OOH ads can go far beyond simple billboards. Ads like Chick-fil-A’s Cow campaign, which incorporates three-dimensional objects, activate consumers in the highly competitive fast food industry.

3-D billboards may seem costly, but Chick-fil-A adapted them as a unique cost-saving alternative to TV commercials, the favored tactic of their competitors.

The Richards Group, an ad agency headquartered in Dallas, TX, designed the billboards to stand out through larger than life creative. The tactic helped build the brand to become the “No. 1 fast-food chain in terms of sales per store.”

Chick-fil-A’s first 3-D cow campaign in 1995 featured two cows painting a billboard pleading for burger connoisseurs to “Eat Mor Chicken.”

The good ideas didn’t stop there. After the original billboard debuted, the agency continued to grow their fan base with new ideas. Themes stretched from political cows to cows talking to Santa for the holidays.

Chick-fil-A’s cow campaign is so successful because the 3-D objects are humanized when they ask the world to give up beef.

“With the cows, the conflict is never resolved. People root for the low-status character, and the cows are low status. They’re the underdog,” says The Richard Group’s Rob VanGorden, a principal on the Chick-fil-A account.

Many people have grown to love the cows over the years. The 3-D ads have received award after award, including admittance into the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame in 2007.

The cows’ have herd enough but cannot hide from the ongoing fight that will never be resolved—keeping the audience interested for years (and campaigns) to come.

DOmedia loves to see how far Chick-fil-A has grown throughout the years with the help of OOH advertising and their innovative 3-D billboards.

New York City is one of the most competitive housing markets in the country. LinkNYC, New York city’s free public wifi, and StreetEasy, a premier real estate company, are utilizing the power of digital OOH advertising to help New Yorkers find their perfect apartment.

Photo Credit: DailyDOOH

LinkNYC transformed old phone booths into public wifi kiosks throughout the city. Each kiosk features digital screens for advertisements.  The Kiosks’ wifi is free to the public – funded completely by advertisers. LinkNYC debuted their first real estate campaign earlier this month. StreetEasy placed geo-located rental listings on kiosks within walking distance of the physical listing. New Yorkers can see the listings on the screen and check the listing on StreetEasy’s mobile site using LinkNYC’s wifi. Because the listing is located so close to the ad, interested apartment hunters can quickly walk to the physical location to see it for themselves.

Mobile and OOH have benefits alone, but true power lies when they are brought together. With the undeniable reach of OOH and mobile’s engagement factor, a campaign that effectively pairs them together is destined to be successful.

Finding an apartment in one of the world’s toughest housing markets can be difficult but digital OOH advertising can make the apartment hunt a little easier. Great job LinkNYC and StreetEasy on the awesome campaign!

Clean, simple and well-done billboards can be some of the best works of advertising. But when an OOH ad combines with technology and humor, the ad is bound to be widely successful.

Cue Snickers. Their recent digital billboard in NYC features Marilyn Monroe’s personal take on Snickers’ “You’re not you when you’re hungry” campaign. The board, created by BBDO Worldwide, incorporates a facial recognition camera that identifies pedestrians’ prolonged gaze. Marilyn, grumpy from the rude stares, morphs into William Dafoe – a shocking, yet humorous, transformation. See the hilarious video below:

DOmedia loves to see the seamless integration of timeless humor and copy with modern technology. Nicely done, Snickers!

Fourth of July weekend is here! Family cookouts, sunshine and fireworks are just a few Independence Day traditions. Some of the world’s most popular brands proudly utilize iconic American imagery in their patriotic advertising for summer campaigns. In honor of America’s birthday, here are five USA-lovin’ companies:

Budweiser – No surprise here! Budweiser consistently sports red, white and blue packaging and frequently features other American images, such as the Statue of Liberty. The brand stepped it up this summer by temporarily changing their name toAmerica. Raise an America to America, Americans!  

Coca-Cola – For years, Coke has utilized patriotic advertising ranging from the armed forces to the Olympics, but their newest campaign might be their most patriotic yet. Coke has released limited-edition cans and cases that read, “I’m proud to be an American.” Yes we can!

Levi-Strauss – The clothing company has been around since 1873, featuring blue denim, and a red and white logo tag. The jeans practically scream “America!” Levi’s first global campaign “Go Forth” is a great example of the American-loving ads Levi’s has produced during their 143 years of business. USA! USA!

Old Navy – Every American has either worn, been forced to wear or forced a child to wear Old Navy’s classic American flag t-shirt. You can’t celebrate the 4th of July without one. Land of the free and home of the American flag t-shirt!

We love America. The DOmedia team wishes you and your family a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

1. When an image is not available for a vendor’s asset, a Google Street View image will appear for that asset.

2. Client logos can now be formatted to fit nicely inside of map pins.

3. When multiple units have the same latitude and longitude, markers for each location display on the map.