For a relatively low cost, you can design a bus ad that will help you increase brand awareness and attract new customers. Because buses are usually well maintained by transit companies, bus advertisements often face less wear-and-tear than other forms of outdoor advertising, like bench ads. If you’re looking to reach a wide audience with your brand message, taking advantage of bus ads might be the right choice for you.
What is Bus Advertising?
Bus ads can take several forms. The most common is the traditional bus wrap, which displays a static strip along the outside of the bus itself. These ads are highly visible to other commuters, and typically sit at their eye level while they’re waiting in traffic or walking along the sidewalk.
Depending on the location you choose to advertise in, your bus ad can target different demographics. In large metro cities like New York and Washington D.C, public transportation has a high utilization rate among professionals and more affluent commuters. In more rural towns, buses attract working-class demographics who rely on public transportation to get to and from their jobs. When designing a bus ad, consider the demographic you’re hoping to target.
Out-of-home advertising is especially effective at capturing a wide swath of public viewership. Traditional formats like billboards are viewed by nearly every demographic equally, but bus ads are especially effective at targeting commuters. Because buses run on schedules that align closely with rush hour traffic, they are most visible during common commute times.
Why Choose Bus Ads?
Bus ads offer a strategic opportunity to reach people repeatedly with your brand message. Because residents often pass along the same commute paths as they drive to work or school, they will likely see your ad multiple times. This repeated exposure is especially effective at converting viewers into paying customers, and is an excellent way to build brand awareness.
By offering dedicated ad space within an established community, bus ads are a great option for local businesses. Buses go to the places where people are most likely to travel, meaning your ad will be traveling through the densest parts of your community. When it comes to advertising opportunities that truly deliver, bus ads are hard to beat.
Benefits
When it comes to increasing brand awareness across a wide geographic area, you can’t go wrong with bus ads. In cities like Los Angeles, where buses can travel through many neighborhoods spanning a wide variety of incomes and demographics, your bus ad will likely be seen by thousands of potential customers every day.
Designing and running a bus ad is a relatively inexpensive way to boost your marketing campaign. Because buses can be found in nearly every metro region, you have a lot of options when it comes to determining the best location for your ad.
Types of Bus Ads
There are several different types of bus ads to consider. A bus wrap will likely receive the highest level of visibility, but bus shelters and bus stops in prime locations can also provide a significant advertising opportunity.
If you’re looking to get the biggest bang for your buck, investing in a bus wrap will pretty much guarantee that your ad will be seen by thousands of viewers every day. Bus wraps come in several different formats, from side panels to full wraps that cover the entire bus. Full wraps are more labor intensive to create and implement, but they are especially eye-catching. Depending on the nature and scope of your exterior ads, your marketing campaign can be as simple or as creative as you want.
How does it work?
Whether you choose to go with a bus wrap or a bus shelter advertisement, you should first determine your target demographic. Where you choose to place your ad will depend largely on the subset of the population you want to reach. Once you’ve determined the type of ad you’re looking to create, reach out to a design firm to create an impactful design.
Remember that ad space typically sells on a first-come first-serve basis, so if you are hoping to reserve ad space during a high-ad volume time of year, like the holidays, you should start your design and procurement process early.
Bus Advertising features
Bus ads give you some flexibility when it comes to design. If you decide to go with an exterior ad, you can typically expect to garner anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 impressions per day. For bus shelter ads, you will have a larger canvas for your design, but your impressions per day will be significantly lower. Bus interior ads are usually the most affordable option, as they will only be viewed by the people riding inside the bus. If you are hoping to target a specific demographic that tends to ride the bus frequently, this can be a great budget-friendly option.
No matter what format you choose, bus ads are a great way to spread your message at a reasonable cost.
Benefits of Bus Advertising
Bus advertising is a great way to reach your target audience. Your ads are seen by many people who pass by your buses. Advertising on the interior is effective because the passenger looks at the ad for longer periods of time.
Cost of Bus Advertising
When compared to other forms of out-of-home advertising, bus ads are an affordable way to stretch your marketing budget. A bright and colorful design can capture the attention of thousands of viewers, making bus advertising a cost-effective marketing technique.
Bus exterior ads can run around $150-$600 for traditional sized ads, or $2,500-$6,500 for large scale advertisements. The size and scope of your design will determine your final cost, so make sure you work with a reputable ad agency to design a campaign that falls within your budget.
