In the out-of-home advertising industry, digital billboards play a major role because they are highly versatile and significantly visible. A digital billboard is not just a huge poster that is installed beside a skyscraper or upright along a highway. There are several styles of billboards that serve the purpose of targeting different markets. Consequently, there are also different sizes that are suitable for promoting various products and services. With digital billboards, you have to keep in mind the pixel dimensions depending on what size you choose. In this article we will be discussing different sizes of digital billboards used most, where each can be seen most often, as well as how you can customize the size of your billboard.
Typical billboard sizes
Poster Panels
Poster panels come in a 12×25 feet size and are mostly seen on primary and secondary traffic ways. There is a smaller version of poster sizes – 6×12 feet which is designed for pedestrian attention and some vehicle traffic. These are usually installed in high-density town centers and suburban shopping malls. Poster panels are a style that is not very intimidating and don’t overpower the environment, but are yet as attractive.
Classic Billboards
Also known as standard bulletin boards, these billboards are often seen on highways, and expressways, as well as streets that see a heavy traffic flow. Classic billboards come in the following sizes:
- 10 feet high, 30 feet wide
- 5 feet high, 36 feet wide
- 5 feet high, 22 feet wide (poster billboards)
- 14 feet high, 48 feet wide – provides 672 square feet of advertising space
- 5 feet high, 11 feet wide (junior poster)
- 6 feet high, 12 feet wide (72 square feet of advertising space)
Classic billboards have grown in size from the early days when standard billboards first came into being as a form of outdoor advertising. These are the solution to attract larger scale audiences including pedestrians and motorized traffic, assuring an impression on everyone within sight!
Mobile Billboards
These can be either static or digital and are ideally displayed on the surface area of a moving vehicle. The purpose of mobile billboard advertising is to be able to reach your target audience at the location they are present, for example – a large event taking place somewhere. A massive audience can be reached in one day because these trucks are constantly on the move. Also, the content on mobile billboards must be short and concise to be able to draw attention of busy crowds in just a few seconds. The sizes of these displays are about 7 feet high and 8 feet wide on smaller sized trucks while the longer trucks can have a width of 24 feet.
Digital Billboards
Digital billboards offer maximum brand exposure as they are seen at central business points and are seen by a large amount of people. Because content on digital billboards can change every few minutes, they can often be seen displaying stock market prices and weather updates in certain areas. Although these require a heavy initial investment, they are very effective and attention grabbing, thus assuring promotion of your business to many target markets. Standard sizes for digital billboards are similar to the above-mentioned classic billboard sizes, poster panels, and mobile billboards.
Customizing your size
Because digital billboards come in such a diverse range of sizes, choosing the right size for your outdoor campaign can be quite challenging. It is important to understand the benefits and restrictions of each size in order to make an informed and profitable decision for your company. Except for smaller scrolling signs, all digital signs at LED Craft Inc are built from scratch. Contact us today to customize your sign because with us, there is no limitation on the size you choose.
You could build your digital billboard in any kind of square or rectangular shape you want. Since of late, there is a growing trend in signs that are vertical as opposed to the standard billboards that are horizontal. The location of your sign installation also should be considered when deciding the size of your sign. For example, you may want to cover the entire width of a building, or your city may have limitations on sizes for signage.
When it comes to customizing a digital billboard, several things have to be considered to determine the final price. In addition to the size of the screen, there are a few other things you have to keep in mind:
- You could design your sign with a simple black frame or a stylish colored frame depending on your end-result requirements. If your sign is pole-mounted, a small access bridge may have to be built in.
- The installation method of a sign must be considered. Smaller signs can be mounted with brick, wood or pedestal mounts whereas bigger billboards will need pole mounting or could be mounted to a building wall.
- Double-sided billboards and multiple layers of signage can also be customized at an additional cost.
- Pixel pitch depends on the size of your sign, and displays with a higher resolution will cost more but will also produce high quality images which will create a lasting impact on your viewers.
Pro Tips
Test your billboard size before making the investment
Since the initial investment for a digital billboard is quite a lumpsum, you could consider renting some ad space on an existing billboard and test your ROI before you decide to make the investment. Make sure you get hold of a prime location with heavy traffic consisting of your primary demographic. If your business is not located on busy roads, consider mounting your sign to the back of the building (if that area faces more traffic). You could also rent land to put up a pole-mounted sign, or rent some space on another building to put up a sign on their wall.
Study the returns that come in with the billboard rental, indeed you will see results that will convince you to purchase your own sign as a more cost-effective option in the long run.
Consider investing in more than one large billboard
It is true that your budget may suffice only for one billboard but the attractiveness seen with a series of displays or a video wall is just jaw-dropping. Multiple displays provide maximum exposure, do a perfect job at standing out amongst other signs, and can be used to convey a larger message. For example, if you have four displays, you could present four different ways of accessorizing a single skirt; thereby convincing your market that they have to buy that skirt! Or an auto dealership can provide a 360-degree video of the latest vehicles being launched.
Instead of advertising on all displays that you invest in, you could also keep a couple of displays for your brand and rent out the other two as a means of steady income.
