Billboard placement matters. The right location can boost visibility, attract more customers, and make your advertising budget count. Here’s what you need to know:
- Visibility is key: High-traffic areas and clear views maximize impressions.
- Traffic speed matters: Slower traffic allows more time for your message to register.
- Data-driven choices: Use tools like Blip to analyze traffic patterns, impressions, and CPM (cost per thousand impressions).
- Flexible budgets: Platforms like Blip let you start with as little as $20/day and adjust in real-time.
- Track performance: Monitor daily impressions and tweak your campaign as needed.
Want to make your billboard campaign work? Focus on visibility, use real-time data, and stay flexible with your budget and placements.
What Makes a Good Billboard Location
Traffic Flow and Placement
Once you’ve nailed down your budget and inventory, it’s time to focus on traffic patterns. Locations with heavy vehicle traffic offer more daily impressions, giving your ad greater reach. Make sure the billboard is in a spot with a clear, unobstructed view – this ensures drivers can easily see and absorb your message.
Traffic Speed and Viewing Time
The speed of traffic plays a big role in how long people see your ad. Slower-moving traffic, like at busy intersections, provides up to 10 seconds for viewers to take in your message. On highways or fast roads, keep it simple – use bold, concise messages and high-contrast visuals. These strategies help maximize the impact of your ad, even in quick-glance situations.
SmartAdP: Visual Analytics of Large-scale Taxi Trajectories for …
Finding the Best Locations with Data
Once you’ve identified the factors that impact visibility, the next step is to use data to find the best spots for your billboards.
Key Location Performance Metrics
Here are some important metrics to evaluate when selecting a location:
- Daily Impressions: The estimated number of people who see your billboard each day.
- CPM (Cost Per Thousand Impressions): A measure of cost-effectiveness based on audience reach.
- Traffic Patterns: Includes peak hours and seasonal variations in traffic flow.
- Demographics: Information about the age, income, and behaviors of the people passing by.
Using Blip‘s Location Search Tools
Blip’s interactive marketplace simplifies the process of finding ideal billboard locations. With real-time data on thousands of digital billboards across the U.S., you can easily identify spots that align with your audience.
Key features of the location search tool:
- Use the interactive map to focus on specific geographic areas.
- Access real-time analytics for each location.
- Compare factors like visibility, nearby surroundings, and audience demographics.
Bidding and Budget Management
Blip uses real-time bidding, updated every 10 minutes, to ensure competitive pricing. You can set daily budgets, track bids, and adjust your campaigns as needed.
Mr. Charlie’s Chicken Fingers is a great example of how data-driven targeting can work. By leveraging Blip’s tools, the restaurant increased visibility for its new location while continuing to grow its original store.
"Working with Blip has given Mr. Charlie’s the momentum to get our new location on the map while accelerating growth for our original location." – Paul Willey, Owner, Mr. Charlie’s Chicken Fingers
sbb-itb-2e2e93f
How to Choose Billboard Locations
Use data insights to align your campaign goals with the best billboard locations.
Set Goals and Define Your Audience
Start by clarifying your campaign goals and identifying your target audience. Tools like Blip’s location analytics can help. Focus on these key factors:
- Geographic reach: Are you targeting a local neighborhood or an entire metro area?
- Audience demographics: Think about age, income, and lifestyle preferences.
- Campaign duration: Is this a short-term promotion or a long-term branding effort?
- Budget: Determine your daily spending limit and overall campaign budget.
Compare and Choose Locations
Evaluate billboard locations based on metrics like daily impressions and CPM (cost per thousand impressions). This ensures your ads appear where your audience travels most.
Launch and Track Your Campaign
Once you’ve selected locations, follow these steps to get started:
- Set your daily budget: The minimum is $20 per day.
- Upload your ad design: Be sure it meets Blip’s design requirements.
- Submit your ad: It will go through a two-step approval process (initial review in about 90 minutes, with final approval by the billboard owner taking 1–3 days).
- Monitor results: Use real-time analytics to track impressions and engagement.
Keep an eye on performance metrics to fine-tune your campaign and maximize results.
"Blip works for us. It brings a lot of exposure. It sets us apart, and that’s what I like." – Kimberly Pinkston, Owner of Pretty In Pinkston
Tips to Improve Billboard Results
Once your campaign is up and running, these strategies can help you get better results and keep the momentum going. Fine-tune placement, timing, analytics, and budget with these practical tips.
Placement and Timing Tips
- Position billboards at intersections or near highway exits where vehicles naturally slow down. This increases the time people have to notice your ad.
- Schedule your ads to coincide with peak traffic hours, like morning commutes (7–9 a.m.) and evening rush hours (4–7 p.m.).
- For roads with speed limits above 45 mph, use bold fonts and high-contrast colors to ensure your message is easy to read.
Using Data to Improve Results
Make the most of Blip’s real-time dashboard to monitor trends and make quick adjustments. You can track daily impressions and CPM, then compare performance week over week. This helps you identify the best-performing locations and time slots for your ads, allowing you to focus on what works.
Managing Costs with Blip
Start small by setting a daily budget as low as $20. Use real-time bidding to secure affordable CPM slots. Shift your budget toward locations with higher engagement, and pause ads that aren’t delivering results whenever necessary.
Summary
Key Points for Choosing Locations
- Daily Impressions: Number of potential viewers each day.
- Average CPM: Cost per thousand impressions.
- Roadway Type & Traffic Flow: Look for busy routes with slower speeds to maximize visibility.
These factors are the foundation of every placement decision.
Why Choose Blip?
Blip offers access to:
- A self-serve platform with thousands of digital billboards.
- Flexible budgets starting as low as $20 per day.
- Real-time bidding and analytics, giving you complete control.
"Billboards are one of the most impactful ways to advertise, and with Blip, you spend a fraction of what you would end up paying elsewhere." – Ray Bowens, Founder, Hashtag-Vape
How to Get Started
Follow these five steps to launch your campaign:
- Set a daily budget (starting at $20 per day).
- Choose high-traffic locations using Blip’s interactive marketplace.
- Design your ad based on Blip’s guidelines.
- Track performance with real-time analytics.
- Adjust bids and schedules as needed based on results.
