Anyone do billboards?

[Jon Hook]

I was just thinking, radio ads aren't that great (tried it), our website is working wonders, joint ventures with other local businesses is starting to produce good results, not sure yet about TV ads, might be too costly, but what about billboards?

I am pretty convinced that a limousine is something that people need to see. I need advertising with pictures. People don't know they want it until it is sitting in front of them. I have one of my cars parked at a flower shop on a busy street. That has generated some bookings.

Has anyone tried it and have success?

[Dean Schuler]

George Jacobs in Chicago does quite well with billboards. I have only heard success stories from operators using billboards.

I was just thinking, radio ads aren't that great (tried it), our website is working wonders, joint ventures with other local businesses is starting to produce good results, not sure yet about TV ads, might be too costly, but what about billboards?

I am pretty convinced that a limousine is something that people need to see. I need advertising with pictures. People don't know they want it until it is sitting in front of them. I have one of my cars parked at a flower shop on a busy street. That has generated some bookings.

Has anyone tried it and have success?

[Cedar Mill Limousine]

Just like any real estate...location, location, location!

[Jon Hook]

Ya, I was just thinking, it is another way to get eyeballs looking at the limo. That is what sells my service. People have to see it or they don't think about it (here anyways).

[Wade Randolph]

Chicago is a very unique market. It has a huge share ride market and people that are used to using that kind of service. It is probably the only market in the nation that would be cost effective to use billboards in our industry.

[Cedar Mill Limousine]

Chicago is a very unique market. It has a huge share ride market and people that are used to using that kind of service. It is probably the only market in the nation that would be cost effective to use billboards in our industry.

Windy City is a very large company that can handle the payment of the billboards and also handle the calls that come from them. They offer everything from sedans to 56 pax buses going to the casinos. Their billboards are also strategically located for optimum use. Make sure the cost of your advertising will bring in enough new business to cover your costs (if your advertising budget is 10% - you had better bring in $1,000 worth of new work for every $100 in advertising dollars).

[Limo Scene]

I have used them Jon. One word of caution. They don't work like they do for McDonald's! The photo of a McDonald's Big Mac can easily cause an impulse purchase if you happen to be hungry, see the billboard and find the next off-ramp has a highly visible McDonald's.

The same is not true in most cases for limos. People are not going to see a billboard and dial your number to book a limousine. It suppose it could happen on a Friday night. But, for the most part, billboards are image building tools.

To further explain this, a billboard can plant your name/logo in the minds of every person that sees the billboard. It is called "impressions". If 5000 people drive by your sign everyday, you have made 5000 impressions. The more times that you drive by the same billboard, the more it becomes imbedded in your head. So much so that you probably notice with the billboard changes advertisements. Right?

Billboards are relatively cheap. They are very good for building name recognition, credibility and a positive image. Down the road, when someone needs a limo and they search online or in the phone book and see your name and logo, it makes them feel like they "know you" and there is a high probability they will call you first because of that warm and fuzzy feeling.

I say - DO IT!