Billboards are a fantastic way to advertise products and services in a bold and larger-than-life manner, and these clever billboard techniques are showcasing how marketers are utilizing outside-the-box methods to draw in consumers.
While billboards are often meant to be large and overwhelming as a way to attract both people walking and those driving by, these clever marketing techniques are going beyond what ordinary billboard signs often showcase to create ads that are visually mesmerizing and one-of-a-kind. Incorporating such clever aspects as three-dimensional objects seemingly coming out from the poster to interactive mobile features and ironic placements, these creative techniques are taking average print ads to a whole other level.
From sunscreen-dispensing signage to uplifting social billboards, these clever marketing techniques are utilizing all sorts of social and interactive methods to attract consumers.
59 Clever Billboard Techniques
From Scent-Emitting Bus Stops to Spinning Billboard Swings:
Tana Makmanee — Jul 30, 2013 — Marketing
59
Functional Outdoor Billboards
The IBM Smart Ideas for Smarter Cities Campaign Leads by Example
58
Facebook-Inspired Advertising
Social Networking Heads Out of the Home to Billboards & Print Ads
57
Truckvertising
Clever Campaigns on Wheels
56
Clever Science Campaigns (UPDATE)
Science World Billboards Teach Funky Facts
55
Clever Coupon Billboards
James Ready Beer Gets Creative with Interactive Discount Posters
54
Tear-Jerking Advertisements
The Calgary International Film Festival Billboard is Sad and Funny
53
Smart Beverage Billboards
A Customized Advertisement Picks Out Drinks in Shinagawa Station
52
Interactive Bus Stop Ads
Crank Up the Bikini Model's Tan
51
Upside-Down Advertisements
The Upside Down Gap Store in Vancouver is a Marketing Win
50
Weed-Eradicating Billboards
This Clever Billboard Ad for Kiwicare Slowly Kills the Weeds Around It
49
Humanized Advertisements
This ING Direct Ad is Lively and Interactive
48
Sportvertising
10 Amazing Sporting Ads
47
Unwrappable Art Ads
The Leo Burnett and Arc Worldwide Art Institute of Chicago is Interactive
46
Punny Rectal Ads
The Tampa Proctology Billboard Will Crack You Up
45
Fictional Wordvertising
Snickers Creates New Words For Delicious Ad Campaign
44
Cut Out Model Billboards
Pessek Zman Chocolate Ads
43
Guerrilla Tourism Ads
Time to Thaw: South Carolina Tourism
42
Cunning Contraceptive Campaigns
Manchester City Council Promotes 'Any Plans Tonight' Website
41
Witty Billboard Graffiti
Street Artist OX's Art is a Print and Digital Media Intervention
40
Love Letter Murals
Steve Powers Creates 50 Poetic Billboards
39
Gamer-Centric Projection Campaigns
The BMW Joy 3D Ad in Singapore Will Blow You Away
38
Wrinkly Billboards
SeeThePersonNotTheAge.com Wants You to like Old People
37
Sensitive Speech Signs
The NFS Stuttering Billboards Teach Compassion
36
Peeling Skin Billboards
The Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Campaign is Made Up of Curious Cou
35
Uplifting Social Billboards
The Prigat Smile Stations Bring Happiness to Consumers
34
Cleverly Inverted Urban Ads
This Street Ad by Mikkel Moller Targets its Market Via Reflection
33
See-Through Billboards
Google Video Campaign
32
Web-Browser Billboards
New Zealand Company Metservice Created this Clever Billboard Advertisement
31
Interactive McMarketing
McDonald's Pick 'n' Play Billboard Lets People Play for Free Food
30
Hand-Painted Billboards
The Ritual Project for Stella Revives Dying Art of Hand-Painted Ad
29
Fold-Out Ad Seating
The Billboard Bench by Relja Perunovic Serves Public & Company Interests
28
