Poster Advertising:
Why it's Still So Popular

Despite the rise of digital advertising, posters are still proving popular with national advertisers. In this blog post, we take a look at some of the reasons why this medium is still so popular among big brands as well as the smaller players.

A brief history of posters in advertising

Poster advertising has been around for centuries, with some of the earliest examples dating back to the late 1700s. In the early days, posters were used primarily for public announcements and advertisements were few and far between. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that posters began to be used more extensively for commercial purposes.

In fact, it was during this time that some of the first truly iconic posters were created. One of the most famous examples is Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1891 poster for the Moulin Rouge. This image was so popular that it helped put the then-unknown artist on the map and cemented the popularity of posters as a medium for advertising.

The rise of digital advertising has led some to believe that posters are no longer relevant. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Posters are still a highly effective way to reach a wide audience and they offer a number of advantages that other mediums cannot match.

Key reasons national advertisers still rely on posters

Here are just a few reasons why national advertisers are still using posters:

Posters are an affordable and effective way to reach a large audience:

Posters are a very cost-effective way to reach a large number of people. In fact, they are often one of the most affordable forms of advertising available. This is because posters can be produced relatively cheaply and they can be placed in a wide variety of locations.

As opposed to digital advertising, which often requires a significant investment in technology and infrastructure, posters can be an extremely cost-effective way to reach a large audience. There may be a large audience in the digital world, but it is often difficult to target them effectively. This means you could end up spending a lot of money on ads that no one ever sees, as it is difficult to cut through the noise.

Posters offer a great way to reach a large number of people without breaking the bank, and get noticed in a way that is hard to achieve with other mediums.

Posters offer a high degree of flexibility:

Another key advantage of posters is the fact that they offer a high degree of flexibility. This means that they can be used in a wide variety of locations and for a variety of purposes.

For example, posters can be placed in high-traffic areas such as bus stops and train stations. They can also be placed in more specific locations such as near schools or in office buildings. This flexibility means that posters can be used to target a wide range of audiences.

Posters are also very versatile when it comes to the message they convey. They can be used to promote a product, service, or event. They can also be used to raise awareness of a cause or issue. This flexibility means that posters can be adapted to suit the needs of any advertiser.

Posters offer a level of engagement that other mediums cannot match:

Posters offer a level of engagement that other mediums cannot match. This is because they are often placed in high-traffic areas where people have to stop and take notice.

This means that posters have the potential to reach a wide range of people, including those who might not be reached through other forms of advertising. For example, someone who is walking past a poster is more likely to stop and take a look than someone who is scrolling through a feed on social media.

This high level of engagement means that posters are an extremely effective way to reach a wide audience.

Posters offer a unique form of advertising:

It’s worth noting that posters offer a unique form of advertising. This is because they are often seen as being more trustworthy than other forms of advertising.

This is because posters are not interrupting someone’s day, like an ad on social media. Plus, online advertisements can be seen as untrustworthy, spammy, and intrusive. Nowadays, consumers are well aware of scams, fake news and online fraud - which means they are more likely to be skeptical of online ads.

In contrast, posters are often seen as being more authentic and trustworthy. This level of trust can be extremely valuable for advertisers, as it means that people are more likely to see the company associated with the message as being a credible and trustworthy business.

Posters offer a high degree of flexibility in terms of design and execution:

It’s also worth mentioning that posters offer a high degree of flexibility in terms of design and execution. This means that they can be adapted to suit the needs of any advertiser.

For example, posters can be designed to target a specific audience. They can also be used to convey a wide range of messages, from promoting a product or service to raising awareness of a cause or issue.

Plus, there are so many ways to be creative with posters. Advertisers can experiment with different designs, colours, and images to create a poster that is eye-catching and attention-grabbing. You can also be creative in terms of where you place posters.

For example, you could put a poster in an unexpected location to create a sense of intrigue. Or you could create a chain of posters that are connected to each other - for example, you could make your message more fun by spreading the words on different posters along a person's route on public transports. This can create a sense of anticipation and make people more likely to remember your message.

Posters are great to incorporate within advertising campaigns:

Posters can be used to target specific demographics with laser precision and have been shown to generate a significant amount of brand awareness. When businesses develop advertising campaigns, they can choose to add posters to the mix can be a highly effective way to reach their target audience.

In fact, adding posters to a marketing campaign can have a number of effects:

• 1. It can help increase brand awareness:
  Posters can help increase brand awareness by getting your message across in a different way, which can reach people who might not have been reached through other mediums.


