An Intro to Transit Out of Home Advertising
- Mar 11
- 4 min read
Most out of home media plans include a variety of formats, as each works in harmony to deliver a brand's message with repetition, consistency, and frequency. Year over year, advertisers are investing more in transit out of home (OOH) ads, so we're here to help brands and agencies get more familiar with the options available.
Not only are transit ads favored by those in large urban areas and younger generations, but the format encourages action. A Harris Poll study revealed that,
“Consumers in large urban areas, transit users, and younger generations are most driven by DOOH ads to take action.” Of respondents, 49% of those surveyed were driven to take action after seeing a DOOH ad.
We recently shared a blog post, An Introduction to OOH Airport Advertising and have covered street furniture such as bus shelters. This blog post will focus on automobiles, buses, trains, and bonus: even boats!
What is transit OOH advertising?
These are OOH ads that are attached to a moving vehicle/mechanism that transports people or can be found in transit stations, terminals, and airports.
What makes transit OOH advertising special?
It’s OOH on the move, and each type offers its unique strength. For example, a fully-wrapped bus is like a quick and loud, “HEY!” Riders see the bus obviously when it pulls up to the stop, drivers see it because they share the road, and depending on the route, passersby see it.
Whereas, a train car interior like the campaign we did for Glossier, can feel more like a conversation, as subway riders have a longer time riding to their destination.
Transit OOH on Wheels
These are street-level and in-motion, with the ability to move throughout the arteries of a city.
Wrapped Vehicles: Cars can be wrapped with your brand’s message or advertisement. Great for creating a buzz around in-person events, as you can activate a “swarm” of cars showing up to one location.
Digital Taxi Tops: Digital screens atop taxis, these provide market-wide coverage with the flexibility of digital creative. Excellent for short-term campaigns, some vendors even offer hologram projections Check out our campaign for New Era during the NFL draft to see.
Buses offer some of the largest mobile canvases available, providing deep penetration into neighborhoods that may not have a ton of OOH inventory. Keep in mind, you can choose a specific route to reach your target neighborhoods or do a completely custom route.
We’re highlighting mainly exterior formats, but know there are interior media formats available to reach those riding the bus.
Full Bus Wraps: These are the "heavy hitters" of the street, ideal for long-term brand awareness.
Double Decker Wraps: Tower over crowds at eye-level. With massive panels, they are perfect for creative effects and lighting, making them impossible to miss in high-traffic tourist and business districts.
Bus Kings and Ultra Bus Kings: Large-format displays located on the sides of buses. They provide billboard-sized impact at a fraction of the cost, moving through high-traffic arteries to reach both pedestrians and motorists.
Custom Coaches: Customized coaches follow specific routes designed by the client, offering exclusive access to OOH-restricted zones.
Transit OOH Rail & Transit Station
Rail advertising meets a captive audience during their daily commute. But these formats are also powerful when you consider the context of rail/transit stops or the time of the year.
A brand looking to reach tech professionals would consider Caltrain riders en route to the office. Or in San Diego, a wrapped trolley can reach baseball fans, locals, and tourists as they make their way to PETCO Park during baseball season. Want to reach c-suite folks? A station domination in the heart of a financial district may be your move.
Train Wraps: These move through densely populated hubs and residential areas. They reach commuters and tourists depending on location and time of year.
Full Car Takeovers: By saturating the interior of a train car, your brand eliminates competition. Every surface tells your story, ensuring your message is the only one the rider sees for the duration of their trip.
Station Dominations: This involves taking over a specific high-traffic hub (like Montgomery Station). By branding everything from pillars to walls, you have the exclusive moment.
Tunnel Wraps: A unique "floor-to-ceiling" experience that greets commuters as they enter or exit a station. It makes your brand part of the physical landscape in high-traffic pedestrian tunnels.
Subway Interior Ads: Historically these have been static units, but more trains are able to support digital out of home ads, with full motion, too!
Digital Liveboards: Full-motion digital screens positioned across commuter rail networks. With digital OOH, you can daypart your campaign so a specific message can appear during high dwell times on the platform.
Transit OOH Maritime & Waterway Media
For markets with water commutes, ferry advertising offers a premium environment.
Vessel Dominations: This includes full exterior branding of ferries and 100% cabin wall coverage. It surrounds passengers throughout their journey, which at minimum is 30 minutes.
Onboard Digital Networks: Strategic digital screens inside the cabins that deliver full-motion messaging.
Cabin Posters: Eye-level placements that provide consistent impact during extended dwell times, ensuring high-frequency exposure in a relaxed environment.
Ready to Meet your Audience while they’re in Motion?
Transit out of home advertising empowers brands with a canvas in motion — a way to move alongside their audience through their daily lives.
If you’re feeling inspired and want to talk about your next transit OOH campaign, reach out to our team today!
