When it comes to running successful brand awareness campaigns, nothing quite beats focusing on out-of-home advertising – especially billboards.
While billboard advertising has long been considered one of the original types of advertising, they are still just as relevant today as they were decades ago. This is because when they are done correctly, billboards are probably one of the most effective types of advertising that exists.
Firstly, there is an extremely high return on investment with this type of modality. Numerous studies have been conducted, specifically around Seattle billboards, in which they have found that for each dollar spent on this type of out-of-home advertising, there were around six dollars made in sales. That type of return on investment is nearly unheard of when it comes to other advertising channels.
Billboards are also extremely impactful because there is a guaranteed audience for it every single day. In fact, there are no ad blockers for billboards. Seattle billboards are placed in some of the most strategic and highly-visible locations throughout the city. So whether you are on foot or in a car, you are going to come into contact with the billboard whether you want to or not.
But it is not just the high reach and impact that makes billboards so effective. It is also the associated credibility that comes along with it. Having your brand on a billboard is a status symbol, meaning that people perceive these brands to be successful enough to afford this type of advertising in the first place (even though billboards are much more affordable than you may have once thought).
Also read: How Mobile Billboards Benefit Your Business.
5 Effective Billboard Design Tips
While billboards are extremely impactful, there still needs to be a lot of time, energy and thought that goes into strategizing the Billboard Design and messaging of this billboard. This is why we have gathered up the top billboard advertising design tips, so you can ensure get maximum results from investing in this out-of-home advertising channel.
1. Pick Locations Wisely
The first tip when it comes to creating an effective billboard design is to first select your locations wisely. The location that your billboard will be in will largely drive the messaging and design. If you are advertising on an airport billboard, you will likely want your message to resonate with travelers. If you are advertising on a billboard at a sporting arena, you will likely want your message to resonate with sports fans.
So before you even start going down the creative track, first decide what location you will be in. The location will then drive the Billboard Design.
2. Make it Simple
While you have a large area to work with, you still want your billboard advertisement to be simple and easy to understand. Just because it is bigger than a one-page magazine spread does not mean you have to fill the space with more words.
In fact, less is often more when it comes to a good billboard design. You likely want to say your point in no more than a few words, while also letting the supporting imagery or video tell the bigger story.
You will only have a few seconds to let your message sink into your target audience — with a simple almost always being easier for them to remember. The golden rule should be that your billboard never really has more than five to seven words at most.
3. Use Readable Fonts
Another important design factor to consider with billboard advertisements is to use clear and easy-to-read fonts. Billboards are often read as your audience is in transit, so you want to use fonts that will be highly visible and easy to comprehend quickly.
This is also where often a really impactful image can do the speaking for you. That way no matter what language the audience speaks, they can interpret the meaning of the image in association with your brand in a pretty consistent manner.
4. Pick High Contrast Colors
When you are deciding on the image to use and the color of the fonts and design elements to also incorporate, it is important to keep a high contrast in both the hue and the value. There have been numerous studies done on the importance of color on billboards. The results have shown that the greater the color contrast, the easier it is to see from further away and absorb the billboard’s message.
5. Mix Up Messages for Digital
If you are planning an advertisement for a digital billboard, then create more than one version. In fact, create multiple versions that play to different days of the week, weather scenarios, or speak to different audiences. This will also help you tell a deeper brand story in your billboard advertisement.
Think Outside the Box when it Comes to Creative Ideas for Outdoor Advertising.
Outdoor advertising has come a long way from traditional billboards. Today’s advertisers are getting really creative with their ads, thinking outside the box in an effort to get maximum engagement from their consumers.
From wild installations to interactive digital displays that give viewers the chance to engage with the advertisement itself, there are so many innovative ways of promoting a brand or product outdoors.
Additionally, companies can create mobile versions of their product display in order to bring it directly to their potential consumer base and generate further interest and excitement about a new launch or project.
Thinking outside the box for outdoor advertising is definitely recommended and it can certainly help to drive sales by creating memorable experiences for the consumer that they’ll remember for a long time.
Final Words on Outdoor Advertising
If you want to make sure your outdoor advertising is as effective as possible, keep these five billboard design tips in mind. From fonts to colors and everything in between, following these guidelines will help you grab attention and communicate your message clearly.
And of course, if you need any help along the way, our team at [X] is always happy to lend a hand. So don’t hesitate to reach out – we’d love to chat about how we can help get your brand noticed!
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