• 2. It can help reinforce your message:
  Posters can also help reinforce your message. For example, if you’re running a TV ad campaign, adding posters in strategic locations can help to drive home your message and ensure that people remember it


• 3. It can help increase brand recall:
  Posters can also help increase brand recall. In other words, when people see your poster, they’re more likely to remember your brand and what you do.


• 4. It can help create a buzz:
  Posters can also help create a buzz around your product or service. For example, if you’re launching a new product, placing posters in busy areas can help to generate excitement and get people talking.

Posters can be placed in strategic areas to maximise their effectiveness:

When it comes to posters, placement can be a huge advantage. Advertisers can think about where their target audience is likely to see them, and use this knowledge greatly capitalise on it. Here are a few examples of effective strategic poster placement:

• Businesses targeting students can place posters near universities and colleges.
• Businesses targeting young people in general can place posters in areas where they congregate - such as universities, shopping centres, or clubs.
• Businesses targeting commuters can place posters in busy train stations or on public transport.
• Businesses targeting other businesses can place posters in business districts or near office buildings can be a great way to reach them.
• Businesses targeting the widest audience possible can place posters in highly visible areas, such as on billboards, in busy streets and in high traffic areas.
• Businesses targeting parents can place posters in schools or near playgrounds.

These are just a few examples, but as you can see, there are many possibilities when it comes to poster placement. And with a little bit of creativity and strategy, businesses can really make the most out of using this medium as a form of advertising.

Case studies of successful poster campaigns

KFC's 'FCK' posters:

KFC's 'FCK' posters are a great example of how effective a simple design can be. The poster features the classic KFC bucket on a red background, with crumbs scattered around it. This was to address their customer in light of their issues with a shortage of chicken supply.

However, the clever use of the letters 'FCK' manages to be cheeky and relatable, connecting directly with people. The campaign was a great success as the poster became an instant classic, and left customers feeling amused instead of annoyed.

KFC's 'FCK' posters also show how a little creativity can go a long way in advertising. Plus, it really shows the power of impact and memorability of posters.

The Friars's 'screenshot' ad:

The Friars is a pub in the UK that ran a successful poster campaign in 2017.

The poster simply shows a screenshot of a conversation between the designer and the pub’s owner, making for a direct and straight-to-the-point advert. The design also incorporates familiarity, as most people would recognise the iPhone text screen anywhere. This piques people’s interest and appeals to their curious nature, drawing them in to read the poster. No need for cheesy stock imagery and dodgy fonts here.

The campaign was a success because it was creative, direct, and to the point. It also appealed to people's curiosity and was something that they could easily relate to, and in fact ended up being shared nationally. This greatly increased their brand awareness and got the nation talking about them.

Absolut Vodka: The Absolut Bottle campaign

Absolut Vodka's The Absolut Bottle campaign was so successful that it ran for 25 years and featured over 1,500 separate ads. Absolut only had a 2.5% of the vodka market when the campaign started, but by the time it ended, they were importing half of all imported vodka in the U.S.

The campaign determined and differentiated the product in an interesting way, making it one of the most recognisable bottles in the world. The simple posters showed shapes resembling that of Absolut bottle in different parts of the world.

This campaign was a great example of how a simple print design can be effective, and how a little creativity can truly catch the attention of consumers.

California Milk Processor Board: Got Milk?

The 'Got Milk?' campaign by the California Milk Processor Board was one of the most successful and long-running ad campaigns in history.

The ads featured people in various situations with milk moustaches, to show how milk can be enjoyed in many different ways. The tagline 'Got Milk?' was also clever and catchy, making it easy for people to remember.

This print poster campaign was simple and effective, and showed how posters can help create brand awareness, as well as generate a lot of word-of-mouth and interest.

The takeaway

Poster campaigns are still an effective way to reach and engage consumers, as they offer a lot of potential for creativity and impact. By utilising strategic placement and clever design, businesses can make the most out of this medium and connect with their audience in a meaningful way. What's not to love about that?

At Red17, we understand the importance of print advertising and how it can help businesses reach their target consumers, increase brand awareness and generate more interest and sales. We can help you display your advertising posters beautifully with our wide range of poster frames, poster cases, and light box displays. These are available in a huge range of colours, sizes, shapes and materials. And with various added features and extra design options, we're sure to have the perfect solution for you.

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