Why Billboards Still Rule the Streets in Today’s Marketing World!
- VIVHOK LTD
- May 30
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 6
The Power of Billboard Advertising
There’s something strangely timeless about a billboard. As the world scrolls, swipes, and skips its way through digital content, billboards remain rooted in reality, giants of the streetscape, calling out to us on commutes, road trips, and city walks
You’d think, with the rise of online ads and algorithm driven targeting, billboards would’ve faded into the background. But here’s the truth: they’ve adapted, evolved, and become even more effective in the digital age
As someone who works at the crossroads of visual storytelling and advertising at VIVHOK, I’ve witnessed firsthand how billboard advertising, especially when fused with creativity and technology, can still drive massive impact
So, what makes these towering canvases so relevant today? And why are modern brands, from tech startups to luxury giants, still investing in billboard campaigns?
Let’s break it down...
A Brief Love Letter to the Billboard
First, a bit of context. Billboards have been around since the 1830s, originally used to promote circuses and shows. Fast forward nearly 200 years, and they’re promoting everything from Tesla cars to TikTok trends
But they’re not just relics of marketing past. Billboards have managed to evolve thanks to digital displays, 3D visuals, holographic extensions, and real time integration with mobile campaigns
They’ve become storytellers in steel and light. And when done right, they can stop people in their tracks, even in a world addicted to 6 second attention spans
The 7 Big Perks of Billboard Marketing in 2025
1. Unmissable Visibility
The most obvious perk? You can’t ignore a billboard.
Unlike online ads that users can skip, mute, or block, billboards are physically unavoidable. They’re embedded in daily life highways, sidewalks, buildings, and transit stops. Your ad becomes part of the landscape
When your product or message appears on a large format screen above Times Square, Oxford Street, or the streets of Lagos, it instantly gains authority. There’s a psychological effect to that kind of exposure: “If it’s on a billboard, it must matter.”
2. Mass Reach with a Local Edge
Billboards allow you to speak to the masses while still targeting specific geographic areas. Whether you want to go hyper local with a message like “Londoners love our new plant milk” or reach global tourists with “Welcome to NYC’s top rated fashion brand,” you can tailor your tone and placement
This is particularly valuable for:
New product launches
Event promotions
Store openings
Localised brand activations
Billboards hit drivers, walkers, and public transport users, which, in urban centres, means millions of impressions per day
3. 24/7 Brand Presence
Online ads are fleeting. But a billboard?
It’s there all day, every day, visible in rain, traffic, rush hour, and sunsets. Unlike social content that disappears into feeds within hours, a billboard stays put, repeating your message constantly
It’s passive repetition at its finest, building brand recall over time without being invasive
4. Serious Brand Credibility
There’s something premium about billboard real estate. It tells the world, “We’re serious.”
When your ad goes up on a giant LED display, it creates a halo of credibility and trustworthiness. People associate billboard advertising with well established, financially healthy brands, even if you’re a startup. It says: We’ve arrived. We’re investing. We’re bold
And in an age where new brands pop up daily, standing out with scale and confidence is more important than ever
5. Creative Freedom and Spectacle
Billboards are theatre for your brand. With the right creative strategy, they become more than adverts, they become moments
Take advantage of:
3D billboard illusions (think Nike or Netflix in Tokyo)
Eye catching quality digital adverts
Interactive or kinetic installations
Augmented reality integrations
Holographic projections (yes, we do that at VIVHOK 😉)
These are the kinds of experiences that get photographed, shared, and talked about online turning your offline presence into digital buzz
A good billboard doesn’t just communicate, it commands
6. Synergy with Digital Marketing
Here’s where things get really exciting! Modern billboard campaigns can sync with mobile devices, track foot traffic, or retarget audiences online. Using tools like geofencing and QR codes, you can turn static impressions into digital interactions
Examples:
A billboard ad invites passersby to scan and try a virtual product demo
Users near a billboard location receive sponsored Instagram ads reinforcing the message
Billboard analytics show how many people passed by, looked, or engaged
In this way, billboard advertising becomes a central spoke in a multi channel marketing wheel
7. Long Term Memory Boost
Remember that old Coca Cola Christmas truck ad on a billboard? Or the first time you saw Apple’s minimalist iPod campaign stretched across a building?
Great billboards stick in your memory
In a study by Nielsen, OOH advertising ranked second only to TV in terms of Ad recall, beating out mobile, social, and web banners. That’s because humans are wired to remember bold visuals in physical spaces
And as brands fight harder for retention (not just awareness), billboards deliver where it counts, stuck on the mind
Digital Adverts and 3D Billboards
A hyper realistic 3D sneaker billboard grabbing attention on a busy city street
One of the biggest changes to billboard advertising in recent years is the rise of digital and 3D billboard formats
At VIVHOK, we specialise in 3D digital ad creation for billboards, creating product visuals that jump off the screen, quite literally
Imagine:
A car breaking through a digital wall on a corner building in Lagos
A perfume bottle floating and spinning with holographic mist in Piccadilly Circus
A soda can exploding with color and bubbles, animating on a highway screen in Accra
These are more than ads, they’re showpieces. People stop. People record. People share.
