertising includes ads in stadiums, on gas pumps, bike racks, rest areas, and other non-traditional formats. Alternative advertising provides a way to address consumers in places they may not expect. DOOH Digital out-of-home refers to dynamic media distributed across placed-based networks in venues including, but not limited to: cafes, bars, restaurants, health clubs, colleges, arenas, gas stations, and public spaces.
DOOH networks typically feature independently addressable screens, kiosks, jukeboxes and/or jumbotrons. DOOH media benefits location owners and advertisers alike in being able to engage customers and/or audiences and extend the reach and effectiveness of marketing messages. It is also referred to as Digital Signage. The reason that this category is growing so rapidly is because busy people are typically busy at home and with the introduction and acceptance of digital video recorders, it has diluted the frequency with which traditional television commercials are viewed.
Every day more TV viewers are skipping past commercials with their DVRs which in turn has made out-of-home advertising all the more appealing. A Nielsen media research study in 2009 showed that 91 percent of DVR owners skipped commercials. As a result, traditional TV advertisers are hungry for an effective substitute, and digital out-of-home ads appear to be one of the solutions. DOOH also includes stand-alone screens, kiosks, and interactive media found in public places.
The availability of inexpensive LCD screens with built-in media players has opened the door for companies to add interactive video messages in Point of Purchase (POP) Displays. The displays allow consumers to get additional information at the moment of decision on a product or service. Growth in the DOOH industry has been increasing in 2009, with more POP manufacturers, advertisers, and content developers moving to digital. Non-Digital Out-Of-Home Non-digital out-of-home refers to other types of media distributed across physical spaces.
These are: Airship Advertising – An airship can provide one of the physically largest out-of-home advertising platforms. Bulletin – Bulletin billboards are usually located in highly visible, heavy traffic areas such as expressways, primary arteries, and major intersections. With extended periods of high visibility, billboard advertisements provide advertisers with significant impact on commuters. Bus advertising – Firmly establish brand awareness and generate quick recall with high profile exposure near point of purchase locations. Commuter rail display – Reaches a captive audience of upscale suburban commuters.
Additionally, reaches lunch-time patrons, shoppers and business professionals. ComPark advertising – ComPark is a device used for car park advertising; which is placed onto the parallel lines of a bay and is able to gain instant exposure from motorists that have just parked their vehicle. The ComPark also serves as a guide to assist motorist in adhering to the parking bay size. Lamppost banner advertising – Lamp columns are sited everywhere, allowing advertisers and events to use banners to target precise geographical locations and create massive promotional awareness.
Mobile billboard – Mobile billboards offer a great degree of flexibility to advertisers. These advertisements can target specific routes, venue or events, or can be used to achieve market saturation. A special version is the inflatable billboard which can stand free nearly everywhere. This product can also be used for outdoor movie nights. Poster – Target local audiences with these billboards, which are highly visible to vehicular traffic and are ideal for the introduction of new products/services.
Marketers use posters to achieve advertising objectives and increase brand awareness by placing multiple units in strategic locations while lowering the cost per thousand impressions. Premier panel – Premiere panels combine the frequency and reach of a poster campaign with the creative impact of a bulletin. Premier square – Bright top and bottom illumination on a premiere panel provide extra impact after dark. Street advertising – The use of pavements and street furniture to create media space for brands to get their message onto the street in a cost-effective approach.
Taxi advertising – Taxi advertising allows advertisers to highlight their products, whether brand awareness, or a targeted message, directly to areas where people work, shop, and play. Wallscape – Wallscapes are attached to buildings and are able to accommodate a wide variety of unusual shapes and sizes. These billboard advertisements are visible from a distance and provide tremendous impact in major metro area. Other types of non-digital out-of-home advertising include airport displays; transit and bus-shelter displays; headrest displays; double-sided panels; junior posters; and mall displays.