What Is Bus Advertising and How Much Does It Cost
Public Transportation Advertising including Bus Interiors, Bus Backs and more
What Is Bus Advertising?
Bus advertising encompasses anything that appears on buses or the transit shelters or benches where passengers wait to catch the bus. It includes ads inside and outside the bus, such as bus kings and wraps.This advertising format offers flexibility and customization options for businesses, making it ideal for local, regional, and even national campaigns. For statistics on how public transit impacts advertising effectiveness, explore Statista’s public transit insights.What Types of Interior Bus Advertising Are Available?
Ads inside the bus generally are above the windows. These static placements provide consistent visibility to seated and standing passengers. Additionally, digital ads have become popular, with video screens available in many buses to convey advertising messages interspersed with entertainment or public service announcements.Interactive options such as scannable QR codes have gained traction, allowing passengers to learn more about products or services directly from their mobile devices.
What Types of Exterior Bus Advertising Are Available?
You can put your ad almost anywhere outside the bus, including wrapping it entirely. That costs more because of the immense size of the creative you have to produce. Other kinds of exterior bus advertising include:- Bus kings: Running on either side of the bus, this vinyl ad gets its name from its big size. It is usually 144 inches wide by 30 inches high.
- Bus queens: Bus queens run on the curb side of the bus, which passengers in a bus shelter or on a bus bench see as the bus arrives. They’re the same height as kings but usually sized 88 inches long.
- Bus backs: Applied across the rear of the bus, bus backs primarily are seen by the vehicles driving behind them.
- Bus wraps: Bus wraps cover the entire bus, from bottom to top.
Additional Types of Bus Advertising
1. Window Clings
Description: Transparent or opaque decals applied to bus windows. They allow visibility from inside the bus while displaying an advertisement on the outside.
Advantages: Cost-effective, easy to apply and replace, and great for short-term promotions.
Disadvantages: Limited space and can be less effective in rainy or foggy weather.
2. Digital Displays on Buses
Description: Screens installed inside or outside buses that display dynamic digital ads, including videos or animations.
Advantages: Captures attention, allows time-specific or location-specific messaging, and can rotate multiple ads.
Disadvantages: Higher cost and may require additional maintenance for digital screens.
3. Roof Top Ads
Description: Advertisements placed on the roof of the bus, designed to be seen from high-rise buildings or during aerial views (e.g., drone coverage).
Advantages: Unique placement that stands out in urban areas with skyscrapers.
Disadvantages: Limited audience and dependent on aerial visibility.
4. Rearview Mirror Hangers
Description: Small ads displayed near the driver’s area or the rearview mirror inside the bus.
Advantages: Affordable, excellent for local businesses, and targets passengers at the front.
Disadvantages: Limited visibility for passengers seated in the back.
5. Floor Graphics
Description: Advertisements placed on the floor of buses, often near entrances and exits.
Advantages: Interactive and eye-catching, ideal for high-traffic areas.
Disadvantages: Potential wear and tear, and effectiveness depends on placement.
6. Interactive or Augmented Reality (AR) Bus Ads
Description: Ads that incorporate QR codes or AR features, allowing passengers to interact with content using smartphones.
Advantages: High engagement and drives traffic to digital platforms.
Disadvantages: Requires internet connectivity and a tech-savvy audience.
7. Sidewalk Projection Ads
Description: Light projectors on buses that display advertisements on sidewalks when the bus stops at night.
Advantages: Innovative and highly visible during evening hours.
Disadvantages: Limited to nighttime and dependent on suitable lighting conditions.
8. Interior Seat Back Ads
Description: Ads placed on the backs of seats inside the bus.
Advantages: Extended viewing time for seated passengers and excellent for detailed messaging.
Disadvantages: Limited to passengers inside the bus.
9. Audio Ads
Description: Advertisements broadcast over the bus’s sound system.
Advantages: Captures a captive audience and is ideal for promoting events or public service campaigns.
Disadvantages: Can be intrusive if overused and less effective for non-audio-focused campaigns.
10. Specialty Ads for Electric or Hybrid Buses
Description: Campaigns tailored for eco-conscious brands, emphasizing sustainability on electric or hybrid buses.
Advantages: Aligns with green branding and attracts environmentally-conscious consumers.
Disadvantages: Limited to fleets with electric or hybrid buses.