One of the most talked about trends in the out-of-home industry is the rising use of mobile media. Despite the tremendous growth of mobile over the last several years, the industry has yet to agree upon how to integrate with OOH campaigns. One way advertisers are integrating is the placement of QR Codes in their existing OOH media. The QR Code directs the consumer to a mobile-optimized landing page with a call to action. Multiple industry studies have shown that QR Codes are scanned by 10-15% of smartphone users. Another nascent mobile ad execution is augmented reality (AR). It is an emerging media that lays an artificial, interactive layer over the actual view of the surrounding environment, as seen through a phone’s camera. AR offers new ways for brands to interact with consumers but it is not yet widely used by advertisers and few consumers are aware of its capabilities. While these emerging mobile media technologies are exciting, sometimes it’s easier to reach the consumer using methods that are more widely used and accepted. An example is the sponsorship of mobile hotspots, integrating a mobile-activated landing page that delivers advertising in conjunction with Dpb campaigns.