Social Media Feeders
Granatapet Develops a Billboard With Foursquare That Releases Dog Food
27
Ads Targeted to Activity Levels
McDonald's & Coca-Cola Stair & Escalator Campaign
26
Using Live Pigeons in Billboards
MSN Live Search 'Hutch' Campaign
25
Hands-On Guerrilla Ads
Clever Supportive Ad Placement
24
Digital Driving Apps
The Screenreach 'Screach' Interactive Billboard Game was a UK Hit
23
Ex-Governor Exploiting Billboards
Ashley Madison Calls Out Mark Sanford With Its Latest Ads
22
Drowning Billboards
Guerrilla Campaign For "Day After Tomorrow"
21
Itty-Bitty Billboards
The BBDO Toronto Smart Campaign Embodies its Pint-Sized Product
20
Sunscreen-Dispensing Signage
This SunSmart Australia Campaign Encourages Skin Protection
19
Touchable Turntable Posters
The Urbanears Scratch Poster Turns People Into Interactive DJs
18
Guerrilla Hanging Ads
Sparring Partner Gym
17
Moon-Integrating Billboards
The 'Luna Corona' Billboard is Designed to Align with the Moon
16
Spinning Billboard Swings
The Kolotoc 'Merry-Go-Round' Project is Amusement via Advertisements
15
Sense-Simulating Advertising
This Ctaste Dark Dining Promotion Poster is Cleverly All-Black
14
Illusory Anti-Graffiti Ads
TransPerth Adds Handcuffs to Train Seats
13
Night-Only Ads
McDonald's Reflective Billboard Comes to Life in the Dark
12
Targeted Tree Campaigns
The Arbor Day Inhotim Ads Cleverly Communicate a Double Message
11
Scent-Emitting Bus Stops
McCain Ready Baked Jackets Campaign Offers Smell of Baking Food
10
Auto Part Integration Ads
Clever Bus Billboards
9
Intergenerational Poverty Ads
Girl Hub in Nigeria Promotes Speech Without Words
8
Size-Promoting Billboards
The Volkswagen Up! Outdoor Campaign is Creative & Cute
7
Recycled Electronics Ads
Best Buy E-Cycle Billboard Made from E-Waste
6
Reflective Auto Ads
This BMW Advertisement by 'Serviceplan' Doubles the Attention
5
Youthful Warhol Branding
This Tomcateden Andy Warhol Exhibition Emphasizes the Undiscovered
4
Singed Sauce Ads
The 'Taystee Chilli Sauce: Burned Billboard' is Too Hot to See
3
Weaving Luminous Ads
Port Authority MediaMesh Project to Light Up NYC Train Station
2
Foot Massage Stairvertising
Ogawa Massage Chair Ads
1
Smelling Distance Ads
Siose Antiperspirant Roll-on Deodorant for Men Posts Pit-Level Promos
Related Ideas
E-Commerce Advertising Solutions
Reddit is Enhancing its Reach with the New Dynamic Product Ads
Horror-Themed Phone Campaigns
Samsung's Join the Flip Side Takes Cues from 90s Horror Movies
Anti-Consumption Natural Ads
The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' Ad Aims to Reducing Consumption
Sun-Framing Billboards
Minute Maid's New Billboards Help Passersby Get a Daily Dose of Vitamin D
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Boomer Cannabis Campaigns
The 'I'm High Right Now' Campaign Promotes Cannabis Use Among Boomers
Otherworldly Fashion Brand Billboards
The Vollebak Mars Billboard is Ready for the Red Planet
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Ketchup Dispenser Billboards
'Smack for Heinz' Helps Fans Complete Meals with a Favorite Condiment
Artistic Lamppost EV Chargers
The Voltpost Provides Easy Access to EV Charging
Illustrative 420 Campaigns
Vizie Unveils His Latest Work for Grassroots' 420 Campaign
Novel Home Security Concepts
Swift Creatives Introduces 'Sculptural Surveillance'
Eco-Friendly Bath Essentials
Bebo Seeks to Reimagine the Packaging of Kid's Bath Products
Augmented Reality Travel Murals
Tripadvisor's City Murals Entice People to Sunny San Diego
Engaging Shelf Displays
Netvisual is Elevating In-Store Advertising with its Shelf Edge Displays
Employee Fragrance Campaigns
