Outdoor advertising is a powerful way to reach a large and diverse audience, but it also faces a lot of competition and clutter. How can you make your outdoor ad stand out and grab attention? Here are some tips to help you create an effective and memorable outdoor ad.
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The first step to making your outdoor ad stand out is to know your location well. You need to consider the size, shape, orientation, visibility, and traffic of the space where you will place your ad. You also need to research the demographics, behaviors, and preferences of the people who will see your ad. This will help you tailor your message, design, and format to suit your location and audience.
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Clear Message and Call to Action (CTA):
Ensure your message is concise, clear, and easily understood at a glance. Include a strong call to action that prompts immediate engagement or response.
Eye-Catching Design:
Use bold and contrasting colors to grab attention. Consider the surroundings and choose colors that stand out against the environment. A visually striking design can make your ad memorable.
High-Quality Imagery:
Use high-resolution images and graphics to maintain visual clarity. Vivid and compelling visuals are more likely to capture attention and leave a lasting impression.
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A location creates a powerful real-world context that is truly unique to the OOH channel. Just by being present in a particular environment, you can build strong brand associations that can align to your category entry points.
For example, Guinness often plan outside sport pubs and stadiums during the Rugby Six Nations game days to continue to build their long standing association with the sport.
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To make your outdoor ad stand out, focus on a clear and compelling message that resonates with your target audience. Choose bold and eye-catching visuals that are easily visible from a distance, ensuring a strong visual impact. Consider the placement and surroundings to maximize visibility and relevance. Keep the design simple and memorable, emphasizing key information. Utilize contrasting colors and concise, impactful text to enhance readability. Incorporate creativity and uniqueness to capture attention swiftly in the outdoor environment, making your ad memorable among the surrounding stimuli.
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Love this journey of finding your niche! Combining creative storytelling and data-driven insights for sustainable businesses is such a powerful mix! It feels like you're using your talents for good, which is always inspiring.
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You should also understand your brand context when thinking about location. Unless you have strong local brand awareness (think Coke, Nike, etc.), then how people's brains react to your ads will vary.
If you have some brand awareness in the area, great; if not, you might need to consider things to grab attention even more.
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Maximize your outdoor ad impact by knowing your audience's traffic patterns—capture attention in busy areas or create a lasting impression during traffic jams. Transform the static billboard experience with innovative 3D elements or dynamic visuals that engage viewers. Infuse vibrant and strategic color choices to ensure your message shines, even in the dark. Break through the static clutter, making your outdoor ad an unforgettable visual experience that resonates with your audience.
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Making Outdoor Ads Stand Out: To make your outdoor ad stand out, focus on bold, simple designs with a clear message. Use high-contrast colors and large, readable fonts. Incorporate an element of surprise or creativity to catch the viewer’s attention. Ensure the ad is contextually relevant to its location. Keep the message concise and directly linked to your brand identity.
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Where people live has an impact on their behaviour. This is why OOH can be such a powerful medium. Zoning in on different areas, local communities and specific shopping districts, allows brands to connect with people at a local level.
It's personal, without being creepy.
The second step to making your outdoor ad stand out is to be creative and original. You need to avoid clichés, stereotypes, and generic slogans that will blend in with the rest of the ads. You need to use fresh and relevant ideas, images, and words that will spark curiosity and interest. You also need to use humor, emotion, or surprise to create an impact and a connection with your viewers.
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I have a personal experience to share. Hope this is of inspiration to some!
Back in 2014, I was at Hike Messenger (WhatsApp like Chat App), and we wanted to promote Freedom of Expression via stickers.
Everything was set to launch - TV, Radio, Digital and OOH. But 15 days before the launch, the idea I'd floated was to launch 300 unique hoarding creatives - showing space-contextual stickers. Example: On a high-traffic signal we put a sticker of an angry man with localized text - Dammit, I'm in traffic.
300+ hoarding messages were crowdsourced with Hike's super users' community and the campaign was a BIG media hit! OOH messages added on to the other media channels instead of repeating the same message.
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Billboards are not business cards. Make your ad compelling and unexpected. Make viewers feel something. Don’t just put up a logo and contact information.
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I always stick to SURPRISE + CRAFT
Show the audience something they’re not used to seeing to create IMPACT and then drive engagement and emotional response by using unique tools, techniques and craft to tell the story.
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As others have stated, a good concept will write itself. Outdoor is a fantastic canvas to keep it simple, to push the clever and possibly use your surroundings to your creative advantage.
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OOH is arguably the most creative canvas a marketer can employ. From premium sites to special builds, brands can create the most iconic experiences.
