Billboard and Outdoor Advertising

In the ongoing debate about the most effective advertising mediums, a lone billboard in rural Minnesota just scored major points for the billboard team. The sign, erected anonymously, has a picture of former President Bush and the caption “Miss Me Yet?” which I assume is some sort of insightful rural Minnesotan political commentary. The billboard may have been getting tons of media attention, especially on the internet, but as far as I’m concerned anyone who really does want Bush back has a few screws loose!

At first glance it looks like someone forgot to close the clear covering on this painfully plain Mercedes billboard. But…upon further inspection we find an eye-catching and creative billboard that mimics the main selling point of the vehicle being advertised! The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS Gullwing is a remake of a popular classic car that featured gull-wing doors, which are a special type of door hinged at the roof rather than the side. The billboard does a great job of illustrating this popular and classic look and getting people excited about the release of the new car. Automotive promotion at it’s finest!

A high incidence of driving accidents in Kuwait were attributed to drivers’ having been distracted by their cell phones. Wataniya Telecom, the second-largest mobile operator in the country, wanted to do their part to instill safe behaviors in mobile customers - using a hands-free headset, while still potentially distracting, is nowhere near as dangerous as actually holding or dialing a cellphone while in motion.

To communicate this message, Wataniya placed giant smashed mobile phone replicas near its billboards, where it would look at first like yet another car had gone off the road and only at second glance reveal itself to be a huge phone. The visual meaning was clear, even before drivers read the text on the billboard, and a law soon passed that made it mandatory to wear a headset while operating a motor vehicle.

[via DirectDaily]

Donato’s Pizza took their billboard advertising one step further than all those other pizza places. On one side of the dual billboard, they show a massive, delicious-looking rendition of the pie; on the other side, the “newscaster” of a generic night-news program appears to be reaching across his own advertisement, unable to resist stealing a slice. The second billboard isn’t for a real news show, of course–those anchors have people to get pizza for them–but the fake reporter certainly looks realistic in his business attire.

This is the only example of two billboards “communicating” I’ve ever seen–anyone else notice something like this before? It puts a pretty cool spin on what can be a tired advertising space.

I haven’t always agreed that less is more. In this economy and environment, however, I realize that greed is not good. For example, I drink out of my promotional mug instead of buying bottled water and canned soda. Sometimes little changes in lifestyle can make Mother Nature a happy woman.

Denver Water, the company that supplies H2O to 1.1 million metro Denver residents, took the “less is more” mantra to the next level. Their billboard message is simple and conveys the point. In this eco-friendly promotion, they literally mean what they say. Not only are they promoting the message to conserve water, but they physically used less labor and materials to construct it. Here’s hoping the Denver Nuggets beat the L.A. Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

This Cingular billboard placed in Times Square certainly garnered a lot of attention for dropping “calls”. Who would have thought that dropping calls would be so popular? Good thing those tourists had their cameras handy to document the scene.

I thought this was an extremely creative way to promote the PowerHouse Gym.  This billboard has some resemblance to the strongest man competitions, I bet some of them could actually lift cranes on the side of buildings.

With Arby’s slogan being “I’m thinkin’ Arby’s”, it’s only makes sense that their advertisement ideas need to correspond with that motto.  In Atlanta, where they are headquartered, Arby’s has been highjacking other companies billboard advertisement’s with their signature promotional thought ballon that has the Arby’s symbol on it, making it seem as if everyone is “..thinkin’ Arby’s”

So this isn’t really promoting anything inparticular but I thought it was really funny.  What a creative way to fill up advertising space.

(Via: Strange Signs)

Here’s an interesting way to get customers to come to your steak house restaurant, let them know that God allows for all animals to be eaten right next to a heaping pile of mashed potatoes. Perhaps this won’t appeal to vegetarians but it’s a good way to get the attention of Religious carnivores.