A billboard is a large panel for displaying advertisements in public places. They are often seen in busy town centres, motorways and train stations. They range in size with some being very large (96 sheets) to other smaller ones (16 sheets). Here are some facts and statistics about billboards you may not know:
- Arguably, the earliest form of Billboards was in Egyptian times, when they used talk obelisks made from stone to state their laws.
- They earliest form of what we currently regard as billboards was in 1835, when Jared Bell mass produced posters to promote his circus.
- The earliest known billboard rentals were in 1867.
- The worlds first 24 sheet was displayed in Paris in 1889.
- In 1908, the Model T automobile was introduced in America. This greatly increased the amount of people seeing advertisements on highways.
- Billboards in the First World War were used for a different purpose from advertising. Instead, they were dominated with messages and advice to make sure the troops were ready for war. When the war was over, the billboards communicated peace.
- Since 2000, the outdoor share of advertising revenue went from 7.5% to 10.1%, showing that billboards are still a growing method of advertising, even with growing technology.
- The world’s tallest billboard is in New York, in Times Square.
- Outdoor advertising can be up to 80% less expensive than television advertising, 60% less than newspaper advertising and up to 50% less expensive than radio.
- 81% of adults said they noticed outdoor advertising when they were out and about, with 77% saying that posters gave them something to look at.
