Aerial Advertising Strategies
 
Every spring the beaches of Florida and Texas are the one-week residence of college students who are getting a break from the books.  An estimated 2.5 to 3 million will be basking in the sun this year.  They will not only spent plenty of money during that week, but they also represent $125-$130 billion dollars in spending power during the year. How that kind of money will be spent is yet to be determined, based on the skill of effective advertising aimed at them.

One of the most effective forms of advertising to these students is arial banner or billboard advertising.  Aerial advertising is well known.  Someone hires a company to make a banner and fly a plane over a crowd of people pulling the banner.  Some banners are as much as 70 feet in length, and contain information to contact the advertiser such as a phone number or a webpage address. (Billboards are simply highway billboards flown overhead.)  The banner is pulled behind the plane over the students on the beach for one to two hours.  Each pass allows about 17 seconds of viewing time.  As the plane flies over the students for an hour, back and forth, how many times do you think they will see your ad? They will surely have it memorized by that time.

 Students are relaxing and mentally open during spring break week.  It is a week of vacation and they have planned to spend money.  Picture this: millions of students are lying on the beach when suddenly the drone of a plane overheard catches their attention.  They look up and see your ad pulled behind the plane. Your company is immediately far ahead of the competition in reaching this market.

 The aerial ads could offer something they may want to buy when they get back to college.  But they could also be ads for restaurants or clothes, things they need or want immediately. Here is a wonderful chance to impact one of the largest gatherings of impulsive buyers during the whole year.

 Many advertisers are cutting back now because the economy is in shambles and unemployment is high.  Instead, walk through the door of opportunity packed into one week. These students aren’t thinking about the economy or the future. They just want to relax, no matter how much it costs. They are called by one tourism expert a “recession-proof” group because the students consider this a unique opportunity without a price tag!

 Electronic communication makes it even better.  One merchant says he has his phone number on the banner and, almost immediately, he is being texted with orders. Others use G3 networks to order things on the Internet. The banner is quickly paid for and profits come rolling in.

 Aerial ads have another advantage: they are timeless.  You will pay the full cost for the banner ad this year.  However, when spring break is over, you can store the banner and use it again next year.  Or, with some products, you could fly it over another beach or sporting event. The banners are well made and will last a long time.

Many despair that the economy is bad and it will affect us all. But wise businesses will take advantage of the relaxing spring break crowd and make a sizeable profit through aerial advertising.

 


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