It can be hard to attract new customers to your business from word of mouth.Renting a billboard can help you draw people in, if you want to advertise in a way that is sure to capture a lot of attention.If you want to promote your local business, a special event, or a seasonal promotion, you should use billboards.We will walk you through how to find the best place for your billboard and make the most effective ad.
Step 1: To get the most traffic, choose an urban location.
If you put your advertisement closer to the city, more people will see it.Sometimes a billboard can be found, but you may also be able to advertise on the side of a building.You can check for available billboards within the city limits or on major freeways that pass through where your business is located.In New York City, a month-long lease on a billboard can cost $200,000USD.
Step 2: There is a billboard in a rural area.
The price of a billboard is usually determined by how much traffic passes by, so locations outside of the city won't cost you as much.Rural billboards can still help build awareness for your brand, even though you won't reach as many people with your advertisement.There are billboards a little further away from the city along minor highways.For a 4-week period, billboards that are outside of smaller cities can cost up to $2,500.
Step 3: If you want to make a dynamic advertisement, use a digital billboard.
Digital billboards can be used if you want to change the information in your ads.Digital billboards are more expensive than print, but they might be more cost-effective in larger cities.In cities like Atlanta or Indianapolis, a digital billboard ad could cost $4,000 a month.Everyone that passes by might not see your billboard.
Step 4: If you have a restaurant or shop, you can find a billboard near it.
If you tried advertising in a place hundreds of miles away, you wouldn't get much traffic to your business.People don't have to travel far to get to your location if you check for billboards that are along major highways.Local commuters and travelers only need to go a few minutes past the billboard to reach you.Businesses and products that appeal to larger audiences are the ones that use billboards.If you sell only vegan food, it won't appeal to a lot of people.
Step 5: You can find billboards online to broaden your search.
You can find which companies are available online, even if you can't get in touch with them on a billboard.You can find billboard rentals on company sites, such as Lamar, Clear Channel, or CBS outdoor.You can find billboards in the surrounding area by typing in your address on the website.You can get an idea of what a billboard looks like by looking at a picture on a website.
Step 6: You can check out the area and traffic by visiting the billboard.
If you want to rent a billboard, make sure to check it out for yourself.If the billboard is visible to people that are passing by, pay attention to how close it is to the road.If locals or people just passing through town are the main people who would see your billboard, it might affect how you write your advertisement.You can usually find the traffic information from the company that owns the billboard, but you should still take the time to look at it.
Step 7: The owner is listed on the billboard.
You can usually find the name of the company that owns the billboard below the current advertisement.If the billboard is empty, they may even list a phone number or website where you would normally see the ad.If there are any restrictions on what types of ad campaigns you can run, contact the company and ask for a price quote.Lamar, Clear Channel, and CBS Outdoor are some of the largest billboard companies in the United States.Give the company your email address and ask for more information about the billboard you want.
Step 8: You should display your ad for a month.
Depending on the billboard's owner, you will usually have to run your advertisement for a minimum of 4–6 weeks.Check your advertising budget to see how long you can afford it, and ask the owner what time periods they use to lease the billboard space.You might be able to get a discounted rate if you rent the billboard for multiple months.
Step 9: If you want to rent billboards, try to negotiate a discount.
If you really want to promote your business or service, ask the owner of the billboards if you can get a reduced rate by renting more billboards.Some of your money may be reimbursed by them to help cover the costs of the billboards.Pick a different location in your area so you can reach more people.
Step 10: The billboard's owner needs to sign a lease agreement.
The owner will draw up a lease agreement with the rates you discussed once you agree on the location and time that you want to run your ad.Make sure you read through the agreement thoroughly to be aware of the terms and prices.The owner will show you how to pay and any specifications you need to follow in order to make your ad.When you sign the lease, you may have to make a down-payment.When you sign the agreement, ask the billboard owner what they expect.
Step 11: To feature in your advertisement, choose a single image.
It is difficult to determine what you are advertising with billboards that have a lot of images.Pick a large picture to be the focal point of your billboard.You might include a picture of the product you are selling in your shop or restaurant.If you offer insurance or legal help, you might want to include a picture of your team.If you run a local steakhouse, you might want to include a close-up of the steak cooking on the grill.You can take a picture of yourself if you offer legal help.A picture of someone who is performing or speaking is ideal for a special event.If you don't use a high-quality image, it will look blurry when it's blown up to full size.
Step 12: Use 7 words or less to write a call to action.
People don't have time to read a lot of information when driving past billboards.Simple and clear messages that capture what your business offers are what you should be trying to advertise.Make the text between 10 and 24 inches (25–61 cm) tall and choose a font that is easy to read, such as Arial, Calibri, Impact, or Helvetica.It is easier to see the text in the middle of the billboard.If you have a restaurant, you could say, "Try our famous BBQ Ribs!"If you are promoting an event, you could say something like, "Next Exit!"October 30th is Monster Truck month.If you offer a service such as legal help, you can say something like: "Have you been injured in a car accident?"It will be difficult to read your advertisement if you don't leave enough space between words.
Step 13: You should include your business logo and contact information.
Without a way to reach you, people will have a hard time finding your business.You should include a phone number or website where someone can easily reach you.If you are advertising a location that is close to the billboard, you can include the address or exit someone needs to take to find you.It is 10 inches (25 cm) tall if you place your information closer to the bottom of the advertisement.It is possible to include something like, " Find us on Facebook or Twitter for more info" to help promote your business more.
Step 14: It is possible to make your billboard more eye-catching by using contrasting colors.
It can be hard to read billboards if you use dull colors.Try different colors to make your advertisement pop.If you want to build your brand's recognition, try to choose colors that are consistent with your logo or any other ads you are running.If you want to see black text on a white background, you can use a red background.
Step 15: If you can, try to extend your design out from the edge of the billboard.
The rectangular shape of most billboards makes them look the same.If you are able to make the image jut out from the top or side edges of the billboard, it will be more visually interesting.You have to ask the billboard owners if you can incorporate it into the design.It is possible to have an image of a fork with food on it on a billboard.It is possible to have a car look like it is driving off a billboard.
Step 16: If you change the design on your billboard each month, it will stay fresh.
Commuters and other people passing your billboard won't look at it as often after a month.Plan out a few different designs for what you want to replace the billboard with.Try to stick with the same color scheme or theme so people don't get confused.There are many billboards that have the same graphic design and cow illustrations.The first one says Eat Mor Chikin, the second saysBeef Puts U 2 Sleep, and the third saysTry Grilld Chi Kin.Itz Smokin.
Step 17: If you don't want to design it yourself, hire an advertising agency.
It might be difficult to recreate exactly what you envision in a billboard ad, since you can always make your own.Ask for quotes on how much it costs to design a billboard.To make the most effective ad for your business, explain your vision to the agency.It will cost between 500 and 1000 dollars for someone to design a billboard.The company that rents the billboard may offer designs as part of their fee.An advertising agency can help you understand how to reach your audience.
Step 18: Send the files to the billboard company.
Email your design to the company representative when you are happy with it.If you need to make any changes, they will let you know.You don't have to worry about hiring someone else to do it for you because the billboard company already has printers and installers lined up.To confirm their terms, check with the company.