Of all the signage options, billboards rank among the biggest. The boldest. The most viewed.

Typically placed in high traffic areas, most billboards locally are on our rural highways.

Billboards need to tell a short story, something passersby can read in 3 seconds or less. They don’t need to be quirky or funny to get someone’s attention. They need to be bold and easy to read.

Your billboard message should be only a few words, so make them count.

Who will you reach with your billboard? Here are a few statistics to think about from the Arbitron In-Car Study:

• Americans spend nearly 20 hours in their cars per week
• 71% of travelers often look at the messages on roadside billboards
• Higher income households travel more miles

What types of businesses benefit most from billboard advertising? Here are a few more statistics:

Viewers recalled seeing a wide range of billboard information. 50% or more of viewers recalled restaurants, stores, events and “something funny” they wanted to share with friends.

Roadside billboards drive store traffic. Nearly one-quarter of billboard viewers say they were motivated to visit a particular store that day because of an outdoor ad message and nearly one third visited a retailer they saw on a billboard later that week. Half of viewers reported receiving directional information from a billboard and one-quarter said they immediately visited a business because of an outdoor ad message.

Have you thought about advertising your business with a billboard? I can help you design a concise message to reach your next customer traveling by car on our rural highways.

Billboard statistics from Arbitron National In-Car Study, 1858 interviews of Americans 18 years or older.