10 Low Cost Outdoor Advertising Techniques

 

There is one mistake the small and medium companies make more often than the large corporations. They don’t plan budgets and actions for advertising.

Most people who plan to start a new business or run a small business have an “if we have an additional budget, we use for advertising” approach.

For most of them, advertising is an expense and not an investment. They must be aware that things are exactly the opposite. An intelligent marketing and clever advertising always work, but they must be a permanent part of the business plan. Advertising cost is usually 1% up to  5% of the gross sale. It can vary according to the industry, local advertising rates, and location. You don’t need to have “deep pockets” in order to have an effective advertising strategy.

The outdoor advertising is an important part of the communication strategy. It helps you communicate with your potential customers while they are outside their homes. Being creative in mixing of the different outdoor techniques on the one hand, and their combination with other advertising actions, on the other hand, will ensure you great exposure and effective communication of your message to your clients. By the end, you will gain brand awareness, increased sales, and higher net profit and a better return on investment percentage. As I have mentioned before, not all advertising techniques work for everyone. And you don’t need huge amounts of money in order to have an effective outdoor advertising campaign. Especially the startups and the small businesses.

There are many methods in outdoor advertising actions that don’t require large budgets and which may be included in guerrilla advertising category.

Here are 10 low-cost outdoor advertising techniques I hope could be of help for you:

1. Vehicle advertising

Vehicle advertising is one of the most effective advertising tools, allowing you to transform your company’s car or fleet of cars into mobile billboards. Wraps are designed to promote your brands or company on your car or fleet of cars, which is constantly moving, gaining a larger audience.

2. Outdoor signage

Good outdoor signage is essential for every business. Firstly, because the outdoor signage is a landmark for your customers who want to visit your office or store. Second, because you use your space and you don’t need to book other outdoor space in order to do this. Third, because you can be as creative as you want. Before you design and install outdoor signage, you must check your local rules on outdoor advertising. You can also contact a company which is specialized in advertising production. The specialists will know how to design and install your outdoor signage to attract customers and to be safe.

3. Mobile billboards

Mobile billboards are customized trucks with large bodies for posting the advertisements. Lately, a trend is to use smaller but more distinctive looking mini mobile billboards, both because they can sneak easier in congested traffic and they are economical in terms of consumption or they are completely green. These are one-seated vehicles or bikes having a very short wheelbase. They can be parked sideways, so the large advertising panels on the side are facing the traffic flow.

4. Pavement signs

You may find the pavement signs outside of storefronts or high street shops. Usually, a pavement sign has two equal faces, both sizes being suitable to display posters, flyer, brochures, etc. One of the most common types of pavement sign is an A-Board. Almost all the A-Boards have sign snap shut frames which allow the advertising media to be changed quickly. It is also less stable in windy conditions. This is a reason why many businesses prefer the Swinger and Sight Master range. They are weighted at the base and more stable in windy positions.

5. Outdoor Displays

The outdoor displays are also a  very effective outdoor advertising way for increasing your brand awareness or promote a product or a service. We may include in this category a range of outdoor flags, banner frames, roll-ups, umbrellas, deck chairs and so on.

6. Bus advertising

For bus advertising, the advertisers use buses and their related infrastructure to reach the audience with their message. The adverts may be placed in bus shelters, inside the buses, printed on the bus tickets, or may be partially or fully wrapped. Used also by the large corporation in order to advertise their brands, this way of advertising is much more dedicated to the businesses that operate on the local markets and need to find their customers nearby.

7. Taxi advertising

Taxi advertising allows you to highlight your products, whether brand awareness, or a targeted message, directly to areas where your customers or potential clients work, shop, and play. It offers you a large variety of formats to enable maximum reach and impact on the audience. These formats could include full cars wraps, standard or customized top signs, tip seats, taxi receipt pads, special formats, digital screens, brand ambassadors and more.

8. Street pole banners

Fully customized street pole banners are a great way to catch the attention of your targeted audience. It has the potential to attract much of the customer’s attention, to promote a product, a service, special events, and to increase brand awareness.

9. Posters

Posters are a great way to take advantages of the thousands of commuters in the bus, subway or trams. It can be created individually, in a series along subway station walls, or bus shelters to establish a more detailed and significant brand narrative. You may use the posters to promote the products or services offered by your company. Also for the upcoming events or seasonal offers while concentrating your efforts in locations that best relate to your company. Focusing efforts in these places helps you gain the attention of customers. Your advertisements are most likely to be of interest without wasting money on an irrelevant audience.

10. Graffiti advertising

Graffiti advertising is a great way of delivering your brand message especially to a younger audience in a more funny, entertaining and engaging way. It can be used when there is a connection between the brand being promoted and graffiti culture in general. In order to create this form of advertising in an effective way, you can invite a local graffiti artist to create your advertisements.