From Billboards to the Gram
Photo by Vlad Alexandru Popa:
OOH Advertising, also known as Out-Of-Home advertising, is the kind of advertising that aims to target consumers when they're out and about. This type of advertising is conveyed through various mediums such as billboards, posters, transit ads, and other outdoor media. However, a staggering 90% of the time, OOH advertising fails to hit the mark. In this blog, we'll explore why OOH advertising sometimes misses the mark and how it can be improved.
With the rise of social media, people are spending more time on their digital devices, scrolling through their feeds and stories, and less time glancing at billboards and other OOH advertising. Moreover, social media offers a more personalized advertising experience, allowing advertisers to target their ads to specific demographics and interests. This means they're more likely to reach the people who are most interested in their product or service. So, it's no wonder that OOH advertising is struggling to compete.
But wait, there's more! Another reason why OOH advertising fails to succeed properly is the lack of targeting. For instance, a billboard on the side of the road may be seen by many people, but not all of them will be in the target audience for the product or service being advertised. This leads to a wasted opportunity and, ultimately, wasted resources.
Reason
Photo by gianfranco marotta:
OOH advertising may not be as effective as it once was due to several reasons. The rise of social media has led to people spending more time on digital devices, making it challenging to reach specific demographics with OOH advertising. Poor placement of ads can lead to low visibility and impact. Measuring the effectiveness of OOH advertising is challenging, making it difficult to determine its worth as an investment.A lack of targeting can result in a lack of engagement with the intended audience. To combat these challenges, OOH advertisers should consider creating campaigns that can be integrated with social media, conducting market research to determine the areas with the highest traffic and target audience, implementing tracking codes or surveys to measure effectiveness, and creating ads that are relevant and engaging to the intended audience.
Blinkit and Zomato - "Doodh mangoge, doodh denge" Campaign
In 2020, Blinkit, an advertising agency, and Zomato, a food delivery company, launched an Out of Home advertising campaign that started a banter between various brands on social media. They placed billboards with the message "Doodh mangoge, doodh denge" (Ask for milk and we will deliver it), created from the iconic film Maa Tujhe Salaam's dialogue. The campaign went viral on social media when Netflix India joined in the banter with their own message, "Friday mangoge, Wednesday denge" (Ask for Friday and we will deliver Wednesday), promoting one of their recently launched series. The three brands had a fun conversation on Twitter, giving each other witty replies and providing enough entertainment to their followers. The trend soon spread, and netizens also started participating in the conversation, creating funny threads on social media platforms with similar messages. The campaign created a buzz around the brands and was well received by the audience.
Durex hoarding ads:
The Durex "Not Every Man Wants to Be the Fastest in the World" billboard is a prime example of how OOH advertising can go viral on social media. In 2012, during the London Olympics, Durex placed a billboard with a clever message that read, "Usain - Not Every Man Wants to Be the Fastest in the World." The billboard caught the attention of many, including social media users who shared pictures of it online. The campaign was successful in sparking conversations and generating buzz around the brand, as well as promoting the message of sexual health and safety. The campaign's success shows that OOH advertising can still be effective in the age of social media, especially when coupled with a strong and witty message that resonates with the audience.
Netflix India - "Stranger Things" Campaign
In 2019, Netflix India launched an Out of Home advertising campaign to promote the third season of their popular show, "Stranger Things." They placed hoardings with the message "Mornings are for coffee and contemplation" in various cities across the country. This campaign went viral on social media as fans of the show started sharing pictures of the hoardings and discussing their favorite characters and moments from the show.
Conclusion
OOH advertising may have a tough time competing in the modern era of digital marketing. As people continue to spend more time on social media, the impact of OOH ads may be diminished. While there are many factors that can contribute to the failure of OOH advertising, the lack of targeting, poor placement, and inability to measure effectiveness are among the most significant. However, the recent Zomato & Blinkit billboard collaboration proved that OOH advertising can still be effective when done creatively. By leveraging the power of social media, these brands were able to reach millions of people and create a buzz around their product. With a little bit of innovation, OOH advertising can still make a splash in today's digital age.











