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
Creative Ad Responses
Kiehl’s Response to Censorship Embraces Bold Creativity
Multifunctional Transport Buses
The Bubblic Public Imagines the Future of Public Transit
Playful Billboard Campaigns
Dreamies Treats Unveil a Show-Stopping 3D Billboard Campaign
Skincare Pop-Up Trucks
Neutrogena Canada will Host a Boost Bus in Toronto
Sound-Focused Ice Cream Ads
Magnum Ice Cream Ads Bring the Ultimate Sensory Experience to Life
Ice Cream-Inspired Campaigns
Dairy Queen Canada is Transforming Snowbanks into Giant Blizzards
AI-Lead Car Ads
Ford Launched an AI Campaign Dubbed 'Be Surreal, Be Ford'
Clear In-Game Billboard Advertisements
SCS Software's Truck Simulator Uses Real-Life Advertising
Sun Safety Beach Takeovers
Sun Bum's Miami Beach Takeover Supported Safe Fun in the Sun
LED Can Concepts
The Pepsi Smart Can Has a Flexible HD Display & Sound System
Cheeky Burger Billboards
The Habit Burger & Grill Humorously Calls Out Five Guys
90's Archival Footwear Pop-Ups
Dr. Martens Hosted a 'Buzz Bus' in NYC
Hands-Free Car Innovations
Ford Partnered with the British Deaf Association to Launch an Ad
Humorous Drink Cart Ads
Tito’s Spokescart Returns with New Tricks and the Same Laid-Back Charm
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
Digital Debit Card Campaigns
Interac Introduces 'The Lost Wallet Board' Installation in Toronto
Cheeky Bar-Focused Campaigns
Heineken Advocates for Financial Support for Bars with Starring Bars
Humorous Automotive Campaigns
Hyundai’s 'Where Have You Been?' Ad Merges Nostalgia and Branding
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
AI Movie Poster Generators
AI Movie Poster Generator Creates Impactful Promotional Materials
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Color Blindness-Exclusive Billboards
TD Unveils a Campaign to Highlight Its Accessibility Adapter
In-Game Billboard Advertising
Gameloft Enables Partners to Advertise Natively in its Games
Mobile Truck Gloss Pop-Ups
Glossier Brings Balm DotWorld Mobile Truck to NYC This Summer
Gen Z-Targeted Ads
Truth Initiative’s Outsmart Nicotine Campaign Pushes Gen Z to Quit Smarter
Airline Highlight Advertisements
Spirit Airlines 'More Fly' Campaign is A Fresh Take on Travel
Photosensitive Book Experiences
Fruittella's the Outside Book is a One-Of-A-Kind Campaign
AI Banner Creation Tools
BannerBot Creates Customizable AI Banners and Videos for Promotions
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Star-Studded Tech Campaigns
Jewellery Pros and Music Talent Promote the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Personalized In-Flight Ads
United Airlines Kinective Media Offers Curated Travel
Bird-Shaped Food Packagings
Yu Guang and Fu Yu Han Design the Big-Billed Bird Food Concept
Unusual Fast Food Ads
KFC’s ‘Believe’ Campaign Ad Pushes Chicken Obsession to New Heights
QSR Menu Billboard Campaigns
Burger King Shows Real Burger Sizes with Real Size Campaigns
Seasonal Phone Booth Activations
Spotify's Q4 is Calling Urges Brands to Start Holiday Advertising
Art-Promoting Campaigns
Beige Billboards Spark a Bold Call to Save Charlotte’s Art Scene
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Heated QSR Anniversary Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Celebrates Milestone with a New Campaign
Sensitivity Marketing Campaigns
Cetaphil Teams Up with Lil Wayne for Super Bowl Spot
Nature-Reconnecting Outdoor Campaigns
Mammut Encouraged People to Reconnect with Nature
AI-Assisted Business Ads
Google Workspace's 50 States, 50 Stories Shares Small Businesses Using AI
Cheeky Coffee Ads
Starbucks' New Ads Celebrate Personal Connections Through a Modern Twist
Meditative Trash Campaigns
Hefty's Trash Time Out Provides Support During the Holiday Season
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Hydrating Outdoor Billboards
Gatorade's BPM Pay Panels Replenish Urban Athletees on the Go
Virtual AI Snow Globes
Coca-Cola Unveils a Festive AI Campaign at its Piccadilly Lights Residency
