When you have your sights set on putting your business directly in front of the biggest number of people as easily, and as quickly as possible, transit advertising could be a direction your marketing budget should be traveling in.
Before you move forward with both feet, you need to first understand the pros and cons that come with the terrain to be able to make transit advertising a marketing option that has a snug fit with your goals.
This is exactly why we will be looking at the main pluses and potential minuses that you should take into consideration in order to make an informed decision about transit advertising so that you know whether or not it’s the correct move for your business and also how to make the most of it when you do activate transit advertising.
Understanding Transit Advertising
Transit advertising, which is also commonly identified as out-of-home advertising, is an advertising format that involves putting ads on types of public transportation such as buses and trains in order to reach a vast number of people with an individual’s or organization’s intended message.
The manner in which transit advertising typically operates is by renting out space on the inside or outside of a bus or train or even as advertisements that are installed at train stations or bus stops.
Transit advertising is a proactive way to grab the attention of people who are commuting to and from work, running errands, traveling, shopping, or even tourists who are sight-seeing from out of town.
Once you know for a fact that you are interested in moving forward with setting up a transit advertising campaign, the first step is to contact a proper agency that specializes in transit advertising and then decide on the appropriate size, placement, and duration that your ad will need to be up and available to be seen.
Benefits of Transit Advertising
Along with transit advertising being a great way to connect with potential customers and curious consumers on the ground and inform them just enough to get interested, there are also several other benefits of transit advertising, including the following:
1.) Reach new people: By placing an out-of-home ad on a bus, it can be seen by everyone who rides that bus, which can become new customers.
Using when someone is already in need of what you offer, they will seek your service out on their own.
But the ideal element of transit ads is that you are tapping into people that may not have realized that you need what you offer until they are face-to-face with your ad, and it reminds them about it or encourages them to notify a friend, or family member would find it useful.
2.) Cost-Effective: Transit advertising is relatively affordable when you compare it to other advertising types such as television ads or radio advertisements.
3.) Flexible: There is also a considerable amount of flexibility with transit advertising because you are able to pick between buses and trains, the number of vehicles that you want to advertise on, the size of the ads, placement locations, and the duration that the ads will be visible.
Disadvantages of Transit Advertising
As is the case with any particular marketing strategy, you will find that there are not just benefits but also possible drawbacks due to the fact that no one mode of advertising is a one-size-fits-all solution for all businesses.
While you are making up your mind about whether you are ready for transit advertising, you should consider:
1.) Less control: With transit ads, you cannot target one specific age group, gender, or income level because the ad will be visible to anyone who uses public transportation.
2.) Can’t impress everyone: Transit advertising is a form of out-of-home advertising, and it won’t be something that can be tailor-made to a targeted demographic to increase its likability factor.
Therefore, there will be some travelers that will find it appealing and others that may see it as annoying.
3.) Tricky to track: Unlike television or radio ads, transit advertising can be hard to measure how many people are seeing your ad or how many people take action after witnessing it.
Tips for Successful Transit Advertising Campaigns
When you invest in transit advertisements, they can help create visibility and customer loyalty for years to come, especially when you give your ads the best chance to be successful.
Research which networks appear to work well for your organization and stay up-to-date with their latest changes by following their presence on relevant social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter.
Make sure that your actual ads have clear copywriting and design elements that speak directly to people who use public transit services on a daily basis.
Also, begin with just one or two vehicles until you have worked out the kinks.
Then once you have found an effective approach, you can confidently increase your investment if you approve of the results.