Which type of billboard advertising is more effective: traditional or digital? Let’s examine these two choices to decide which is best for your company.
As a business owner, you may be wondering which is the best way to spend your traditional marketing budget – on billboards or social media. The answer may surprise you. When it comes to traditional advertising, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. It all depends on your business goals and target audience.
If you’re trying to reach a local audience, static billboards may be the way to go. But social media is probably your best bet if you’re trying to reach a national or international audience.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Marketing Campaign
You’ve got a product or service to sell. Congratulations! The next step is to get the word out about what you’re offering, and there are many options to choose from these days. Do you go old-school with some traditional advertising like static billboards? Or do you dive into the world of social media marketing? Let’s look at some of the critical factors you should consider when making your decision between billboards vs social media.
1. Your Audience
The first factor you need to consider is your audience. Who are you trying to reach with your traditional marketing campaign? Billboards may be the best option if you’re trying to reach a local audience. But social media advertising may be the better choice if you’re trying to get a national or international audience.
Billboards are one of the most effective forms of outdoor advertising. Drivers and pedestrians can see them and read them from a distance. Moreover, people are more likely to remember billboards than they are social media posts.
Social media campaigns can be very effective, primarily targeting a specific audience. You can use social media to reach out to potential customers who might not be exposed to your brand otherwise.
2. Budget
How much money do you have to spend? Billboards can be expensive, but so can social media campaigns. You also have to decide between a digital billboard vs traditional one. It all depends on your budget and what you’re willing to pay. It depends on your budget and what you’re trying to achieve with your marketing campaign. If you have a large budget, then you could do a mix of both billboards and social media. But if you’re working with a smaller budget, you need to choose the option that will get you the most bang for your buck.
Billboards are great for widespread awareness campaigns. They’re hard to miss, so they’ll reach many people. And if you pick the right location, you can target specific demographics like commuters on their way to work.
But they’re also relatively expensive, so it might not be the best option if you’re working with a tight budget. And because it’s so affordable, you can test out different DOOH strategies and tactics until you find something that works best for you. Ultimately, it comes down to what you’re trying to achieve and how much you’re willing to spend. If you have the budget, a mix of billboards and social media might be the best way. But if you’re working with a smaller budget, you need to choose the option that will get you the most bang for your buck.
3. Time
How much time do you have to devote to this campaign? A billboard campaign is pretty hands-off once set up, but social media requires more regular maintenance.
4. Messaging
What do you want to say? A billboard can only fit so much text, so you must be concise. On social media, you have more room to elaborate, but you also have to be careful not to overwhelm people with too much information.
5. Visuals
What kind of visuals are you going to use? Billboards are all about visuals, so your image needs to be eye-catching. You can use a mix of images, videos, and text on social media to get your message across.
6. Interactivity
How interactive do you want your campaign to be? A billboard is a one-way street – people can see it but can’t interact with it. Social media is all about interaction, so you must be prepared to engage with your audience.
7. Location
Where do you want your campaign to be seen? With a billboard, you have to pick one location and hope your target market will see it. With social media, you can target specific demographics and reach people worldwide.
8. Frequency
How often do you want your campaign to be seen? A billboard is up for a month or more, but social media posts have a shorter shelf life. You need to decide how often you want to create new content.
9. Measuring success
How will you know if your campaign is successful? A billboard is hard to measure unless you do a survey. With social media, you can track engagement, reach, and clicks. These are just a few factors to consider when choosing between a billboard campaign or a social media campaign. The best fit for your business will depend on your specific goals and objectives.
But if you keep these factors in mind, you’ll be one step closer to finding the right campaign for your needs. Now that you’ve considered all of these factors, it’s time to decide. So, which is the best fit for your campaign?
Billboard vs. Social Media: Which Way?
Billboards are large, physical structures that display advertising messages to people who are passing by. They are typically located in high-traffic areas, such as along highways or on busy city streets. On the other hand, social media is a term that refers to the various online platforms and websites that people use to connect and share content. This includes popular sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and more.
With over 2 billion active users on social media worldwide, it’s no wonder that businesses and marketers are increasingly using this channel to reach. The debate of billboards vs. social media has been around for a while. And with good reason – both have their pros and cons that make them appealing or not to businesses and marketers. So, which one is the best fit for your campaign?
Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you decide.
Pros and Cons of Using Billboards as a Marketing Tool
Advantages:
- Billboards are often less expensive than other forms of advertising, such as television or radio commercials.
- They can be seen by a large number of people, especially if they are placed in high-traffic areas.
- Billboards are challenging to ignore, unlike other forms of advertising that can be easily turned off or ignored.
Disadvantages:
- Billboards can be seen as intrusive, and some people may find them annoying.
- They can be challenging to read, especially if placed far away from the viewer.
- The message on a billboard is often very brief, so businesses must ensure that their message is clear and concise.
Why Digital Billboards Are Better?
Now that we’ve gone over some of the factors to consider, let’s take a closer look at digital billboards. Here are three reasons why they might be the best fit for your next campaign.
- They’re eye-catching: Digital billboards are hard to miss. They’re bright, colorful, and often located in high-traffic areas.
- They’re interactive: Digital billboards are more than just static images. They often have animation and video capabilities, which makes them more engaging for viewers.
- They’re measurable: Unlike traditional billboards, digital billboards can be trackable. This means you can see how many people are exposed to your campaign and measure its success.
Pros and Cons of Social Media as a Marketing Tool
Advantages:
- Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are free to use.
- They allow businesses to target specific audiences with laser precision.
- Businesses can reach a large number of people with their messages quickly and easily.
- Social media platforms provide businesses with an easy way to interact with their customers and get feedback.
Disadvantages:
- Social media platforms can be time-consuming to manage.
- The algorithms used by social media platforms can make it difficult for businesses to reach their target audiences.
- Some people may find social media advertising to be intrusive and annoying.
Which Social Media Is Most Effective in a Social Media Campaign?
There are a lot of social media platforms out there, but not all of them are created equal. When planning your social media campaign, you need to consider which platform will be the most effective for reaching your target audience.
For example, if you’re targeting millennials, then you might want to focus on Snapchat or Instagram. Facebook might be a better choice if you’re targeting baby boomers. And if you’re trying to reach a global audience, then Twitter could be your best bet.
It’s also important to consider which platform will be the most effective for the kind of content you want to share. For example, if you’re sharing a lot of visuals, then Pinterest or Instagram might be your best option. If you’re sharing mostly text-based content, then Twitter or LinkedIn could be better choices.
Get Started!
Now that you know more about the differences between billboards and social media, you can decide which is the best fit for your next campaign. If you’re still not sure, or if you want help planning and executing your campaign, then contact True Impact Media. We specialize in creating custom campaigns that get results. Get in touch today to learn more.
Sources:
Image Media: What is a billboard
https://imagemediaoutdoor.com/2018/12/what-is-a-billboard/
Spiceworks: What Is Social Media Advertising? Definition
https://www.spiceworks.com/marketing/social-media/articles/what-is-social-media-advertising/