Lidl's Fragrance Campaign Features Local Talent with Celebrity Names
Hug-Activated Marketing Machines
UNIQLO France and The Pull Launch the Hug to Unlock Ad
Disruptive Sun Care Pop-Ups
Sun Bum's Good Days Daily Bodega Inspires Refreshed Routines
Lazy Cereal Campaigns
SURREAL Cereal Cheekily Pokes Fun at New Year's Resolutions
Playful Modular Mops
Staff and Clorox Created a Colorful Wet Mop with Rubber Hat Topper
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Heated QSR Anniversary Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Celebrates Milestone with a New Campaign
Fast Food-Inspired Beachy Campaigns
Leo Burnett Italia Unveils a New Summery McDonald's Campaign
Candid Furniture Campaigns
Life is Not an IKEA Catalog Shows a Different Side of Home Products
AI-Generated QR Codes
Coca-Cola Created Enhanced QR Codes with Musical & Visual Elements
Interactive In-Store Ads
Visibubble Brings Mobile Messaging Capabilities to Store Shelves
Upcycled Correx Lampshades
Tabitha Bargh's 'Poly' Collection is Made with Used Real Estate Signage
Carbon-Absorbing Street Murals
Volkswagen Canada Lauched a Pollution-Eating Mural in Toronto
Fake Ketchup Campaigns
This Heinz Campaign Exposes "Ketchup Fraud"
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Heat-Sensitive Vending Machines
Sprite's Vending Machine Drops a Drink When Temperatures Rise
Anti-Greenwashing Soap Ads
Navigating Eco-Consumer Irony with Better Climate Store's "Greenwash"
Dynamic CGI Mascara Campaigns
Maybelline New York Unveils an Activation with a Giant Mascara
Playable Beer Coasters
This Budweiser Campaign Uses Vinyl Coasters to Support Underground Artists
Branded Departure Boards
"Bumble Airlines" Promotes a Premium Dating App Feature
AI-Created Burger Ads
Burger King Had ChatGPT Generate a Poster to Clap Back at a Competitor
AI Travel Campaigns
Away's Extraordinary Is Out There Uses AI to Show Real-World Destinations
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
AR Bracelet Billboards
This Tiffany Lock Bracelet Billboard Virtually Unboxes Itself
Architecture-Inspired QSR Ads
This New McDonald’s Campaign Encourages Eating at Home
Hydrating Outdoor Billboards
Gatorade's BPM Pay Panels Replenish Urban Athletees on the Go
Connected Gamer Campaigns
Heineken's Just Another Night Out Shatters Anti-Social Stereotypes
Sensorial Beer Campaigns
Feel the Alps Captures the Essence of Edelweiss
Rosé-Dispensing Billboards
Aldi's Billboard Serves Glasses of Wine at the Optimal Temperature
Soda Logo Rebranding Campaigns
Pepsi's New Logo Goes Across the Globe with a Bright Light Show
Digital Grocery Screens
Kroger Launches the New Digital Smart Screens Across 500 Store Locations
Creative Text-to-Infographic Tools
Infography Converts Blog Posts to Artistic Infographics
Mixed-Reality Cola Billboards
This 3D Coca-Cola Billboard Dispenses Real, Cold Drinks
Therapy-Encouraging Furniture Campaigns
BBDO and IKEA Present the Couch Counseling Campaign
Cheeky Wireless Service Ads
Visible's New Campaign with Jason Alexander Highlights Transparency
Channel-Switching Commercials
This Tubi Super Bowl Ad Tricked Millions of Sports Viewers
Smart Shopping Cart Ads
Instacart Unveiled Ads for Its AI-Powered Caper Carts
Recycled Plastic Bottle Campaigns
Coca-Cola Promotes the Toss In, Take Out Initiative
Cartoon Underdog Soda Campaigns
Tractor Beverage Company Launches a Moving New Campaign
AI-Powered QSR Campaigns
allplants Leverages AI To Transforms Fast-Food Ads
Recycled Beer Bottle Ads
Corona's Campaigns Encourage Consumers to Recycle Empty Packaging
Sweating Billboards
Netflix's Billboard Conveys the Intense Action of Extraction 2