Data-Driven QSR Campaigns
Burger King's BK Unwrapped Reveals Customers' 2024 Ordering Preferences
Electronic Paper Advertising Displays
E Ink Kaleido 3 Supports Use in Outdoor Displays
Unconventional Health Food Ads
RXBar is the Ultimate B.S. Blocker This New Year
Country Music Songwriting Contests
Busch Light Fans have the Chance to Inspire a BRELAND Song
Delivery Driver-Centric Pizza Ads
Pizza Hut's New Commercial is Cheeky and Playful
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Innovative Outdoor Advertising Campaigns
Unilever's Dirt is Good Turns Billboards into Playgrounds
Cooling Bus Shelter Designs
EMT Madrid Spearheads the Quest for Comfortable Public Transportation
Feel-Good Ad Campaigns
Pella’s 'Make Life Brighter' Campaign Celebrates Home and Comfort
Neighborhood-Inspired Campaigns
Kotn's F/W 2024 Collection is Released with a Witty Short-Film
Pollution-Removing Murals
This Campaign Sucks by Dentsu Brings Awareness to London's Air Quality
USA-Made Custom Flags
Feather Flag Nation Creates Stock & Custom Promotional Items Made in the USA
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
QSR Summer Pop-Ups
McDonald's Mexico Launched a Summer-Themed Activation in Mexico
Hyper-Targeted Shoppable Posters
Glossier and Shop Launched Posters with Geo-Gated Location Tech
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Hangable Fragrance Tags
Born to Stand Out's Home Fragrances Enhance Interiors with Color & Scent
Pop-Up Sensory Showers
Dove's South Bank Activation Spotlights MicroMoisture Technology
Serum-Dispensing Billboards
The Inkey List's Hydrating Billboard Shares Free Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Quirky Santa Murals
Cushelle Brings Holiday Cheer with Self-Care Encouraging Artwork
Creator-Friendly Initiatives
Patreon Lights Up Times Square with Creator-Centric Billboard
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Eco-Minded Millennial Ads
Coors Seltzer's 'Call to Inaction' Campaign Aims to Save Water
Co-Branded Custom Ads
Lexus and Universal Pictures Partner for the 'Experience OZmazing' Spot
Reimagined Classic Beer Campaigns
Guinness Gives 'A Lovely Day' a Modern Artistic Refresh
Playful Creativity-Focused Campaigns
Sharpie® Launches the World is Your Canvas Tour
Nostalgic Long-Form Infomercials
Mint Mobile's 'Mintfomercial' Offers Humor and Nostalgia
Streetside Challenge Billboards
Gymbox Start Line Encourages Passersby to Try a Short Dash
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
Whimsical Candle Christmas Campaigns
The Yankee Candle 'Make it More Magical' Campaign is Festive
Super Bowl Drive-Thru Commercials
Taco Bell Debuts Its Live Más Drive-Thru Cams Campaign
High-Concept Brand Campaigns
The ‘Legitimate You’ Campaign Proves Every Brand Can Look Pro
Sun Care Awareness Tours
Sun Bum Launches the 'Trust The Bum Tour'
In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions
Social Shelf® Has a Novel Approach to Customer Engagement
Quirky Plant-Based Food Ads
Gosh! Food's Falafel Advertisement is Surprising
Marketing Idea Generators
Thunderbucket Provides Marketing Ideas and Observations at Speed
Email Marketing Tracking Platforms
'Mailboard' Helps Marketers Track Competitors and More
Low-Power Paper-Like Retail Signs
The Samsung Color E-Paper Display Has an Eye-Friendly Profile
All-Dark Marketing Campaigns
IKEA Introduces its Darkest Campaign Yet with Try Oslo's Help
Scannable Tattoo Campaigns
Burger King Korea's Whopper Tattoo Promoted an Upgraded Whopper
Chicken-Centered Campaigns
KFC Released a Campaign Called 'Believe in Chicken'
Human Connection-Centric Campaigns
Etsy's New Ad Campaign Wants to Keep Commerce Human
Harmony-Emphasizing 3D Advertisements
Wuliangye Debuted a Clever Ad in New York’s Times Square
Peeling Cheese Packaging Billboards
This Babybel Billboard is Inspired by the Product's Packaging
E-Commerce Advertising Solutions
Reddit is Enhancing its Reach with the New Dynamic Product Ads
Monarch Butterfly-Inspired Digital Billboards
LG Electronics Expands Its Endangered Species Series
