The term billboard is typically associated with large, outdoor advertisements that try to grab your attention by being very eye-catching. But this definition is too limited!
In fact, the word “billboard” comes from the French language and means “a notice posted somewhere so people can read it”. So if you want to know more about how digital billboards work, learn what a billboard is in the context of online advertising.
Digital billboards are not just large displays that say catchy slogans. They are interactive media designed to capture and process information from users. More importantly, they generate revenue for their owners via targeted ads.
There are several types of digital billboards, but all use technology to display content or ads to viewers. Some do it through an app or website, while others use mobile devices such as phones and tablets directly.
This article will go into detail on three different styles of digital billboards, including a unique type called a moving billboard. When done right, these billboards can be powerful marketing tools that inspire action.
History of billboards
Billboard advertisements have gone through several major changes in their history. They began as large static posters that would hang from street signs or buildings, and eventually moved into being a medium for advertising messages. As technology advanced, they later became interactive!
Today’s billboards are not only much more expensive than any other form of media, but also take advantage of technological advances like mobile phone apps, GPS, and virtual reality.
The way advertisers use digital billboards has changed dramatically too. Early billboard ads were mostly focused on selling a product, but today people will go beyond just that- giving context to what you should do with your life, encouraging you to perform certain actions, and even inspiring you to put yourself before others!
This is why some say that digital billboards offer an experience similar to watching a movie. You are actively listening to persuasive arguments and getting motivated towards something goal oriented.
Digital billboards
The next major evolution in billboard design is the digital billboard, also known as an interactive billboard or a moving graphic display (MGD).
Just like normal billboards, these screens can advertise for brands, show videos, contain games, etc. But what makes them different is that they do so via computer graphics instead of printed media.
Digital billboards are typically very large — some are over 40 feet tall! They’re expensive because there are lots of costs associated with designing, manufacturing, and installing the screen.
But advertisers pay to place their ads on digital billboards every hour of the day, even during non-business hours. This gives them more exposure than traditional billboards, which only work when the market is open.
Interactive billboards also give you more options for content. You could add cartoons, YouTube clips, or full length movies. That’s not possible with a standard static billboard advertisement.
Platforms that use digital billboards
Most major companies have an app or platform that uses a billboard as its main form of advertising. These apps usually feature you create your account using your email, then you can access the ad space, add videos or graphics, and customize the color scheme.
The advertisements are typically controlled by someone else– most likely through third party software that manages all the ads for the site the billboard is attached to.
Important factors in digital billboards
The next major factor to consider is how well designed your billboard will be. There are many different styles that can be used for billboards, but there is one style that seems to dominate the market – the backlit display.
A back-lighted screen uses reflective materials or light sources behind the glass surface of the billboard to produce an image. This design was first popularized by televisions, where it became best known as a way to see what programs were coming up while watching TV.
However, this feature has since been adapted for use with other media such as computer screens and now digital billboards!
There are several types of backlighting systems. One of the more common ones is using cold cathodes which require very high voltages to work properly. Because of this, most digital billboards use hot cathode designs instead. A hot cathode design does not need as much power, making them better suited for outdoor environments.
Another important part of designing a good billboard is choosing appropriate material for the frame. Materials like steel and aluminum are durable, cost effective, and conduct heat effectively, making them ideal choices.
Last, make sure your billboard is outfitted with the correct amount of ventilation. If no air is able to circulate through the device, then overheating could occur.
Marketing your digital billboard
The next step in creating your own billboard marketing campaign is deciding what kind of message you want to spread. This article will talk about some types of billboards and how to use them for different messages and campaigns.
The first type of billboard that we will look at are those that promote a product, service, or brand. These are called advertisement billboards. Advertisements are good candidates for this type of billboard because they aim to sell a product or services.
You can create advertisements for anything—it doesn’t even have to be connected to selling products! For example, you could make an advertisement billboard telling people to try out a new smartphone line before buying the standard model.
Another option would be making an advertisement billboard promoting a certain movie that has incredible reviews. Or maybe it’s a book that everyone should read. Whatever it may be, if there is enough interest then people will buy the item… so why not help market it?
But aside from just advertising products, these billboards also serve as great tools to advertise brands. An advertiser might pay to put their logo up so that it looks professional and flashy. Or they might pay to put up a more casual reminder of their company (like “Keep in touch with us! We’d love to keep talking”).
Digital billboards do not cost much money to run either. Because they are online, anyone can access them which helps their exposure.
Designing your billboard
The next step in designing your digital Billboard is choosing your location and medium! Depending on your budget, you can choose to go totally mobile or retain some consistency at your workplace or with your business.
For example, if your company has an office then that would be perfect for creating a billboard. You could take down the billboard when you are not using it and put up a new one when you are able to access the space more frequently.
Alternatively, if you work from home then keeping it consistently computerized makes sense.
Regulations and restrictions
There are some limitations to what you can do with digital billboards, regulation wise. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has limited how many units you can have in each city depending on whether it is considered an antenna or not. Some states also regulate billboard height and placement more strictly than federal law allows.
In general though, using a digital billboard for advertising is much less restrictive than using a traditional billboard. You don’t need a license to operate one, for example, nor are there limits on the number of signs you can own.
There are still regulations around the use of light emission from the screen, but these are usually focused on ensuring that people aren’t being distracted by the lights while driving.
Who should run a digital billboard campaign?
As we discussed, running a billboard advertising campaign is not for the faint of heart or inexperienced marketers. You will need to have a steady hand when giving the vehicle creative freedom to speak about something that may be uncomfortable for some.
That said, there are several people who can handle this task with success. An experienced marketer can create incredible advertisements, which are very effective at drawing attention to a brand’s products.
The main person behind the success of a billboard ad campaign is the individual responsible for coming up with the concept and advertisement. This person must be able to brainstorm potential slogans and messages to fit the advertisement as well as the marketing message it conveys.
They also need to be savvy in media production, so they know how to edit videos, use Photoshop, and other similar software programs to produce strong ads. Beyond that, they must be familiar with all aspects of the advertising industry, from regulations to cost-effective ways to advertise.