Smile-Reflecting Toothpaste Campaigns
Colgate & Oglivy Create the #FreeYourSmile campaign
AI-Powered Billboard Campaigns
Revolve Showcases an AI-Generated Billboard Campaign and Collection
Traveling Fine Art Campaigns
EasyJet's Get Out There Features Mona Lisa, The Thinker and More
Illusory Fry Billboards
KFC is Promoting Its Fing Fing Cajun Chips with a Clever Billboard
Creative-Backed Footwear Campaigns
G.H. Bass Introduces Its Stepping Out Campaign
Heritage-Honoring Artful Posters
Herman Miller Adds to the Archival Poster Collection
Individualized Streaming Billboards
Black Mirror Fans are Getting Their Own Customized Billboards
Creative Constellation Water Bottles
The Evian x Coperni Bottle Invites People to "Look Closer"
Multifunctional Cardboard QSR Packaging
McDonald's and Leo Burnett Unveil the Tablebag
Immersive Hybrid Billboards
Meta's Halloween Thrillboards Tease Immersive Meta Quest 3 Experiences
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Efficiency-Driven Digital Ad Solutions
ShopLiftr is Revolutionizing Digital Advertising
Connected Beer Jerseys
Miller Lite's Running of the Beer Ads Turns Fans into Walking Billboards
Humorous Natural Deodorant Campaigns
The Every Man Jack 'Still Smell Good' Campaign is Catchy
Tree-Integrated Mysterious Art
Banksy Unveils a Mysterious Tree Mural in London's Finsbury Park
Syringe-Based Billboards
Dove's Injectable Billboard Addresses Toxic Beauty Standards
Sunset Beer Campaigns
Corona's Sunset O’Clock Campaign Creatively Uses Time Stamps as Rewards
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Playful Creativity-Focused Campaigns
Sharpie® Launches the World is Your Canvas Tour
Interactive Recruitment Billboards
easyJet's Campaign Encourages Women to Consider a Pilot Career
Music-Inspired Avatar Campaigns
Bang & Olufsen Launches the See Yourself in Sound Ad
Sustainable QSR Litter Adverts
McDonald's Malta Presents New Captivating Eco-Centric Campaigns
Musical Monsoon Billboards
Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea Made a Record-Breaking Interactive Billboard
Tongue-In-Cheek Soda Campaigns
Pepsi Jokes at Coca-Cola in It's Tastes Better Campaign
Festive Rooftop Parking Spots
Aldi Installed a Parking Space for Santa's Sleigh and Nine Reindeer
IoT-Connected Traffic Beacons
This Traffic Beacon Concept Changes According to Needs
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Digital City-Inspired Art Works
New Digital Art is on Display in Grand Central Station
Swipable Curated Ad Inspiration
Swipify Lets Users Swipe Through the Latest Ad Campaigns
Stone Waste Street Lights
The Conceptual 'Pebble' Street Light Offers Ambient Illumination
Conversational Campaign Creators
Creating Google Ads Campaigns is Simpler with AI Chat Features
Offline Newspaper Publications
County Highway Revives Print Culture
Street Artist Digitalized Exhibitions
LG OLED and Shepard Fairey Showcase Digital Street Art
Car-Free AR Lenses
Bolt's Feels Like Home Campaign Uses AR to Envision Car-Free Spaces
Ad-Enhancing Feedback Tools
Google Ads Launches the 'Creative Guidance' Campaign Tool for YouTube
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Empowering Car Ads
CarMax's New Ad Campaign Takes a Witty Approach
Champion Tax Ads
H&R Block's Ads Claim All Users are Tax Champions
Character-Like Roadway Bollards
The 'REAL' Safety Bollard by Maxime Bourgault is Friendly
Human Candle Campaigns
These Human Statues of Candle Wax Bring Attention to Youth Burnout
Hyper-Local Gym Ads
GymBox's Made for London Life Ads Juxtapose City Living and Gym-Going
Cheeky Series Star Campaigns
MTN DEW Debuts a New Superbowl Ad with Aubrey Plaza
