When did you last see a bus stop advertisement? The answer is probably “pretty recently”, as bus stop ads can be hard to overlook even when you are just casually passing a bus stop rather than waiting at it. So, imagine if your own brand featured on this kind of ad…
The high exposure of bus stop ads is hardly the only reason your organization should seriously consider spending on them. Here would be some of the easier-to-overlook merits of you including bus stop advertising in your marketing mix.
Bus stop ads let you do a lot within a relatively small space
While bus stops obviously don’t offer advertisers nearly as much ad space as billboards, you could be pleasantly surprised by how much you can actually show within the more compact frame. This is largely due to the rise of video advertisements…
Though video ads are not necessarily permitted in all bus stop advertising slots, when they are, they can more easily catch the eye and leave a lasting impression.
Bus stop ads’ content can be context-specific
This is possible with digital ads, where you can arrange to have new information displayed on the screen at a time convenient to you.
For example, if you run a chain of restaurants, a bus stop ad situated within walking distance of one of these eateries could be updated with details of a new promotion available at that particular outlet. Once the promotion expires, you could then update the ad again accordingly.
Bus shelter ads are delightfully affordable
It could be local groups and small businesses that especially feel this delight — but, even if it is a major brand you will be advertising, you shouldn’t necessarily rule out bus stop ads entirely.
That’s because, once you have had bus stop ads put in place, they will remain on display on a 24-hour basis over the entire length of time for which you have rented the space. You could even use bus stop ads for nationwide campaigns if you partner with an advertising firm like Clear Channel.
Bus stop ads remain visible right through the night
As The Startup Magazine explains, these ads “come with always-on lighting so that their visibility is never compromised.” In fact, this lighting is so reliable that many of the ads are actually easier to see in the evening hours than when daylight is abundant.
The constant physical presence of these ads means that, unlike TV ads or online ads, they can’t simply be switched off or skipped.
There is large scope for creativity with bus shelter ads
If you are doubtful about this point, just check out the quirky bus stop ads highlighted by Bored Panda. Even if — for one reason or another — you are unable to replicate many of these ideas yourself, simply seeing them could provide you with a valuable source of inspiration.
Imagine, for example, showing a bus stop ad designed to at least give the impression that the glass in front of it has been damaged.