Over the years, we’ve witnessed an array of advertising methods, from dibond signage to outdoor banners. Arguably, one of the most effective methods of making someone pay attention is with a large billboard placed strategically in a public place.

Research has suggested that the first billboard was used sometime in the 1830s across New York City, with the first business leased one in 1867. However, since then, this form of print marketing has become a staple of advertising and has even played a part on the silver screen as a crucial prop in recent blockbuster, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

There’s many benefits to billboards too, including an increased ROI. If you’re not convinced, find out why billboard advertising might be the boost your brand needs…

The power of billboard advertisement

Did you know that in the UK, the average Brit spends 16 minutes in the view of an advertisement when walking around? Why not target your consumer during this window of opportunity with a large, quality, well-located billboard in a place with high footfall or traffic?

The process of creating a billboard is simple too and won’t take any additional effort to make when working with the right providers. Need something effective up and running in a hurry? A billboard is a single page of design, which should save you time when putting together a template that will offer maximum ROI.

The Marketing Rule of 7 is something that you must consider. This theory claims that a consumer must hear or see an advertising message at least seven times before taking action. By placing an outdoor banner in a public place where people will pass every day or a few times a day — like on the way to work or when dropping off and picking up their kids from school — you can help hit this number and potentially increase your brand’s chances of a conversion.

When it comes to billboards, there’s no denying that they are effective. So, how do you make sure your billboards are as effective as possible?

Planning the design of your billboard

Your billboard is like any other advertisement, and you should carefully think about your design — as it will be on a much larger scale. However, if your billboard will be placed at the side of a high-speed road, this creates an even greater demand for noticeability. Think strategically about what you want on your billboard — someone driving past at 40mph+ is only going to be able to take in so much. What is your marketing objective? Do you want to sell a specific product? Are you spreading brand awareness? Promoting an event? Determine exactly what you want to achieve from your advertisement and provide only the essential information — like contact number, name of product or date and location of event.

According to research, people generally only recall 10% of information they hear three days later. However, using a relevant image alongside this information increases retention by 55%. When designing your billboard, try and think of a funny or quirky image that will grab and hold a passer-by’s attention — such as cake brand, Mr Kipling’s, clever and unusual image of a bunny made using only Cherry Bakewell cakes as part of its Easter marketing campaign. Due to the size of a billboard, your images can pack a more powerful punch, so focus on getting the image perfect and then build your design from there.

Clarity is essential if you want people to not only notice your billboard but also consume the information on it. Utilise bright and bold colours to catch the eye — contrasting colours are reportedly stay in people’s memories for longer, too — and opt for a simple background and large, readable text — Sans Serif is a good shout.

Will you be placing your billboard near a road? A driver typically has five to ten seconds to view an ad, which means you need to consider copy length. The more relevant and informative your image is, the less you should need to convey with text — stick to a brief, punchy message of seven words and you should get your marketing message across, no problem.

Consider the whereabouts of your audience and whether your chosen placement will be beneficial. For example, if your products are for 18-21-years-olds, find a site near a university or college. Otherwise, you could reduce your ROI due to not being in sight of the people who are most likely to engage and act on your ad.

To connect with your audience on a personal level, local campaigns must be relatable. Include an image of a local landmark to create a sense of familiarity or reference the local traffic in a funny way. Humour generally works in advertising. According to a review of 6,500 ads, the funniest were usually cited as being the most appealing and memorable. What’s more, adopting this personal and familiar approach creates a sense of friendliness, so you’ll also exude a more welcoming brand persona — which will be more encouraging to a potential customer.

For successful results, you really should be considering a billboard and placing it in a core location that can raise brand awareness. Where will you be placing your billboard?