Flame-Grilled Billboards
This Fiery Billboard Promotes the Flame Grilled Whopper-Flavored Doritos
Dual-Screen Smart TVs
The Telly TV is a Free Piece of Hardware Supported by Advertisements
Vibrant Retro Transport Campaigns
VCCP Creates Public Transport Safety Campaigns for the TFL
Vacation Rental Campaigns
Airbnb Debuts an Animated Ad That Celebrates Booking a Place to Yourself
Text-to-Image AI Apps
The Bonkers App Quickly Creates Images using AI
Hilarious Fandom Cheese Campaigns
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Launches First-Ever Paid Ad Campaign
Bean-Shaped Vibrant Chalks
Areaware Presents the Colorful New Bean Chalks for Imaginative Drawing
Youth Art Campaigns
Sun Bum Taps Into the Gen Alpha Market with an Innovative Art Contest
Personalized Grocery Billboard Campaigns
Tesco Ireland Gets a New Live-Prompt Campaign
Rewritten Christmas Song Ads
Burger King UK's Hijacking Christmas Will Guide You to the Drive Thru
Celebrity-Backed Fragrance Ads
Axe Targets Generation Z with its New Star-Studded Campaign
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
Festival Hydration Drink Campaigns
This Electrolit Activation Will Be at Music Festivals in 2023
Review-Based Marketing Campaigns
These Amazon Campaigns Bring Real Reviews To Life
Deserted Island Billboards
Silk & Spice Set Up a Billboard for Fans to Go and Find
Mind-Clearing Art Boards
The Buddha Board is Made Purposefully to Declutter and Refresh Minds
Bar Cart Mascots
Tito's New Ad Series Features an Anthropomorphic Bar Cart with Mixology Skills
SaaS Influencer Marketing Tools
Beeing Social Launches 'Buzz Bee Buzz' for Influencer Marketing
Hand Sanitizing Stadium Campaigns
Shimmy Launched an OOH Campaign at Gillette Stadium
User-Generated Toronto Baseball Ads
GO Transit Celebrates Toronto Blue Jays with Fan-Created Ads
Big-Screen Cat Ads
INABA is Celebrating National Cat Day with "the Ultimate Cat Video"
AI-Powered Signage Apps
Parky AI Was Created for Understanding Confusing Montreal Traffic Signs
Billboard Design Competitions
Halo Burger is Hosting a Billboard Design Contest for a Scholarship
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Reimagined Impressionist Paintings
AT&T Partners with Smartify to Highlight 5G Technology and AR
Happiness-Prioritizing QSR Campaigns
Dave & Buster's Launches the 'Adult Unlearn' Summer Campaign
National Trafficking Awareness Ads
The See the Trafficking Signs Campaign Aims to Raise Awareness
Revamped Modern Phone Booths
100architects Brings Digital Touches to the Classic Phone Booth
Energetic Filtered Water Campaigns
Brita's Taste Over Everything Campaign is Youthful & Optimistic
Music Content Campaign Tools
Spotify Presents the Showcase Tool for Artists to Promote
Inflated Vibrant Futuristic Buses
Midjourney Helped Create the Mutated School Bus Design
Comforting Oat Bar Ads
Humanaut Launches a Campaign for Bobo's, Highlighting Home-Baked Taste
Subtle Marketing Pop-Ups
FOMO Nudge Encourages Users to Buy with Subtle Pop-Ups
Provocative Eco Screensavers
Planet-Saving Screen Savers Encourage Switching Off Devices
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad
Versatile Marketing Toolkits
Looper Insights Releases a Digital Marketing Insights Tool
Phone-Based User-Targeted Campaigns
PlugSMS Helps Users Launch Campaigns From Their Phones
Business Slogan Generators
The Slogan Generator Will Create a Catchy Slogan for Any Business
Parent-Focused TV Campaigns
NatureFresh's TV Campaign Explores How Active Parenting Benefits Kids
Generative AI Beverage Ads
The Coca‑Cola® Masterpiece Campaign Leverages AI to Create Visual Magic