Digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising is the tech-savvy counterpart of traditional outdoor media. Think beyond city centre billboards – we're talking about hundreds of thousands of outdoor ad opportunities that can be made in real-time, with the same targeting abilities as other digital channels.
DOOH campaigns inform, entertain, attract — and they can change the course of someone’s afternoon. In this blog, we are introducing you to the world of DOOH, exploring where to use it, how to make it matter and what’s trending in the industry.
Out-of-home (OOH) advertising has traditionally relied on static images like posters and printed vinyl. However, the introduction of digital out-of-home (DOOH) has ushered in a new era for this advertising channel.
The dynamic nature of digital screens, combined with programmatic targeting, has opened the door for more creativity, visibility and opportunities for brands to connect with consumers.
While traditional OOH still holds its ground for impactful, brand boosting campaigns, DOOH takes the lead when it comes to delivering more targeted and measurable results. The winning strategy? Combining the consistent messaging of traditional OOH with the flexibility and immersive experience provided by DOOH.
One of the best parts of DOOH is that it creates the perfect balance between captivating your audience without feeling invasive. They work because, when done right, they’re ads that don’t feel like ads.
Large screens placed in areas that naturally attract a crowd are the powerhouse of DOOH. They are the larger-than-life screens that are the cornerstone of the medium. These screens appear in various shapes and locations, and have the power to create memorable moments and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Typical large-format screens include:
Become a seamless part of your consumer's day by placing your brand where they naturally go without it feeling distracting. This is where place-based media comes in. Within your campaign strategy, it acts as your brand’s storyteller, crafting messages tailored to specific locations when and where it’s relevant. Let your brand's story unfold in the most captivating way possible, painting moments that linger and resonate with your audience long after they've walked away.
Place-based locations include:
Influence shoppers at the moment buying decisions are made, at the point of purchase (POP). Whether in the aisle or at the register, 70% of buying decisions are determined in-store. With every ad, your brand’s narrative unfolds at this critical moment, tipping the scales in your favor
Point–of-purchase screens are available in:
DOOH allows you to hit the bullseye every time with tailored content based on location, time, weather and more. Targeting opportunities include dayparting, geotargeting and point radius/POI targeting. Let’s break it down.
Adjust your content based on the time of day using time-based data. Picture promoting breakfast items in the morning and dinner specials in the evening. In life and advertising, it’s all about timing!
Adjust your content based on the time of day using time-based data. Picture promoting breakfast items in the morning and dinner specials in the evening. In life and advertising, it’s all about timing!
Surround consumers around a key location with your message. Imagine serving an ad for an energy drink around a live sporting event, conquering an entire area that’s relevant to your brand!
Beyond targeting, DOOH can also tailor the content being served. Imagine your ads seamlessly adapting to the place and the moment, changing messages and images based on data. That’s the magic of dynamic creative. From displaying the nearest store locations across different markets to integrating live countdowns for regional product launch. The icing on the cake? It’s all done automatically; one ad template, unlimited variations.
Personalise your content by including:
The weather isn't just a small-talk topic; it's a silent influencer in our choices and attitudes as consumers. Using weather triggers, you can deliver creative messaging that responds real-time to the weather around the ad.
Imagine passing by an ad for sunscreen in Manchester on a cold and cloudy day, or an ad for a warm drink on the first warm day of spring. It doesn’t really speak to the moment. Matching your ad creatives with the right weather helps your ads feel like a natural part of the surroundings, and lets you speak with direct relevance to your audience’s day.
You can take the immersive nature of DOOH to the next level by using interactive screens to have a direct interaction with your audience. It gives you an opportunity to break out from a cluttered digital environment and differentiate yourself from competitors.
Interactive digital screens aren’t just attention-grabbers, they can also gather real-time data in the real world. It's like having a conversation with your audience, making them more likely to buy and connect with your brand.
It's no secret that the competition for consumer attention keeps getting fiercer. Standing out and grabbing consumer attention for mere seconds becomes more difficult as the world becomes more distracting.
That's why building a strong omnichannel marketing strategy has become essential. Many brands are integrating DOOH into their media mix. With programmatic technology, advanced data capabilities, and creative innovation, the channel helps you expand your reach beyond online channels and create a consistent presence both online and offline.
When you combine mobile and programmatic DOOH, you not only reach your audience wherever they are, but you also build on the connections you've already established. This creates additional touchpoints that reinforce your brand message, making it even more effective.
Imagine capturing the attention of consumers with a creative DOOH campaign, fueling brand awareness and consideration for your brand. Then, seamlessly transitioning to mobile, where you can continue the conversation and drive a specific action.
As a channel, DOOH has the same measurement capabilities as other digital channels, thanks to programmatic technology. When launching a DOOH campaign through a DOOH DSP, there are five key reporting metrics accessible to users:
Beyond standard performance metrics, you can gain a richer understanding of your campaign's effectiveness by exploring more sophisticated measurement studies.
Uncover the nuanced perceptions and attitudes your audience holds towards your brand through a brand study, analyze foot traffic patterns to gain a deeper understanding of the physical impact your campaign has, or dive into online engagement metrics to measure the resonance of your campaign online.
If you want consumers to remember you, keeping your brand message consistent across different platforms is crucial. That’s why marketing strategies are increasingly being considered omnichannel strategies, and DOOH is an essential part.
The buyer's journey is no longer linear. An omnichannel approach means that the branding and messaging that consumers see across any advertising channel and every stage of the journey. By staying consistent, you not only strengthen your brand identity but also build stronger connections with your customers.
Looking forward, we anticipate more brands leveraging DOOH advertising to bolster their existing channels, and vice versa. Specifically when it comes to social media advertising.
Tailoring messages to resonate with consumer preferences, locations and situational contexts not only boosts consumer engagement but also cultivates lasting brand connections. Enter DOOH and dynamic creatives.
DOOH’s dynamic capabilities make it easy to deliver hyper-relevant, personalised advertising at scale, reaching more consumers in a more effective manner without the hassle of manually switching ad creatives.
By embracing dynamic DOOH, brands can curate personalised content that enriches the customer experience. These creatives can adapt to contextual factors such as weather, time of day, or cultural events, ensuring it’s relevant and impactful.
DOOH is making waves in the advertising world, and for good reason. With an impressive 82% ad recall, it has become the fastest-growing advertising channel, boasting a remarkable 24.2% growth in 2023. By 2027, it is predicted to dominate 57% of the outdoor advertising revenue in the UK.
So what are you waiting for? Start today -It's not just about catching eyes, it's about making moments that stick and driving the right results.