Is Billboard Advertising Still Effective?

With the world turning into a digitally-dominated era, you might find yourself asking, “Is billboard advertising still effective?” CarCareCONNECT is here to tell you that it absolutely is!

According to the 2013 Arbitron Out-Of-Home Advertising Study, nearly 70 percent of Americans have seen a billboard in the past month, and 60 percent remember seeing a billboard in the past week alone. Over 80 percent of Americans make a point to look at the billboard’s advertising message at least some of the time, and nearly half of Americans make it a point to look at billboards every single time they see them. After seeing that billboard, 39 percent of viewers told others about the billboard they saw and 8 percent of viewers blogged or posted on social media about the product advertised. Do you believe us yet?

It is important to get the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to billboard advertising, so we have compiled a list of some of the best ways to use billboards to drive customers into your shop.

 1. Be creative.

Don’t be afraid to show your creativity with the formatting and theme of your billboard. Viewers are more likely to remember the billboard if it is unique. Incorporating the billboard’s physical surroundings in the advertisement is a great way to make your billboard stand out in customers’ minds. If your billboard isn’t in an area where there are unique features to incorporate, think outside the box and change the format of your billboard to be something out of the ordinary. Both of these are excellent ways to get your billboard noticed.

2. Let viewers know who you are.

Showcase your auto repair shop’s name or slogan as a focal point of the billboard. Avoid including a phone number, website or address on the billboard. The main audience for billboards is drivers, and drivers don’t have time to write down a phone number while they’re flying down the highway at 70 miles per hour. If your auto shop has a well-known logo or mascot, including it on your billboard is another excellent way to help drivers immediately recognize your business. Make sure it is easy for a driver to remember your business so they can look you up once they have arrived at their destination.

3. Direct the billboard towards your target market.

Think about who you want to market your ad towards and create a message that they would respond well to. For example, this advertisement for the movie Deadpool probably isn’t marketed to 70 year olds. The use of emoji characters to recreate the movie title caters to a younger audience who is more likely to understand and respond well to the message. By tapping into what you think your target market would find attractive you have a much better chance of getting and keeping their attention.

4. Use humor.

A clever joke is always a great attention grabber and one of the best ways to get viewers to pay attention to your ad. After the audience passes your billboard, they will still be thinking about the joke, and in many cases it will still be on their mind as they go throughout their day.

5. Be clear about what you’re advertising.

Your brand should be clearly displayed and leave no room for ambiguity when it comes to describing the product or service you are advertising. Use big, bold fonts to help viewers hone in on what exactly the service is. For example, in Coca-Cola’s billboard the first thing you see is the giant Coke bottle, so you automatically know what is being advertised. Try to do something similar with your billboard so people immediately know what you’re advertising.

6. Don’t make it too complex.

Less is definitely more when it comes to text on billboards. Viewers only have a few seconds to grasp the billboard’s concept before they pass by, so make sure the advertisement is concise while still getting your message across. Try using as few words as possible so the driver can quickly comprehend the billboard’s message.

Make Your Presence Known

With media becoming increasingly available to consumers, your auto shop has the chance to stand out from the crowd by implementing these tips into your next billboard ad. By making unique, eye-catching ads, you are sure to increase awareness for your business and drive customers right to your front door.

Do you want to grow your shop?

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