What is a Billboard Advertisement? How Is It Different from Other Media Types?

It’s a beautiful Sunday morning and you and your family are going to a nearby hill station. While you are driving a car on the highway, you see a giant square structure promoting a Hotel that operates in your destination area. You needed that so you noted the number and made a call. This is how outdoor advertising works! And that huge structure is called a Billboard Advertisement.

What is a Billboard Advertisement?

Billboards are huge metal structures you see everywhere. These billboards are used as an advertising space by brands to promote their products and services. Remember those huge structures alongside the highways? They are the typical billboards every brand talks about! Billboards typically come in 3m×6m dimensions. However, they vary in size. The overall motive of placing a billboard advertisement is to reach the maximum number of people, boost brand awareness, drive sales, or all of these combined. So media houses place billboards in the most high-traffic areas such as highways where thousands of vehicles pass by or commercial districts where there is heavy footfall. Notably, billboards are not new! While the modern printed Billboard was first created in 1935 in the US, its history goes back to ancient times. Archaeologists have stone-carved billboards in ancient Egypt and the Indus Valley Civilisation. The Dholavira billboard is expected to be created in 300-1500 BCE. In recent years, Billboards have started incorporating digital technologies such as LED & LCD screens to show dynamic content. One of the major reasons why brands keep coming back to Billboard advertisements is its creative flexibility and proven track record. Billboards are highly recognizable due to their large size and the space can be used in different ways. While some brands like ‘Zomato’ use intriguing texts to connect with the audiences, ‘Amul’ uses animated characters with current affairs to attract eyes.

How Is Billboard Advertisement Different from Other Media Types?

Billboard advertisements are not the only method of Indian advertising. There are banners, posters, kiosks, transit ads, digital ads, etc. But why are billboards special among these? Why brands opt for billboards to communicate with their audiences.Here are some factors that make billboards differ from other outdoor ads.

1.  Visual impact

As we have talked earlier, billboards are huge in size. They are mostly placed in the high traffic areas such as alongside the highways or in the city markets. Being one of the biggest advertising formats, billboards are easily visible even from a distance. They are easily recognizable and attract audiences like nothing else. Their visual impact lasts long when brands innovate and choose creativity instead of the same boring advertising formula.
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2. Targeted placement

Billboards can be found across the country. That means you can choose the best possible strategic locations for your ad placement.When we say strategic, we are not only referring to the number of footfalls or traffic. Instead, we consider specific demographics like age, income, and interests along with everyday traffic. Targeting such geographical placements leads to optimum results.
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3. Wide reach

What are the most prominent features of Billboard advertising is its ability to cater to diverse audiences. As they are mostly placed in the most prominent areas of the cities or the highways, they are seen by all people passing through. This lets you connect with the audiences with whom you would struggle to connect elsewhere.
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4. Unmissable

There are lots of variations of outdoor advertising including the digital ones. However, billboards stand as their king. But how? Billboards are huge, bold, unapologetic, and can't be missed! With the size of a giant, they don't need to compete with the TV ads, social media ads, or even small-size outdoor advertisements. People can't ignore a 3m×6m huge metal structure pointing at them directly.
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5.  Cost-effective

Billboards don't come for cheap prices. However, they might be a budget-friendly alternative to TV or radio ads. Notably, billboards are one of the most cost-effective methods in terms of reach and impact.

Conclusion

Billboard advertising is one of the oldest outdoor advertisements. They are huge, attractive, lively, and can't be missed by people. The traditional billboards are static in nature and they still work but the modern billboards use digital technologies and custom creativity to engage more with the viewers. Billboards have some of the most prominent factors working for them such as their high visibility, diverse reach, strategic placement, and cost-effectiveness compared to the TV ads. These are some reasons why brands love and choose them again & again. Want to rocket-boost your brand visibility with Billboard Advertising? Contact Vigyapan Mart today!

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