Successful billboard advertising campaigns in Philadelphia, PA employ various strategies to measure and track their return on investment (ROI). As the City of Brotherly Love boasts a diverse audience and high-traffic areas like Center City, I-95, and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, advertisers must use sophisticated methods to gauge campaign effectiveness. Here are some key approaches used by top billboard advertising companies in Philadelphia:
1. Digital Integration and QR Codes
Many Philadelphia billboards now incorporate QR codes or short URLs, allowing advertisers to track direct engagement. For example, a billboard for a Philadelphia cheesesteak company might use a QR code that leads to a discount offer, enabling precise tracking of scans and conversions.
2. Geofencing and Mobile Analytics
Advertisers use geofencing technology around billboard locations in Philadelphia to track mobile device activity. This method can measure foot traffic to nearby stores or websites visited after exposure to the billboard, providing insights into the ad's impact on consumer behavior.
3. Sales Lift Analysis
By comparing sales data before, during, and after a billboard campaign in specific Philadelphia neighborhoods (e.g., Northern Liberties or Rittenhouse Square), advertisers can attribute increases in revenue to billboard exposure.
4. Brand Awareness Surveys
Conducting surveys among Philadelphia residents before and after a campaign helps measure changes in brand recognition and recall. For instance, a survey might ask respondents if they recall seeing an ad for a new exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
5. Traffic Count and Impressions
Using data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and local traffic studies, advertisers estimate the number of potential views their billboards receive. This is particularly valuable for high-traffic areas like the Schuylkill Expressway or Roosevelt Boulevard.
6. Social Media Monitoring
Tracking mentions, hashtags, and engagement related to the billboard campaign on platforms popular among Philadelphians provides real-time feedback on ad effectiveness and reach.
7. Promo Code Tracking
Unique promo codes displayed on billboards allow advertisers to directly attribute sales or website visits to specific outdoor advertisements in Philadelphia.
8. Cross-Channel Attribution
Advanced analytics tools help billboard advertisers in Philadelphia understand how outdoor advertising interacts with other marketing channels, such as radio ads on KYW Newsradio or TV spots during Philadelphia Eagles games.
9. Eye-Tracking Studies
Some Philadelphia advertising agencies conduct eye-tracking studies to measure how long and how often passersby look at billboards, providing data on attention and engagement.
10. Conversion Tracking
For billboards with clear call-to-actions, such as 'Visit our South Street location,' advertisers can track the number of people who follow through on the action.
By combining these methods, billboard advertising companies in Philadelphia can provide clients with comprehensive ROI data. For example, a recent campaign for a local university saw a 15% increase in website traffic and a 10% boost in campus tour registrations, directly attributable to strategically placed billboards near key SEPTA stations.
It's important to note that ROI measurement for billboard advertising is often more complex than digital advertising, requiring a multi-faceted approach. Successful campaigns in Philadelphia typically use a combination of these methods to build a complete picture of their billboard advertising ROI, allowing for data-driven decisions in future campaigns and optimizations.