And in doing so, your out of home OOH campaign becomes viral online content
Formats of Digital Billboard Advertising
Digital billboard advertising has revolutionised the outdoor advertising landscape. Unlike traditional static billboards, digital billboards offer dynamic content, flexible scheduling, and high impact visuals that can capture attention in an increasingly media saturated world. They allow advertisers to display motion graphics, animations, and real time updates across various formats. Understanding the different formats of digital billboard advertising is key to choosing the right approach for your campaign
Standard Digital Billboards
These are the most common and widely recognized format. Standard digital billboards are large LED displays placed along highways, busy roads, and high traffic areas. They rotate multiple ads every few seconds and often operate 24/7
These formats are perfect for brand awareness and time sensitive campaigns
Size: Ranges from 14x48 ft (highways) to 10x30 ft (urban areas)
Features: Loop scheduling, vivid imagery, motion optional
Digital Poster Panels
Smaller than standard billboards, digital posters are often placed in urban areas, including bus stops, pedestrian zones, and sidewalks. They are ideal for hyperlocal targeting and short-form ads tailored to specific neighborhoods or commuting routes
Size: Typically 6x12 ft
Features: Quick read designs, high footfall exposure, adaptable messaging
Digital Transit Advertising
This format includes digital screens installed on public transport vehicles such as buses, taxis, trains, and trams. They can be external (roof mounted screens on taxis) or internal (in-vehicle displays)
This format is mobile, allowing your message to reach diverse audiences across various city routes. Ensures brand reinforcement, city wide campaigns, real time updates
Digital Street Furniture
Street furniture includes digital ads embedded into kiosks, benches, information panels, and even smart bins
These formats are common in metropolitan cities and are used for interactive ads, event promotion, and location based messaging
Key Advantage: Close range visibility, excellent for pedestrian audiences
Large Format Digital Spectaculars
These are massive, high resolution digital billboards often found in iconic locations like Times Square in New York or Piccadilly Circus in London. They support high definition video, real time data integration, and experiential campaigns
Best For: Major product launches, tourism boards, entertainment brands
3D Anamorphic Digital Billboards
This format uses creative design and perspective to simulate three dimensional visuals without the need for glasses or devices. When placed correctly, 3D billboards produce a highly shareable, immersive experience
Trending Now: Used by major tech, fashion, and automotive brands for viral campaigns
Digital billboard advertising is not a one size fits all solution. From roadside screens to interactive city furniture, each format offers unique advantages in terms of reach, engagement, and creative flexibility
At VIVHOK, we specialise in digital billboard ads, 3D digital billboards, motion visuals, and holographic ad formats, helping brands choose the right digital canvas to bring their message to life. Whether you're launching a new product, promoting a destination, or building brand awareness, the format you choose can be the difference between being noticed or overlooked
When a Billboard Campaign Goes Viral!
One of our recent clients, a tech startup in wearable wellness, wanted to launch with maximum impact. They had a killer product, but no existing brand awareness.
We helped design a 3D digital billboard campaign that showed the wearable device “activating” and glowing on a model’s wrist. The screen itself morphed and pulsed to mimic the product's effects
The result?
3.2M organic video views of the billboard footage on TikTok and Instagram
220% increase in web traffic during the week of the launch
Global press coverage from industry blogs and trendsetters
That’s the magic of a good billboard in 2025. It’s not just something people see, it’s something they share
Who Should Be Using Billboards Today?
While big brands have traditionally dominated billboards, today they’re more accessible than ever. With shorter contracts, digital rotations, and localised options, even small businesses can get in on the action
You should consider billboard advertising if:
You’re launching a new product or service
You want to build rapid awareness in key cities
You’re looking to amplify a campaign or message
You want to add prestige and visual power to your brand
You want to integrate offline and online marketing
It’s especially effective for industries like:
Fashion and beauty
Tech and gadgets
Music and entertainment
Food and beverage
Events and experiences
Tips for a Successful Billboard Campaign
Keep it visual: Bold, clean, and readable in seconds. Your audience is moving
Tell one story: Don’t cram 10 messages in. Focus on one clear takeaway
Use location smartly: Align the ad with the local culture, vibe, or language
Make it interactive: Include QR codes, hashtags, or geofenced digital follow-ups
Pair with digital: Use billboards as launch pads for online campaigns
Go 3D or animated: If your budget allows, this massively boosts engagement
Why Billboards Still Matter?
In a world obsessed with digital clicks, billboards remind us of something powerful: presence
They don’t just chase attention, they own it. They’re not passive, they’re public statements. When combined with modern design, motion, and interactivity, they become iconic brand tools. At VIVHOK, we’re proud to help brands reimagine and visualise what billboard advertising can look like from London rooftops to Lagos highways and beyond
So the next time you pass a billboard, look up! You might not just see an Ad, you might catch a moment of marketing magic in the making
Comments