Out-of-Home advertising is among the oldest forms; however, recent technological changes and increased customer awareness require reevaluating advertising strategies. While it’s true that traditional OOH models are facing challenges, experts also believe that out-of-home advertising is coming back because consumers are tired of the constant bombardment of advertisements on their mobile phones.
Today’s consumers are much smarter and well-informed than 30 years ago; therefore, merely repeating a message to the average individual is not a viable strategy for return on investment. Along with a great website design, Google SEO, and content creation, advertisers must incorporate technology and customer preference in their advertising models to keep the spirit of advertising alive.
A recent KPMG report pointed out that outdoor advertising has witnessed an 11 percent annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years. If the trend continues, this advertising sector will continue the upward growth trend.
Smart advertisers can use the trend to increase their return on investment by implementing new ideas. Here is a look at the top 10 trends and ideas that will revolutionize outdoor advertising.
1. Consistent Increase in Digital Outdoor Advertising
Like many other industries, the digital marketing trend also affects the outdoor advertising sector. This digital sphere trend aligns with the existing demand where consumers are already accustomed to viewing 4K quality adverts. If implemented correctly, digital technology can facilitate outdoor advertisements because it uses 4K quality boosting high resolution and bright, colorful visuals that can attract users’ attention for longer periods.
Digital advertising and large digital billboards will continue to increase in the coming year because they are much easier and more convenient to move, which helps cut unnecessary expenses. Cost dynamics are also evident in the ability to run multiple digital outdoor advertisements on a single screen. Unlike static ads, multi-image advertising gives owners more control over the medium and final ad results. For instance, some adverts perform better in a fixed form, whereas others may require visuals. Digital outdoor advertising can do wonders for brands that understand how to use it to their advantage.
Recent research suggests that digital outdoor advertising contributes to almost 30% of OOH revenues worldwide. Under these circumstances, advertisers who continue reinventing themselves will likely succeed in subsequent years.
2. Brands are Embracing the Power of Storytelling
The human mind is designed to latch on to facts and opinions narrated as a story. Storytelling improves retention and helps consumers recall events. For instance, it will be hard to remember a new brand of toothpaste that does not differentiate itself from its competitors; however, introducing the same toothpaste in the form of a riveting story will likely get a response. Any brand with a compelling story to relate to its context is likely to impact subconsciously if the ad is narrated vividly.
According to experts, this storytelling trend will be witnessed much more. Using this strategy, outdoor advertising is embracing the concept by designing ads that only tell a part of the story, which makes the audience wait for the next ad in the storyline.
Recently, there has been a lot of buzz around the ingredients of good storytelling. Among these features is building a story character. In this scenario, the character faces a problem and seeks a resolution. Ultimately, the brand comes to the rescue as a problem solver.
Brands must pay close attention to generating creative, out-of-the-box ideas for storytelling. This will improve engagement with the adverts. Merely putting out a story is not enough. The user must be able to connect with the account authentically before they can trust the story subconsciously.
3. Growth in Advertising Opportunities
Latest innovations in technology have broadened the scope of placements of outdoor advertisements, particularly digital advertisements. Instead of large billboards, advertisers use smaller advertisements in busy public places such as airports, waiting areas, public transport, and playgrounds. Blank walls have also emerged as a good alternative to traditional billboard advertising because these can be used to project advertisements.
A KMPG advertising report suggested that advertising outside the airport significantly contributed to the growth of outdoor advertising.
4. Advertisements have a Mind of their Own
The recent year will be a year of improved and smarter outdoor advertisements.
In the recent past, most advertisements only marketed the product and the service. Promotions will show information about a particular business, product, or service and predict the user profile of those who interacted with it. Using sensors, facial recognition software, and other AI smart features will accomplish this feat.
The smart advertisement will aid in enabling outdoor billboards to interact with the target audience. As a result, augmented reality and virtual reality will make outdoor advertising campaigns more visceral and engaging.
5. Mobile Integration in Outdoor Advertising
Outdoor marketing is all about enhancing the user experience. To increase customer interaction, certain brands have integrated mobile and outdoor advertisements. Technology helps potential customers interact with ads and share valuable data in real time with the brand. The feedback from the customer helps provide a more customized user experience. Examples of such interactions are instant connections with customers’ mobile when they come in the range of advertising billboards. A beacon is also becoming commonplace because beacons enable advertisements to jump inside the customer’s phone.
6. Multi-Channel Integration
Outdoor advertisements will also integrate with social media and television. The integration will also help grow other mediums using motion capability in digital out-of-home advertising and scalable content. The multi-channel integration is instrumental in ensuring that the message delivered across all mediums is coherent and consistent with the brand’s image. It means that the brand’s TV adverts will align with their DOOH efforts leading to a clear communication platform for brands with their audiences.
7. Focused Reach will Lower Expenses
In the past, out-of-home advertising focused on a broader audience to get access to specific demographics. The “fishing” approach doesn’t work anymore. In the future, outdoor advertising will be able to reach target customers whose brands want to goo whenever they want to get them.
This is all possible due to improved media measurement tools allowing brands to get in-depth insights into their consumers. Brands will analyze and leverage Large quantities of data without wasting the advertisement budget and time.
Outdoor advertising ads will be equipped with Bluetooth beacons to broadcast information about the audience interacting with the ad. Using the data, advertisers would make adjustments to tailor the advertisement according to the needs and wants of the consumers in that particular location. Such changes will significantly increase the chances of the targeted audience noticing an outdoor ad. The data will be collected to improve campaign targeting and deliver a more contextually relevant advert.
8. Outdoor Advertising will get more Creative
This year, managers must take a data-driven approach to advertisement. Using the power of data science, companies can laser-target their desired demographics to use campaign budgets effectively. Like digital marketing technology, beacons, radio beams, and the Internet can be used to understand the interaction pattern for outdoor advertisements. Ultimately, managers will need to develop innovative ideas on using “big data” to streamline outdoor advertising models.
9. The rise of in-house Marketing teams
In recent years, companies are increasingly realizing the power of an in-house team that can streamline their marketing efforts across all channels. Instead of relying on a third party to deliver an advertising solution, many large companies have invested in maintaining in-house teams that can help them save costs and increase efficiency.
Financially capable companies will use in-house team teams. Accordingly, they will only interact with experts for specific knowledge rather than engage them full-time. In contrast to media houses, the role of consultants, independent contractors, and part-timers is likely to increase.
In-house teams working on one specific brand will create laser-focused efforts generating ideas and reducing costs associated with a typical OOH advertising campaign. These campaigns will be complemented by occasional contact with experts and consultants.
10. End Of Empty Promises
Brands must understand that authentic and genuine exposure is the only way to do long-term business. As such, transparency will be the key to success. Everything from the promises, the work conditions, the use of harsh ingredients, and political affiliations are increasingly scrutinized.
This implies advertisers can no longer get away with dubious claims and hollow promises. Purpose-led advertising will be the rule of the future as advertisers will either adapt to this trend or suffer the consequences. Similarly, brands will be more careful with their outdoor advertising efforts because authenticity will earn the audience’s trust and help advertisers get more business.
Despite the rise in online channels, outdoor advertising, including DOOH, will cement its status as a viable option among advertisers; however, brands must ensure that their outdoor advertising ads are in sync with their social ads. It will not be an overstatement to suggest that OOH is not dead and will improve further.