Quit Spending Money on Billboards

Dec 23

What a Waste.

Billboards are a flex, not a strategy.

Companies drop thousands—sometimes millions—on massive roadside ads, thinking they’re making an impact. But let’s be real: who actually remembers a billboard they saw on the highway?

If you’re spending serious marketing dollars on billboards, here’s why you might be throwing money into traffic with zero return.

1. No One Is Actually Paying Attention

Drivers are busy driving. Passengers are glued to their phones. The idea that someone will see your billboard, memorize your URL, and take action later? Laughable.

People don’t take photos of billboards.
They don’t pull over to write down a phone number.
And they definitely don’t remember generic messaging with a logo slapped on it.

2. There’s No Tracking, No Data, No Proof It Works

With digital ads, you know exactly who clicked, what they did, and whether they converted. With billboards? You get nothing.

Can’t track ROI.
Can’t A/B test.
Can’t optimize in real-time.

It’s old-school brand awareness at best—and an expensive guessing game at worst.

3. Better Ways to Spend That Money

If you have billboard-level budgets, here’s where you’ll get way more return:

Paid Social & Search Ads – Actually target people who care about your product.
SEO & Content – Build a pipeline of organic leads who find you when they need you.
Email & Retargeting – Stay in front of people who already showed interest.
Sponsorships & Experiential Marketing – Be where your audience is in a way that sticks.

When (Maybe) a Billboard Makes Sense

A billboard might not be a complete waste if:

You’re a local business (restaurant, event, or service with a direct CTA).
You’re running a massive brand campaign and already own digital.
You just want the ego boost (not the ROI).

Final Thought: If You Can’t Measure It, Don’t Buy It

Billboards are outdated brand marketing in a digital-first world. If you’re spending thousands to “get your name out there” with zero way to track impact, your marketing budget is working against you.

Quit paying for billboards. Spend on what actually moves the needle.

Bruen Creative Co.