Four unique traditional advertising types

When you think of innovation in advertising, your mind probably goes straight to digital media. Social platforms in particular are constantly changing and coming up with new formats, as we’ve covered before. But innovation isn’t limited to the digital realm! Though traditional advertising has always been a steady and dependable form of media, that doesn’t mean it has stayed stagnant. Here are some innovative and unique traditional advertising types you might not be aware of.  

Unique traditional advertising – Restroom advertising

When you think of places to run an ad campaign, we bet that restrooms are at (if you’ll excuse the pun) the bottom of your list. But don’t be so quick to overlook them! There are plenty of reasons why restroom advertising could be a good fit for your next campaign. For one thing, reach can be surprisingly high. They may not be your first thought when it comes to advertising locations, but restrooms are everywhere, and everyone needs to use them at some point.

They’re also an environment with few distractions. Though conversations can sometimes occur, it’s not an overly social location. People are generally focused on privacy and moving at their own pace, which gives them ample time to peruse an ad.

Restroom advertising may not necessarily be a fit for every company, but don’t write it off too quickly. It’s true that some brands have utilized restroom advertising as a chance to be witty or even a little risqué, but there’s no reason why you have to go that route if it doesn’t suit your brand.  

Unique traditional advertising – Gas Station TV (GSTV)

The ultimate in advertising media is something that can reach a vast audience and isn’t skippable. Gas Station TV (GSTV) fits both of those criteria. GSTV presents video advertisements to people fueling up their cars (a captive audience) and can be found at over 24,000 locations. (For those keeping track at home, that’s more than McDonald’s or Starbucks.) It reaches one in three Americans who travel by car – and with how much Americans love their cars, that’s a huge number! Brands as huge as the NFL and LiveNation have utilized GSTV to great success.

Another benefit you may not have considered: by definition, GSTV ads are seen by people who are already on the go. That means there’s a good chance they’re ready to shop. Studies have shown that consumers spend more immediately following a fuel transaction. So why not show them your ad when they’re already out and about and eager to buy? 

Unique traditional advertising – College campus advertising

One of the primary strengths of digital advertising is its ability to precisely target specific demographics. If your main target demo is young people in their late teens or early twenties, you could hardly do better than college campus advertising! Of course, it won’t be right for every company or campaign, but if your product or service is aimed at Gen Z, this type of advertising is a great way to get the precise targeting usually associated with digital media with a traditional campaign. 

There are all sorts of traditional advertising types that can be found on college campuses. Some of the most popular include posters, transit station ads, and digital kiosks that can be found in campus hubs such as coffee shops and dining halls. You don’t have to just take our word for it, either. A recent study found that 78% of college students look at traditional ads on campus at least a few times a week, and that teens are 39% more likely to remember OOH ads on campus. 

Unique traditional advertising – Mobile billboards

Billboards have been around pretty much as long as advertising itself – there are records of billboards as far back as the 1830s. They’ve long been a reliable method of getting your brand noticed, and they’re certainly not going anywhere. But if you’re looking to bring your billboards into the 21st century, why not try a mobile billboard? Mobile billboards are pretty much just what they sound like: a billboard attached to the back of a moving vehicle, usually with your brand on both sides. It’s a simple concept, but the results can be huge. 

Because they’re in motion, mobile billboards are more likely to be noticed and remembered than a standard billboard. An APN study found that ads that move have a 45% higher peak exposure than static ads. (This is the same reason why we recommend you try animated digital creatives.) 

One of their primary benefits is that they can go where they’re needed. Maybe you want your billboard to be displayed near your new store location, grabbing attention and driving people to visit. Or maybe you’d rather have your billboard driving around your competition’s location, stealing attention. There are all sorts of clever strategies you can employ, and whatever you choose, you’ll have powerful demographic targeting on your side. 

As you can see, innovation in advertising isn’t limited to digital media! Traditional advertising continues to build on its long, dependable history and provides brands with unique traditional advertising opportunities to get their names out there.