How to advertise local events using OOH

It’s the season of fairs, festivals and fetes, and with it comes that abundance of annoying advertising clutter. The endless flyers thrust through letterboxes and never read … the leaflets left strewn on the streets, ignored. How can you, as a small, local organisation, get one step ahead and promote your event without getting caught up in the clutter? Look no further, as we discuss how to advertise your local event using out-of-home (OOH).

Advertising local events on billboards doesn’t need big budgets

Outdoor advertising can be a low-cost, high-impact way to spread the word about a brand, product or event. Gone are the days of needing a hefty budget to run OOH campaigns on billboards, bus panels and other OOH locations. Instead, outdoor ad space is now much more accessible and affordable than it used to be, which means it’s not just large, nationwide companies who can reap the benefits. You can rent as much or as little space as you can afford, for as little as two weeks – perfect for smaller, local organisations advertising a local event.

Pinpoint locations for the most effective outdoor ads

Think about the types of locations where your target audience can frequently be found. Imagine you’re promoting a local youth music festival – how about advertising the event at bus shelters on the school bus route? With a creative, eye-catching design, you’ll be able to capture the attention of your target consumer as they wait to be picked up, day after day. Or, maybe you are advertising a nearby family fun-day. Think about the places that families tend to spend time together. Have you considered an OOH ad by the local cinema complex or outside the leisure centre?

Once you’ve got an idea of where you want to advertise your local event, you can use Bubble’s online platform with integrated map to locate and book available ad spaces in the area. Prices start from £144 for two weeks, including printing and placement of the ad.

Combine your outdoor ad with a strong online presence

An online campaign will be able to provide more detail about your event to the consumer, and help them engage with your message on a deeper level.

Your outdoor ad should not only build an awareness of the event you are running, but needs to point consumers towards your event website and social media channels. With 26% of adults visiting a website they’ve seen advertised on OOH media, you could see instant footfall to your site if you advertise your web address. And why not think about using a fun and intriguing hashtag to encourage consumer engagement and build a buzz around your event? 

Run an integrated advertising campaign

Advertising your local event is more than a series of strategically-placed OOH ads. To make a real impact on your target audience, you need to tick all the boxes. Consider placing an ad in your local paper or with your local radio station, prepare a series of fun and engaging blogs with people from your community, or make announcements at other local events to get the community engaged. The more people see and hear your advertising, the more effective it will be.

Get advertising!

Hopefully this has kick-started your ideas on how to advertise a local event using OOH. There’s plenty more advice and information throughout our blog to get you up to speed on all things outdoor advertising. Check out our blog on why outdoor advertising works for franchisees and small businesses. And if you’d like more tips, you might find this outdoor advertising advice from the experts helpful.