Renting a billboard in Chicago is an excellent way to market to those driving on their morning or evening commutes and those walking through the city. It’s a 24/7 marketing service that captures the attention of a diverse demographic.
If you’re considering using billboard advertisements to market your company, there’s a lot to know before you can rent a billboard. From determining what kind of billboard you want to use, where you want to place it, what story you’re going to tell with your design, and more, there’s a lot to know before renting a billboard.
On top of this, you want to make sure you stand out from your competition. There are thousands of billboards in Chicago alone, so why should residents want to look at yours? Here are 5 steps to take before renting a billboard that will show you everything you need to know about billboards and out-of-home marketing.
Table of contents
1. Explore Your Options for Renting a Billboard
If you’re trying to rent a billboard for your business, the first step to take is to explore your options. Shop around. Take a look at different billboard renters and compare things like pricing, options, location, and more.
Here’s why exploring your options is so important:
Location, Location, Location:
When it comes to marketing, time and place are everything. Billboards are up 24/7 and market to those who are out of their homes, but the location for your billboard is vital. Is it in a place that stands out? Is it in a place where your target audience will see it? Is it hidden, covered up, or near a bolder billboard that will steal the spotlight.
These are all things to consider before renting a billboard. To find the best location for your Chicago billboard, use this resource. You can compare geographic locations, the best places to advertise like tourist attractions, sports stadiums, and public transportation, and more.
Is your sign better for foot traffic or car traffic?
It can also help to determine whether your sign caters more to car traffic or foot traffic. If your sign has a lot of text and information to absorb or digest, it may be best to put it near foot traffic or standstill areas like intersections so people can read it. If your billboard is simple and brief, the highway may be the best place for it. Don’t be afraid to take creative direction with your billboard, however, as these are not hard and fast rules. If your audience includes those who’ve broken down on the highway, then a lot of words may make sense.
Visit the location yourself to make sure the board is in good condition and it’s clearly visible.
When checking the location, don’t rely on google maps or the billboard companies’ photos. It’s best to go to the location yourself to view it. Make sure there are no trees, buildings, or growth in the way and that your audience will be able to see it clearly.
2. Choose What Type of Billboard you Want
Next, it’s time to choose what type of billboard you want. There are many options, like a digital billboard, a regular billboard, a wallscape that hangs on prime real estate locations, wild postings which are posters, and transit advertisements.
You can choose based on the cost and functionality of your brand.
3. Write Your Billboard Story
Once you find a location for your billboard and know what type of OOH media you want it to be, it’s time to design your billboard. Before you can do this, decide on the story you want to tell. What message do you want to convey?
Follow these tips when writing your billboard story.
- Keep it simple
- Keep it bold and memorable
- Lead to action
- Show your audience what they need that only you have
4. Design Your Billboard
Once you’ve written your story, design your billboard to convey it! This is the fun part. Whether you have a creative team dedicated to the design or are doing this yourself, you can be as creative as you like. Use bright colors that stand out from the cityscape, and include bold text that will make your audience think.
5. Compare to Surrounding Billboards
The last step to take before renting a billboard in Chicago is to compare your billboard to the surrounding ones. Does yours stand out, or is yours overtaken by the surrounding ads? Does your billboard have something unique to offer that others don’t? Studying the surrounding competition is the best way to make your advertisements unique and stand out in Chicago.
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