By Bob Barragan
Special to The Item
HUNTSVILLE — A small business owner that is looking for ways to promote a product, service or the business itself should consider advertising on billboards.
Although usually associated with large companies, billboards can be an effective means of bringing attention to the small business. If a business needs customers in a certain geographical area, there is nothing better than billboards to draw customers in. Billboards are most effective when a business owner wants to reach a specific area around his or her company. These types of billboards are directionals and unlike radio or television, they can’t be turned off by a click of the dial.
Billboards can be very effective for business owners just starting out. Business owners can get market research assistance from reputable outdoor media companies, which will provide business owners with information on the demographics of the shoppers in the area. A billboard is also good for name identification. It can stand-alone or reinforce ads that are placed in newspapers, radio or television.
A typical contract between an outdoor media company and a small business can run anywhere from 30 days to six months. A small billboard measures 6 feet by 12 feet and is usually sold in 30-day increments. They tend to be popular in the inner city and are good for reaching ethnic markets.
The cost of the billboard depends on factors such as the size of the billboard, the length of time the billboard will be on display and the number of boards purchased.
Most billboard companies can help a small business design a billboard. The key to the design is “The Golden Rule of Billboard Advertising.”
The Golden Rule states that you have five to seven seconds of readability – so the message must be kept to seven words or less. Billboards need to be able to grab one’s attention in seconds.
Another important aspect of billboards is to use bright colors. A colorful and eye appealing sign will go a long way in providing the company with a meaningful message.
For more information on any type of advertising or any other business needs, please call for an appointment for free, confidential counseling at (936) 294-3737.
