Bike Advertising Startup

**biz123** · 03-02-2008 11:37 AM

Hi! Any opinions on getting into bike advertising? In other words, a pedal powered mini billboard. I've already invested heavily into my own twist on offering a mobile advertising service. I've found many companies similar to what I plan on doing, some of whose links are below.

http://cyclemedia.ca/
http://adride.com/
http://advertising-promotion.mariner...m/clients.html

**fmcg** · 03-02-2008 02:17 PM

Hey sounds like a good idea. A better model than those websites would be to offer people free loaner bikes that are branded (perhaps a sign somewhat more discrete than a full billboard). Both you and the company are recognized for promoting sustainability, the user gets free use of a bike, and the company gets advertising. Your company owns the bikes and switches up advertising every month. Lots of value-added. You could probably get gov. funding too because it promotes green transportation. Are you based in Vancouver?

**pboychuk** · 03-02-2008 02:40 PM

Seems kinda pointless to me to drive around on a bike with a big sign.. why not advertise on rickshaws.

**bostonbrian** · 03-02-2008 03:35 PM

Maybe you should target large college cities/towns that have many students that park their bikes on campus, and perhaps lease the bikes (so they don't have to sell or bring them home at the end of the school year). Or free bike for doing the advertising?

Just some thoughts, you can put the advert in the triangular area between the crank and the handlebar.

**biz123** · 03-02-2008 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by pboychuk

Seems kinda pointless to me to drive around on a bike with a big sign.. why not advertise on rickshaws.

I see your point that biking around for the simple sake of advertising is pointless. But then again, who cares what the advertising is attached to as long as its visible, noticeable, and, well...advertising? Every billboard has no purpose but to advertise. I like to think of it this way....wouldn't you rather have businesses advertise exclusively on billboards? That way, you can have uninterrupted television and radio.

Also, the beauty of this concept, similar to those billboard trucks you might have seen, is that the advertisement goes where you want it to go. If the advertisement where on something with a "purpose", such as a bus or a rickshaw, you'd have very little control over who is seeing your message.

I won't be going around on a bike hauling a sign. Essentially, that is what I'll be doing but I've added a nice twist, an expensive one I might add.

**biz123** · 03-02-2008 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by fmcg

Hey sounds like a good idea. A better model than those websites would be to offer people free loaner bikes that are branded (perhaps a sign somewhat more discrete than a full billboard). Both you and the company are recognized for promoting sustainability, the user gets free use of a bike, and the company gets advertising. Your company owns the bikes and switches up advertising every month. Lots of value-added. You could probably get gov. funding too because it promotes green transportation. Are you based in Vancouver?

I'm based in Pittsburgh. I've thought about this model many times and I'll do it once I get my first biz up and running.

**biz123** · 03-02-2008 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by bostonbrian

Maybe you should target large college cities/towns that have many students that park their bikes on campus, and perhaps lease the bikes (so they don't have to sell or bring them home at the end of the school year). Or free bike for doing the advertising?

Just some thoughts, you can put the advert in the triangular area between the crank and the handlebar.

My whole bike advertising business got started from an idea similar to this. It evolved into the billboard bike concept I am currently working on now. The main issue with the concept in which you pay students to ride a bike with an advertisement is that you have no real way of knowing whether the advertisement stays visible. The student can always take it off or block it from view. A way to counter act this is by having a free bike rental service.

**bostonbrian** · 03-02-2008 09:12 PM

They did something similar to this around Northeastern University for Motorola, free rides across campus in a bike with rickshaw on back. The canopy on the rickshaw had the large banner on it for everyone to see as the vehicle rode through campus.

**bikeguy** · 05-13-2008 01:52 PM

hi already do this. Works. Have small business. See good future in high visability areas.

**ramwriters** · 05-19-2008 07:59 PM

This sounds like a great idea! Hey man all advertising schemes seem pointless at the beginning, it's all about the visibility right? I mean look at those billboard trucks that scoot around metro areas? I think this is a great idea. Could you imagine a seeing a tandem bike with an advert on it, wild.

**allysa** · 05-20-2008 06:02 AM

looks like a good idea, you can easily connect to your target market at lesser expenses. Good luck!

**cdeneire** · 05-21-2008 03:52 PM

The more wacky, the more attractive. Do somethings out of this world... the local news may actually help out :P

**localbiketrader** · 07-04-2009 12:38 AM

Seems kinda pointless to me. I mean the amount you'd need to earn in advertising versus the time and effort it would take to cycle around seems dumb. Of course, I see those mobile billboard trucks driving around and I guess those work for someone, so who knows. I know this post is old, but did the idea ever get off the ground?

**Bugman** · 07-04-2009 09:05 AM

Yes, update!

**jonathanfigaro** · 07-04-2009 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by cdeneire

The more wacky, the more attractive. Do somethings out of this world... the local news may actually help out :P

Great advise! Do something real wild...maybe a half naked women, will make anyone look. Or a lady dipped in chocolate almost half naked. Make sure you advertise in targeted areas....but its a great idea....Run with it....you never know where i could bring you, just remember to give it your all....Cuz that's all you can.