When we think of outdoor advertising, billboards promoting the latest gadgets or soft drinks often come to mind. However, there’s much more to OOH advertising than selling products. It’s also a powerful tool for spreading awareness on important issues. Have you comes across awareness in ads on outdoor billboards?

Outdoor advertising has come a long way from simple posters. Today, it includes digital billboards, transit ads, and even murals on buildings. These ads are everywhere we look – on highways, in city centres, and at bus stops. They’re big, bold, and impossible to ignore. That’s what makes them perfect for awareness campaigns.

Why OOH Is Perfect For Awareness Campaigns

OOH ads have a unique advantage: they reach a wide audience. Unlike TV or online ads, they can’t be skipped or blocked. They’re right there, in front of you, whether you’re stuck in traffic or walking down the street. This constant visibility makes them perfect for spreading awareness in ads, especially on billboards.

1. Catching Eyes And Changing Minds

This is the power of OOH ads. They can catch your eye and make you think.

Non-profit organisations and government bodies have harnessed this power effectively. Campaigns against smoking, drunk driving, and pollution have used OOH ads to great effect. These ads often use shocking images or clever slogans to grab attention and make a lasting impression.

For instance, a campaign against the outrageous diet culture from Plenity. It redefines and assures people that it is okay to eat while being on a diet. People don’t have to starve themselves, just eat, and eat healthy foods.

2. The Diverse Formats

OOH advertising isn’t just limited to billboards. It includes various formats like bus wraps, subway ads, and digital screens in public places. These formats offer creative flexibility. A bus wrap, for example, can transform a regular bus into a moving canvas. Imagine a bus turned into a giant panda to raise awareness about endangered species. It’s fun, eye-catching, and delivers a serious message in an engaging way.

You may see awareness in ads every time you step outside to look at billboards. There should be at least one underlying message in it.

Real-Life Success Stories

A great example is the “Show Your Flavour” campaign by Starbucks. Using billboards, it showed a cup of starbucks drinks with various colours inside. This campaign talked about the importance of being your own true colours as it can make the world a more colourful place.

Another successful campaign was for Malaysian Unsung Heroes, who worked day and night during MCO. Digital Billboards displayed appreciation towards the front-liners. This straightforward message was both impactful and educational, reaching thousands daily.

As technology advances, the potential for OOH advertising grows. Interactive billboards and augmented reality ads can make messages even more engaging. Imagine a digital screen that changes based on the weather, promoting sun safety on hot days and reminding people to stay hydrated.

OOH Is More Than What Meets the Eye

Next time, when you see a billboard, try to look for the awareness in ads that the brands are trying to preach on. Whether it’s a big tree on a billboard reminding us to care for our environment or a digital ad promoting health checks, these ads have a unique ability to reach and impact a broad audience. Next time you see an outdoor ad, take a moment to think about the message it’s sending. It might just be making the world a better place.

Image Credits: Spotlight Outdoor, Campaign, Gempak