Common ad categories that fail to deliver.
It’s NOT the category’s fault. It’s the advertiser’s. Or those guiding the advertisers. After all, your ads are only as good as those you’ve seen. And if all you’ve seen is boring, then boring’s what you’ll make.
All’s not lost, however. Below we’ve got some thoughts on what works, what doesn’t and why.
The Case for Unique Messaging In Attorney Advertising
Every one of these billboards is shouting a rhetorical question—as if yelling louder will make them different. The sameness IS staggering: same red or yellow palette, same attorney headshot, same giant phone number, and the same trite promise. When everyone looks identical, no one stands out—and in billboard advertising, blending in is the fastest way to be ignored. This isn’t branding. It’s camouflage. If your billboard looks like a copy of a copy of a copy, don’t expect it to generate anything but wasted ad spend.
These billboard are successful because they do what 99% of legal ads are terrified to do—break the mold. Instead of another lawyer with a rhetorical question, we get imagery and language that actually make you stop, look, and remember. Munley Law’s eye-black design is bold, clean, and emotionally charged—it has us believing that law can be a team sport. Angiuli & Gentile’s poetic billboard reads like a book cover, not a legal threat, and that’s precisely why it stands out with elegance and impact. In a sea of sameness, these billboards make a name for themselves and break from boring, never to look back. And that’s what it takes if you want to reach your audience and stay with them.
Financial Institutions Can Bank On Personal.
These billboards all rely on the same formula: large numeric value, generic headlines, and templated visuals. While they may communicate information, they fail to create distinction or emotional impact. If your message could be swapped with your competitor’s without anyone noticing, you’ve already lost. Billboard advertising demands bold and unique—not copy-paste rate drops and bank logos. When everyone looks the same, no one gets remembered—and no one gets results.
These up above work because they abandon the generic numerical incentive and instead speak directly to human motivation. Troy Bank & Trust doesn’t sell loans—they sell the meaning of a home, turning a financial product into a purpose. Whitefish Credit Union uses bold, visual metaphor—kayakers facing a daunting task in herring bone flooring—to reframe home equity as empowerment, not paperwork. Both ads choose storytelling over spreadsheets and clarity over clutter. In doing so, they rise above the noise and make their institutions memorable—not because they shouted louder, but because they actually said something worth hearing.
Humanity Comes First in Healthcare Ads.
These billboards all blur together, trading originality for wave after wave of white coats, smiling faces, and boilerplate taglines. The problem is simple: viewers can’t tell one doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or therapist from the next—and most won’t try. Truth. These ads assume a photo and a title are enough to make someone care, but in reality, they’re forgotten the moment they’re passed. Billboard advertising demands more than credentials; it demands a story, a feeling, or a bold, big-@ss idea. If your ad looks like every other face-on-a-sign, it won’t stand out—it’ll disappear.
Now these here succeed because they break convention and ignite curiosity. Bryan Pharmacy skips the expected photo-and-slogan template and instead uses a playful, visually striking race car to deliver its promise in two words: “Really fast.” Meacham Beauty’s design transforms the billboard itself into the message—turning a visual metaphor of transformation into something viewers instantly feel. Both ads tap into emotion and storytelling without over-explaining, making them not just seen but remembered. They don’t rely on listing credentials or services—they communicate why they matter. And that’s why they stand the eff out.
Home Services Ads Should Feel Cozy.
These billboards sneak by in a flurry of metal boxes, priiiices, and tired red-and-blue designs. It’s been done—and it feels more like hardware store signage than a promise of home comfort. And while these are HVAC specific, there’s a theme here that runs throughout home services ads in general. Home services should evoke warmth, trust, and peace of mind, but these ads lean on numbers instead of feelings. Whether it’s $59, $84, or $500 off, the discounts fall flat when there’s no emotional connection to back them up. In billboard advertising, people remember how you made them feel—and if your brand doesn’t feel like home, it’ll be forgotten before the next exit.
This pair of home services billboard ads entertains. One uses cheeky humor carved into snow to instantly connect with the universal truth that shoveling sucks, while the other throws dinosaurs into the mix to promise reliability that transcends time. Both break away from the tired toolbox-and-phone-number formula and instead lead with personality. They don’t just tell you what the company does—they make you feel something while doing it. And in a world where attention is currency, being clever, warm, and unexpected isn’t just memorable—it’s necessary.
Automotive Ads Ought to be Dealin’ Out Brand Awareness
You’re likely familiar with the dealership playbook: big numbers, basic models, and bold claims about limited-time savings. But the truth is, the average driver won’t remember whether it was $10,000 off a Ram or 0% for 84 months on a Hyundai—it all blends together in a maelstrom of deals and logos. When every sign looks like a flyer blown up to billboard size, it misses the real opportunity: building brand recognition that sticks. People don’t choose a dealership based on a slightly better percentage—they choose the one they know, like, or trust. And if your billboard doesn’t help them remember your name, your message drives right past them.
Let’s talk about some billboards that win. Why? Because they break the dealership template entirely—and that’s exactly the point. Hyundai of Dothan’s glowing alien tentacle or a Dothan Jeep’s Jeep bursting through the board isn’t just eye-catching, it’s conversation-worthy. They transform from forgettable sales pitches into landmark moments that people point at, photograph, and talk about. This isn’t about APRs or model names—it’s about owning attention in a category where everyone else is delivering the same message in monotone. When a dealership becomes memorable before a customer even sets foot on the lot, that’s not just advertising—it’s winning.
See your industry above? Does it have captivating ads—do you?
Maybe it’s time you looked into some of those OOH-sh*t billboard ads. Ya know, the kind that make you the star among your industry peers. The kind that obliterate all expectations that your prospect might have. The kind that get YOUR NAME on peoples’ lips. And keeps ’em talkin’. The kind that could be yours. All it takes is a conversation.
