Have you ever wondered where do billboards come from? Or what is the world’s largest billboard? Get your answers below and discover other interesting facts about billboard advertising you didn’t know before.
1. The word ‘billboard’ is a combination of the word ‘bill’ (sealed document) and ‘board’ (flat surface). It first appeared in 1845 in American English to refer to the walls or boards where the handbills could be pasted or glued.
2. Billboards started to become popular with the invention of the first affordable car created by Henry Ford. With the roads getting busier, advertisers realised the opportunity to promote products there and target fast-moving consumers.
3. Before 1990, most of the posters were hand-painted on large wooden boards. Printed posters only became the norm since the 90’s and digital billboards from the first decade of 2000. Thanks to smart sensors technology, ads can now interact with the viewers, making this type of advertising one of the most recent inventions in the industry.
4. The use of billboards could date back to the ancient world, about 5,200 years ago. Archaeologists from Yale recently found what could be the first billboard ever made in the desert of Elkab. They found the size of the hieroglyphs carved in the rock particularly impressive considering that these inscriptions are usually very small (1cm tall), these ones measured more than 50cm. It wasn’t originally used for advertising as we do now but for propaganda instead.
5. The World’s biggest billboard is located in…. (drum roll) MADRID!
Contrary to what we tend to think, the record-breaking billboard doesn’t reside in Time Square. This advertising was created by Ford in 2017 and measures 5,265 square meters.
6. The premium quality vinyl, on which all our posters are printed, can survive to some of the harshest UK weather conditions. It is tear-resistant, waterproof and even allows a bolder and brighter print finish.
7. The first brands to integrate billboard advertising into their marketing strategy from 1900 were mostly large multi-national American companies such as Coca-Cola, Palmolive and Kelloggs. However, outdoor advertising has now become more affordable and widely used by multiple types of company no matter the size nor the industry. See below how small businesses have successfully used billboards:
8. No other types of ads can be displayed 24/7 and all year long! This attribute makes billboards one of the most consistent forms of advertising to get your business and message seen by thousands of customers in your selected area.
The sky is the limit with outdoor and billboard advertising, and every business can make the difference by creating their very own campaign! Give us a call on 020 7112 8624 or email us at sales@billboardmedia.co.uk, and our experts will help you to make the most of it to reach your objectives.
Do you already have an idea of a campaign? Get your quote here >>