To stay relevant with consumers, you need to continue to push the boundaries of advertising and marketing. Experiential marketing, which provides an immersive experience that is interactive for current and potential customers, is a proven way to stick in the minds of your target population.
And transit advertising provides two perfect ways to offer experiential marketing opportunities: transit takeovers and blips.
Transit Takeovers: Every Journey is an Experience
Transit takeovers are an innovative way to capture the attention of a broad audience. By covering the interior and exterior of a bus with your messaging, your brand can transform an ordinary bus into a moving representation of your organization.
Plus, your messaging will reach thousands of people each day.
Transit takeovers are about more than just visibility; it’s about creating an environment where the public is surrounded by the brand’s message. Whether commuters are glancing out the window or sitting inside the bus, they are continually interacting with the brand in a non-intrusive yet highly engaging manner. Drivers, passengers on the roadway, and pedestrians also experience the brand through eye-catching and creative external advertising.
This immersive experience ensures that your brand stays top-of-mind long after the journey ends or the bus passes by in traffic. A rolling 40-foot billboard and highly decorated interior are hard to forget!
Broadlawns' Broad Reach with Their Centennial Buses
One of Adsposure’s advertising partners in Des Moines, Broadlawns Medical Center, launched four transit takeover buses to celebrate their 100th anniversary. The exterior of the Dart buses features images throughout Broadlawns history and includes their tagline: “Celebrating a Century of Caring.” On the inside, the design mirrors the exterior with a Michaelangelo on the ceiling, and interior cards that highlight the different offerings the Medical Center provides. Overall, the Broadlawns bus puts riders and passersby right in the 100-year celebration – regardless of where they are in Des Moines!
A Great Interior Takeover for Go(o)d Co.
Another example of a powerful interior takeover comes from Cincinnati’s Go(o)d Co. Apparel. Go(o)d Co. wanted to reach the bus riders, so they opted for an interior only advertising strategy. The apparel company took over the entire inside of a Metro bus, from the seats to the walls and ceiling, and turned a mundane commute into a creative experience. Check out the video below to see their interior takeover take riding the bus to the next level!
Blips Bring the Brand to the Audience
Blips take transit advertising to the next level by placing your branded buses at strategic locations or events.
Imagine your fully wrapped bus at a popular music festival, outside a major sporting event, or at the busiest shopping center in your area. These high-traffic locations are a prime opportunity for customers to interact with the brand in a unique and memorable way. The bus itself becomes a destination, encouraging people to take photos, share their experience on social media, and engage with the brand in a fun and meaningful manner.
This kind of experiential marketing creates a buzz and fosters a deeper connection between the brand and its audience. One perfect example of using a blip as an experiential marketing opportunity occurred when Mi Cozumel, a Cincinnati-based Mexican restaurant, planned blips at their restaurants on Cinco de Mayo.
A Cinco De Mayo Party with Mi Cozumel’s Full Wrap Bus
The Adsposure design team created the full wrap to match the vibrant colors used in the Mi Cozumel logo, featuring their famous margaritas and fajitas. It was eye-catching as it made stops at each location throughout the city. At each restaurant, cars followed the bus in to check out what was going on, patrons posed and took photos with it, and restaurant staff remarked on how exciting it was to see their brand on the streets.
Mi Cozumel created a true experience out of a marketing asset by bringing the bus right to their front door – and patrons and staff alike were talking about the blip for weeks to come. So much so that since the Cinco de Mayo celebration, Mi Cozumel has extended their original order from six months to one full year and bought two more full wraps! Now, there are even more moving billboards winding through the streets of Cincinnati, putting Mi Cozumel’s delicious drinks, and flaming fajitas in front of thousands of hungry Cincinnatians each day.
Killer Brownie’s Blip Video Shoot
Another great way to utilize bus blips is for your own marketing material and promotion. A full wrap advertisement is a gigantic representation of your branding, so what better backdrop for marketing videos and photos.
That’s exactly why Killer Brownie, the Official Brownie of the Cincinnati Bengals, chose to shoot a fun video with their bus outside of Paycor Stadium. Tying in their delicious brownie with their hometown team, the Killer Brownie team shot a variety of photos and video for their social media and marketing efforts.
Turn Your Advertising into an Experience with Transit
Advertising is constantly evolving. As it is becoming increasingly difficult to reach your target population through traditional mediums, providing a fun and interactive experience that also doubles as advertising is a unique way to put your brand in the minds of the public.
85% of consumers are more likely to buy a service or product after they experience it – and transit advertising makes creating that experience possible.
So, the next time you’re considering transit advertising for your marketing campaign, keep in mind that transit takeovers and blips further elevate the already high impression count and low CPM through experiential marketing. Additionally, Adsposure offers both in every market we serve! If you’re looking to make an impression with your target audience, reach out to the Adsposure team and get started with your transit campaign today!
