Everyone has seen plenty of billboards in their travels, unless their country outlaws them. In fact, the number of billboards along our US highways is, to some, an eyesore. In some areas this is probably true. Yet, often, the billboards provide valuable information for travelers.

Yes, billboards are an effective means of advertising, but they have at least two major problems. First, the ad awaits the motorist to drive by. It is stationary and, if no one comes that way, the message is a waste of money. Second, the standard billboard can't do anything to attract attention. It is lifeless, and, with the competition of other billboards, might be totally ignored.

To retain the advantages of size and color found in a stationary billboard, yet overcome these two obstacles mentioned above, some inventor came up with the concept of a portable billboard. It is a billboard that actually moves to where the people are. A portable billboard is  a billboard message displayed on the side of a truck (commonly called truckside advertising) or trailer and then driven into the target area.

The simplest and least expensive portable billboard is to rent the sides and back of a truck that will use these portable surfaces to display your ad. It is even possible to share the truck with other companies, posting a different message on the left and right sides and on the back for the agreed upon length of time. The truck carries your ad wherever it goes. If it is attention grabbing, people waiting in traffic or seeing it in a parking area will naturally read it.

For more money, you can rent a moving ad. One version of this is designed on the same principle as the vertical three sided changing billboards. The ad is attached to these vertical sticks and, as they rotate, an entirely different picture or message will appear, almost instantly. They are excellent for attracting attention. Trucks or trailers equipped with smaller versions of this display will travel through traffic, the message on the sides and back changing every ten or fifteen seconds. Of course, three messages at a time can be displayed this way on each of the three surfaces of the vehicle.

Another method of changing the message on the truck or trailer is through rolled up banners displayed a little at a time. A timer activates a motor and, almost instantly, the roller at the top or bottom pulls a different message into view, similar to messages at the stats tables of a basketball game. One firm sells such 10' by 10' trailers and claims ten messages can be stored and displayed on each of the three sides. Tempered glass protects the message and mechanism. These are also lighted internally, a fact that makes them visible even at night.

The most expensive method of portable billboard message changing is through electronics. The side of the truck or trailer is fitted with a myriad of lights that can be programmed to display multi-colored messages. No printed message is ever made; the design and display are done by the computer.

As was stated earlier, each of these techniques has the great advantage of moving the billboard message to the people. It is a great way to inform a larger audience and to advertise goods or services not related to highway travelers.

AirSign, which also offers aerial advertising, provides effective mobile billboard advertising services to clients across the States. View their services now.