A great example of this was the LVMH campaign for their Yayoi Kusama collection. Instead of using a standard OOH site, they employed projection technology to turn the facade of Harrods into a moving canvas.
No other medium would have worked as well.
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Remember that this is your opportunity to TAKE CHANCES!
Everyone is going to be seeing you and experiencing your moment, in the moment.
Ask Yourself:
How do you want to show up?
We know the importance of making a first impression in the professional setting, but what about as a brand?
How about when it’s literally MILLIONS of high-impact, high-quality impressions - how will you show up?
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Out of home has become a springboard for digital viral content. It doesn’t matter if the physical execution is real or not. What matters is the digital propagation it drives. See Maybelline or Adidas 2023 executions
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To make your ads more effective, it's important to place them in front of the right audience. Your ad should have a creative and compelling copy that grabs the customer's attention. Instead of a boring "Learn More" call to action, offer something enticing that encourages engagement. This can be achieved through fun and engaging gamified ads or by using smartly-placed QR codes that lead the customer directly to your website. Remember, the key is to give customers a reason to engage with your ad.
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I’d say "Catch people by surprise - do something unexpected that demands a double take. Shocking works, if it's on-brand. Towers are everywhere, be bigger and bolder. Literally light up the night with a show, not just a static display. Move, dance, spark creativity with kinetic energy. Make people feel something deeply, whether it's humor, introspection or awe. Tap desire, not intellect. We buy on emotion then justify with reason. Tell a story through clever visuals alone, no words required. Make people part of the experience. Interactive gets attention and goes viral. Most of all, believe in your message and give it your relentless passion. People will feel your conviction and take notice. Now, what will you do to inspire the world today?
The third step to making your outdoor ad stand out is to use contrast and color effectively. You need to create a clear and sharp distinction between your ad and the background, using contrast in size, shape, texture, or tone. You also need to use color wisely, choosing hues that match your brand identity, message, and mood. You need to avoid colors that are too bright, too dull, or too similar to the surroundings.
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Be prepared to break your brand guidelines if it means your outdoor campaign will be more effective. Certain text that might work nicely on a press ad, may not be easy to read on a roadside poster.
The fourth step to making your outdoor ad stand out is to keep it simple and clear. You need to remember that your viewers have a limited time and attention span to look at your ad, so you need to communicate your message quickly and efficiently. You need to use a catchy and concise headline, a simple and relevant image, and a clear and visible logo or call to action. You need to avoid clutter, confusion, or ambiguity in your ad.
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The more messages you try to communicate, the less likelihood each single message will be remembered. Aim to keep to one or two message maximum, and ensure your logo and/or distinctive assets are super clear.
At Clear Channel we created design guidelines for creating powerful posters - Keep it Simple, Striking, Succinct & Sensible.
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Outdoor ads need to be simple and clear. Make sure you entice your audience with a strong call to action and make their life easier by including a QR code to scan.
The fifth step to making your outdoor ad stand out is to make it interactive and engaging. You need to invite your viewers to participate, respond, or interact with your ad in some way. You can use technology, such as QR codes, NFC tags, or augmented reality, to link your ad to your website, social media, or app. You can also use physical elements, such as sensors, buttons, or screens, to create a fun and immersive experience.
The sixth and final step to making your outdoor ad stand out is to test and measure its performance. You need to monitor and analyze the results of your ad, such as impressions, clicks, conversions, or feedback. You need to use tools, such as Google Analytics, surveys, or social media metrics, to track and evaluate your ad's effectiveness. You also need to use the data and insights to improve and optimize your ad for future campaigns.
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Making your outdoor advertisement eye-catching requires a blend of bold, contrasting design elements and straightforward messaging that's easily visible from afar. Utilize distinctive, creative visuals or catchphrases to make a lasting impression. Interactive features or unconventional ad formats can further enhance its appeal. Strategic placement in areas with high footfall or vehicular traffic ensures wider exposure. Customizing the ad to align with local audience interests boosts its relevance and impact. Periodically refreshing the ad content can keep the audience engaged and sustain interest. Such a combination of striking design, clear messaging, strategic placement, and local relevance is key to creating an outdoor ad that stands out
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Creo que a veces, la emoción de intentar contar algo de manera original nos hace perder el enfoque.
Mi sugerencia es determinar lo más importante que tenemos que decir: el mensaje clave.
Existen diversas metodologías para definirlo, pero es crucial cuestionarnos esto antes de buscar originalidad en nuestra expresión.
Se dice que un problema bien planteado está al 50% resuelto. Lo mismo aplica para el mensaje: primero debe estar claramente definido y ser totalmente claro (aunque suene aburrido), y después y solo después añadirle el sabor, impacto, originalidad y magia!
A esto se le llama creatividad estratégica.