Spring Break Advertising Using Aerial Ads
Every spring the beaches of Florida and Texas are the one-week residence of college students who are getting a break from the books. Would you believe an estimated 2.5 to 3 million will be basking in the sun on the beaches this year. They have money and credit cards with them, and, in addition, during the next year, these young people represent $125-$130 billion dollars in spending power. Where that much money goes will be determined by effective advertising aimed at them.
Many are taking their ad directly to the students in the form of an aerial banner or billboard ad. These ads are really quite simple. A company or individual pays an aerial ad company to both make and pull behind a plane a banner containing their message. The banner could be as long as 70 feet and will usually contain contact information such as a phone number or webpage. (Billboard aerial ads are like highway billboards only they are flown over the people instead of people driving by.) Most merchants subscribe to a flight duration of one to two hours. Each pass allows the students to see the ad for about 17 seconds. How many times could the idle students read that ad if it passed by, say, 20 times? By the time an hour is up, your message will be imprinted in their brains.
Students relax and try to stop thinking deep thoughts during this week. It is a week of vacation and they have planned to spend money. As they lie on the beach, the drone of a plane catches their attention. Behind the plane a banner or billboard is seen, displaying your ad. The company has just made an initial contact with tens of thousands of potential customers.
The items or services offered in the aerial ads could be for something they will want to buy when they return to college. On the other hand, many of the ads are for items they will need immediately, like ads for restaurants or clothing. What an opportunity to tap this market of impulsive buyers.
Many advertisers, considering the economy and unemployment, consider it a time to cut back. Yet, here is the opportunity that should not be overlooked. The students surely aren’t concerned about the economy. They just want to have some fun, regardless of the cost. They are called by one tourism expert a “recession-proof” group because the students consider this a unique opportunity without a price tag!
Electronic communication makes it even better. One merchant flies his phone number over the students and, almost immediately, they are texting their orders to him. Others use G3 networks to make Internet orders. The cost of the advertising is returned quickly and profits follow.
Aerial ads have another advantage: they are timeless. You will pay the full cost for the banner ad this year. However, the banner could be stored and used again next year, saving the cost of making the banner. Or, with some products, you could fly it over another beach or sporting event. The banners are well made and will last a long time.
Many despair that the economy is bad and it will affect us all. But wise businesses will want to take advantage of the spring break students and, those who do, will probably make a sizeable profit through aerial advertising.
AirSign has been providing attention grabbing aerial ads through their aerial advertising services around hot vacation destinations since 1996. Call them at 888-645-3442 and ask them to fly your message. It will not be forgotten.











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