OOH Advertising: 4 Examples of Out-of-Home Advertising

Out-of-home (OOH) advertising is any form of advertising audiences encounter outside their residences. This marketing strategy targets customers while driving, shopping, recreating, or commuting; OOH ads include posters on bus shelters, signage in malls, or digital ads on kiosks in airports. Out-of-home advertising is also called outdoor advertising, out-of-home media (OOH media), or outdoor media.

Out-of-home advertising aims to amplify brand awareness and capture audiences while they are out of their homes. Customers encounter physical or digital ads in real time as they travel, and they may encounter these OOH campaigns more than once, increasing brand recognition. OOH ads allow advertisers to place their campaigns in high-traffic areas, resulting in a cost-effective way to get a consumer’s attention while they are out of the home.

Marketers use multiple media formats to reach their target audiences. If their marketing campaigns include traditional media ads, not just online advertising, OOH ads are a great way to reach many demographics. Four types of out-of-home ads include:

1. 1. Billboards: A common feature along highways, this category includes large signs or digital billboards that display information to customers. Examples include murals, vinyl billboard advertising, or digital screens such as those found in stadiums or at Times Square in New York.
2. 2. Place-based ads: Some high-traffic locations—such as malls, sports stadiums, convenience stores, gyms, restaurants, cinemas, and resorts—are favorite spots for OOH advertisers. This category also includes a unique form of OOH advertising called digital out-of-home advertising (DOOH or digital OOH advertising), which describes interactive kiosks or dynamic content on screens that customers interact with on-site.
3. 3. Street furniture: Advertising companies use permanent fixtures to display signage for commuters or travelers, including on the back of benches or sides of newsstands.
4. 4. Transit advertisements: The advertising industry utilizes train stations, subways, or bus stops to reach high volumes of potential consumers. OOH transit advertising includes both digital advertisements and physical advertising media in places such as airports, subways, or bus stations.

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