Chicago DMA & Our Coverage

There are 9.7 million people living in Chicago and the neighboring suburbs which includes parts of Northwest Indiana. It’s the third largest designated market area (DMA) in the US, and it’s one of the most diverse as well. If you’re not advertising in Chicago, you’re missing out.

Chicago is an excellent city for a more targeted approach to outdoor advertising. Since each neighborhood has different demographic breakdowns, it is easier to reach your intended audience. Our advertising experts can help you target audiences by income, age, and much more.

Chicago is also a densely populated city with high-traffic counts, a high-level of mass-transit ridership and bustling pedestrian traffic. Putting an outdoor ad on a busy street in these high density areas will guarantee millions of impressions over the life of your advertising campaign. 

So, you have the option of conducting a generalized campaign where you’ll reach a lot of people, or a more targeted campaign focused on your intended audience.

If you’re looking to advertise in Chicago, we’ve got you covered—we have 94% of the Chicago DMA at your disposal. If needed, we can blanket the entire market with a constant reminder of your brand.

We Are Chicago’s Outdoor Advertising Company

• We cover 94% of the Chicago DMA across diverse formats and demographics.

• Over 1,500 different locations to choose from.

• Garnering 86,000,000+ impressions every single week.

STREET FURNITURE

Reach the suburbs of Chicago by connecting with your audience at eye level on major arterials.

Wild Postings

Street-level media at it's finest... our plant of dedicated Wild Postings are perfectly positioned in heavy pedestrian areas in Chicago's hottest neighborhoods.

HOTSPOTS

Targeted and hyper-local, HotSpots are the perfect medium for reaching Chicago's neighborhoods.

Bus Wraps

If you are looking to reach downtown Chicago, look no further than Chicago’s most out-of-home advertising medium, Bus Wraps.

WALLSCAPES

Want to make a big impression? Become a part of the city with our big and bold Chicago Wallscapes.

Unsure of the format that’s right for you?

Download our free ebook today to learn more about outdoor advertising formats and how they can help your business.

Why OUt-of-home (OOH) Advertising?

There are many advertising choices, ranging from traditional media (TV, print) to new digital media (social media, Facebook ads). Out-of-home advertising, or OOH, is usually considered a traditional medium. However, it works really well in the contemporary advertising landscape.

Cost Efficient Advertising

OOH is the most cost-efficient medium for advertising. A recent study found that OOH ads reach 96% of Americans, higher than any other medium. In big urban centers like Chicago, OOH targets pedestrians, drivers, car passengers, and CTA riders, whether they’re on buses or on the L. This is a huge pool of people from which to draw an audience. 

Target Specific Chicago Demographics

Billboard advertising is also great at targeting specific demographics, especially in a diverse city like Chicago. Each neighborhood has its own personality; each ad spot targets a specific audience. In Chicago, OOH audiences can be just as specific as online audiences.

Pairs with other marketing efforts

OOH is super effective when paired with other advertising media. A study conducted by Kantar Group found that a combination of Facebook and OOH was 13% more efficient than expected, and 47% more efficient than using only Facebook. 

Increased Revenue

Of course, it all comes down to increasing profit. OOH reaches audiences when they are out of the home and are most likely to make purchasing decisions. Your OOH ad could be the final reminder that drives a customer to make a purchase. If you’re interested in our comparison between billboards and other media, check out our blog post.

Quick Billboard Advertising Stats

• It’s the fastest growing non-internet media.

• 40% of viewers are classified as “highly engaged” with messaging they see on billboards or other outdoor advertising.

• 20% of viewers have visited a business after seeing an ad

• OOH advertising companies see an average profit of $5.97 for every dollar spent

• Consumers are 50% more likely to engage with an online ad after seeing the same ad from outdoor advertising first

• 84% of Generation Z-ers pay more attention to OOH advertising than any other types of advertising

How much do billboards cost?

The price of a billboard (or any outdoor advertising location) varies widely on a few factors that include the market, the location and the number of people that see the billboard everyday. Check out this collection of posts from our blog for an in-depth breakdown.

How do you know which audience you are targeting?

It may seem like outdoor advertising is just nice, rain-proof paper. In reality, OOH advertising collects location data to target audiences more so than any other form of advertising. Thanks to immediate data collection, companies can make quick and informed decisions about their marketing campaigns.

How big is the OOH market?

Currently, OOH advertising has grown to be a more than $6 billion market. The impact of outdoor advertising cannot be ignored.

Doesn’t it take a long time to get a billboard?

Forget the days when a man had to paint a billboard with brushes. Now, you can speak with one of our experts and we can have a billboard up for you in no time.

Does OOH encourage creativity?

Ad designers love OOH because of its size and scope. It’s the best place to test a creative idea before global implementation to ensure it has a clear and long-lasting strategy. 

Can Billboards be paired with other forms of technology?

Certainly. And when combined properly, they can be a powerful tool. For example, billboards can be programmed to ping phones. A person passing by a McDonalds billboard could receive a notification letting them know that their favorite burger is half off at the nearest location.