Online Ads Aren’t Working? Signs You Need OOH

You’ve put time, energy, and your hard-earned money into an online advertising campaign, but the results have been… disappointing.

Maybe you’re seeing little to no engagement with your social media ads. Or maybe vanity metrics such as likes or comments have begun to rise, but you’re not seeing that translate into any form of conversion.

The truth is, while online advertising is often hailed as the best path forward for your marketing efforts in the digital age, running social media or other online ads doesn’t always achieve the results you’re looking for. If you’re not seeing the conversions you need to justify your ad spending, it might be time to pivot to the tried-and-true advertising method that’s been producing ROI for decades: out-of-home (OOH) advertising.

Keep reading to learn if it’s time to make the switch.

Social Media Ads Not Working? This Might Be the Reason Why

These days, everyone is trying to make a name for themselves online and for valid reasons. There are a reported 4.8 billion social media users worldwide, representing nearly 60% of the world’s population. This high usership provides a wealth of opportunity for advertisers, but it can also make breaking through the noise feel next to impossible.

Yes, your brand wants to stand out on social media, but so does every other brand in your industry. There are millions of advertisers vying for users’ attention, and in an era when digital fatigue is higher than ever, online ads are often the last thing that consumers want to interact with.

A high percentage of social media users ignore ads in their feed, scroll past without interacting, or avoid accounts that share a lot of promotional content. Others rely on ad blockers to keep their time online as free from ads as possible.

Because of the effects of this digital fatigue, for many advertisers, it doesn’t matter how well-crafted their campaign may be; their audience simply doesn’t want to see it.

Why OOH Advertising Is Different

In many ways, out-of-home advertising is the direct opposite of digital advertising.

It’s right in front of your customers, in the real world. It can’t be hidden by ad blockers, and it doesn’t get swallowed up or lost in an algorithm. It’s a tangible part of your audience’s daily routine, building trust and familiarity instead of disappearing into a sea of other posts.

That’s why it’s so incredibly valuable: OOH produces a higher ROI than other types of advertising because it provides a broad audience with a high visibility in moments when they’re already engaged. People taking in OOH ads aren’t doomscrolling on the couch while exhausted after a long day of work; they’re out in the world, interacting and engaging with everything around them.

5 Signs You Need OOH

Seeing a lack of results from your digital campaign can be frustrating.

Facebook ads? Not working. Instagram ads? Not working. It’s enough to make you want to give up on advertising altogether.

But we’ll let you in on a secret: the problem might not have anything to do with your ad itself, and might have everything to do with the platform you’re using to share it with your audience.

Keep reading for the signs that it’s time to switch to out-of-home advertising.

1. You’re Seeing Very Little Traction

If your social media ads aren’t working, it’s time to figure out how to run ads without wasting money. Pay-per-click (PPC) ad costs can climb quickly, and if you aren’t getting anything but vanity metrics from your ad, it’s time to pivot to a path with a stronger ROI.

A good ad should be bringing in sales and customer conversions, not just stats on a dashboard of metrics.

2. Your Ad Is Reaching the Wrong People

Maybe your ad is cutting through the noise and reaching people, but is it reaching the right people?

If the consumers seeing your ad are not people who would actually take action, your ad isn’t doing any good. For example, if you’re running an architecture firm, you probably don’t want your ads being distributed to teenagers working at their local coffee shop. You want your ad to reach people with the means and desire to utilize your services.

When you work with an expert outdoor ad agency to launch an OOH campaign, your Media Coordinator will help ensure that your ad is placed in the prime location to reach your target demographic.

3. You’re Using Your Budget In Too Many Places

The digital advertising options can feel limitless. If you aren’t careful, it’s possible to spread your ad resources too thin, and in the attempt to show up everywhere, you end up showing up nowhere.

If you’re trying to run ads on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Google, and more, it’s time to pause and re-evaluate your media planning strategy.

4. You Aren’t Building Brand Awareness

If your brand isn’t familiar and easily recognizable, your ads aren’t doing their job. However, with millions of ads going live online each day, it’s easy for your brand to get lost in the shuffle.

OOH is one of the leading ways to build brand awareness due to its unmatched visibility, 24/7 exposure, and ability to continually develop customer trust. Ads in locations with high dwell time, such as airports and street-level ads also ensure pedestrians regularly encounter your brand.

5. Your Brand Has Low Credibility

These days, it’s hard to tell fact from fiction online. If a user isn’t familiar with your products or services, they may be unsure when they come across your ad if your brand is legit.

OOH brands, on the other hand, naturally have more credibility due to being a part of the tangible world. If you’re trying to establish your brand as a go-to resource, making that real-world connection with customers is crucial.

Ready to Make the Switch to OOH Advertising?

Tired of fighting through digital clutter and ad fatigue? Make the switch to out-of-home advertising and experience the difference of authentic, user-centric advertising with location targeting and clear brand messaging.

We’ve run thousands of OOH campaigns across the country. We know the tools of the trade, and our team is committed to ensuring your ad brings out the best results for your brand.

Want to learn more? Contact us today to receive your free proposal.

FAQs

Should I avoid online advertising altogether?

Not necessarily! While social media and online ads are not as dependable as out-of-home advertising, digital and OOH ads work well together, closing gaps that each type of advertising has on its own.

How long does it take to launch an OOH campaign?

At Alluvit Media, we’ve launched outdoor advertising campaigns in as little as two weeks. Exact launch timeline will depend on the billboard type and location your campaign requires.

How can I calculate my ad’s return on ad spend (ROAS)?

Your ROAS can easily be calculated with the formula ROAS = revenue from advertising/cost of advertising.