We have all seen a plane pull a banner overhead as we attended a sporting event or were at a beach. These aerial ads are a very successful means of getting a message across to a local group of people very quickly. The banner will contain the name or logo of a company, a service offered, news of an upcoming event, or even a marriage proposal!
Billboard ads are also flown over crowds of people. These can be as large as a roadside billboard but are much lighter. These aerial billboards are pulled by planes or even helicopters for helicopters can pull a greater weight. If the plane can handle it and the budget allows, some even pull a banner behind a billboard ad. It usually contains additional information like an address or webpage.
Helium filled balloons are used by local shops or stores to attract attention. Seeing the balloon high in the sky attached to a banner and leading to the ground, people will go out of their way to find out where it goes. An even higher form of aerial advertising is by hot air balloon, or blimp. Goodyear has made blimp advertising famous, though this is very expensive and probably cost prohibitive to most companies. Others make hot air balloons with the company logo or product displayed. Perhaps you think of Remax and their use of the balloon.
Half way between helium balloons attracting attention and blimps, consider using remote controlled balloons. Some contain a message on the side, while others lift a message below them. These balloons are filled with air so, though light, then can come down without difficulty. Being unmanned means they don’t have to lift the weight of the pilot so they can be smaller and still do the job.
The balloon has a small pusher prop in the back and the angle of this is adjusted by the remote control. When the propeller is raised, then the rear of the balloon goes down and the nose goes up, and vice versa. Left and right control works the same. In this way, the balloon can be controlled like a slow moving model plane. If the balloon has an advertisement on the side, it can be flown over a group of people as many times as is needed, then returned to the feet of the controller.
These balloons come in varying sizes, some starting at six feet and going to nearly twenty feet. They are not helium filled so preparing and launching them is simple. Of course, wind plays a factor with something so light and scheduled runs may need to be postponed.
Costs largely depend on the size of the balloon desired. One company sells six foot balloons with the ad displayed on the side for 1500 dollars. The thirteen feet costs about 4000 dollars and the seventeen feet balloon sells for about 7000 dollars. Of course, there is no expense to hire a pilot with a remote controlled balloon. Fly it as you like, and as often as you like as weather permits.
When you are ready to market your message effectively, it is time to contact an banner towing company and begin the process of getting it into the air. In no time, your well planned message will be presented to thousands of people and the impact for you will begin to be seen.