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Minimizing Phone Usage Initiatives
Heineken's Latest Campaign Addresses Phone Use at Music Events
Mobile Collagen-Branded Trucks
Revive Collagen Boosts Engagement with Branded Mobile Truck
Creative Cancer Awareness Campaigns
F Cancer Debuts the 'Pick Up Your Poop' Campaign
Stigma-Breaking Motherhood Billboards
Molly Baz and Bobbie Send a Message of Empowerment
Heist-Themed Cheese Ads
This Maxi Babybel Ad Celebrates the Cheese's Return
Immersive Store Screens
Hays Travel Introduces Immersive Technology to Transform Holiday Planning
Real-Time Trending Spot Features
Roadtrippers Introduces the Trending Spots Feature to Its App
Artful Illusory Ads
giffgaff's Large-Scale Illusion Artwork Challenges Inattentional Blindness
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Geo-Targeting Store Advertisements
Tesco Recommends Ads Based on a Shopper's Location in a Store
Naturally Inspired Tourism Campaigns
The Slovenian Tourist Board Launches a New Campaign
LED Stop Arm Extensions
BusGates Emphasizes School Bus Safety with a New Bus Feature
Solution-Oriented Holiday Ads
Orange’s Holiday Ad Brings Families Together Over Smartphones
Large-Scale Digital Signage
TouchSource & Centennial Have Collaborated on a New Marketing Project
Scannable Skincare Murals
The Ordinary's Interactive Augmented Reality Mural Promotes Bodycare
No-Nonsense Grooming Campaigns
The Rock Face Makes Scents Campaign Pokes Fun at Marketing Cliches
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Hard-To-Read Health Campaigns
A Specsavers Campaign Encourages Movie-Goers to Check their Sight
Innovative Digital Signage
Creative Realities Enhances Fan Engagement & Outcomes with New Signage
Advanced Printing Techniques
BrandMyDispo Has Introduced Printing Techniques for Custom Mylar Bags
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Customizable Sales Banners
Sappelin Creates Eye-Catching, Animated Banners for Any Site
Dynamic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Hyundai Promotes Its Electrical Vehicle Line-up
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
Outdoor-Inspired Beer Spots
Busch Light's 'Circles' Ad Stars Ross Chastain and The Busch Guy
Creative Sun Safety Installations
Giant Beach Installation is a Reminder to Practice Sun Safety
Appealing Text-To-Visual Tools
Word Glow Converts Text into Stunning Visuals for Social Media
Emotionally Engaging Holiday Advertisements
Teleflora Captured Attention with The Power Of Wishes
Urban-Inspired Bag Campaigns
côte&ciel's Latest Editorial Campaign is Dubbed Rhythms of Transit
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Advertising Demand-Side Platforms
Yahoo Launched Yahoo Creative to Help Advertisers
Ball Game-Promoting Urban Initiatives
London Sport and Saatchi & Saatchi Run 'More Ball Games'
Efficiency-Driven Digital Ad Solutions
ShopLiftr is Revolutionizing Digital Advertising
Ad Inspiration Archives
Nobody Reads Ads Showcases Print and Outdoor Ads With Notable Success
Comedic Groundhog Day Campaigns
Lay's Flavor for Days Campaign Taps into Groundhog Day
Rapper-Endorsed Flame Stove Campaigns
Snoop Dogg Presents Solo Stove's Blunt Marketing Campaign
Debunking AI Apps
BSBot Helps Publicis Clients Tell the Truth About AI from Fiction at Cannes
Reflection-Encouraging Edible Oil Campaigns
Simply Fresh Marks the New Year with a New Campaign
Classic Ad Campaign Revivals
Seagram's 7 Crown is Reviving Old Ads for Its New Campaign
Humorous Losers-Focused Campaigns
Miller Lite Introduces the League Losers Billboards
Decentralized Ad Platforms
City 17 Turns Everyday Screens Into Revenue-Generating Ad Displays
Blood Center Campaigns
Markham Yard Releases the Blood Center Campaign to Inspire Donations
Phone-Based User-Targeted Campaigns
PlugSMS Helps Users Launch Campaigns From Their Phones
Effortless Announcement Banners
Notice Me Please! Lets You Create & Schedule Announcement Banners
Poster Creation Templates
MakePoster Offers a Range of Design Options to Cater to Various Needs