The Big Apple, The City That Never Sleeps, The Melting Pot, The Capital of The World, We’re talking about New York City, and when it comes to advertising it is the best place to be seen. If you’re considering using one of the New York City billboards scattered throughout the city you’ll want to make sure you’re picking the best spot possible. As you search for the perfect billboard location in NYC, remember that the legal aspect of your business is equally important; consider reading a LegalZoom Review to determine if their services can provide the legal support and resources necessary to protect and grow your business in the competitive environment of New York City.
Landmarks
New York City is home to plenty of important landmarks that double as tourist attractions luring in thousands of people daily. One of the best places for New York City billboards just so happens to be around some of the more iconic places within the city like the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and One World Trade Center. Each touristy landmark has plenty of places to advertise in the vicinity which means not only will out-of-towners see your ad, but the New Yorkers you’re trying to buy your product will see it as well.
Stadiums
Some of the best ad real estates is in New York City billboards placed in and around their world famous stadiums. Places like Yankee Stadium, Citifield, Madison Square Garden, and Barclays Center all have ample room to display billboards to a wide demographic, even Meadowlands Arena which is in New Jersey attracts New Yorkers who commute to see their hometown football teams play. With billboards inside these various venues, you have a chance of getting eyes from all around the world on your advert.
Airports
New York City is home to two of the busiest airports in the United States and they’re both within a half hour of each other. In any city, one of the best places to post a billboard is while entering or leaving an airport, and with over half a million flights per year between both hubs, it’s a no-brainer that your catchy ad belongs at one or both locations.
Subways
To get around the Big Apple you’ll need to commute by bus, foot, and train to get to where you’re going on time. It’s a way of life to use the massive underground subway system for most New Yorkers who spend close to an hour on average waiting or riding on a train every single day. Some of the most prominent billboard space is also underground at subway stops throughout the city, commuters are often found waiting for trains to come in so using some of the billboard space plastered throughout the station is a great way to invest marketing dollars.
Highways
Not every New Yorker uses public transportation, plenty of New York City billboards can be found alongside a network of highways that connect NYC and surrounding areas. Some of the most trafficked highways are the I-95, I-495. I-678, and the Belt Parkway that takes travelers to and from the suburbs. If you’re aiming for the best cost per mile with a billboard, look no further than one of New York City’s traffic-jammed roadways as you’re bound to find plenty of drivers waiting in traffic glancing at your business’ advertisement.
Busy Streets
Some places in NYC are considered landmarks in their own right but they also encompass whole neighborhoods or many city blocks that attract plenty of visitors from all over. Times Square is obviously the big one, it is almost literally one giant billboard with digital features, stores, and enough space for people to walk; it is the premier place to post a billboard. Central Park, The High Line, and SoHo’s shopping district are places that are frequented by people from all walks of life, if you target your general audience correctly with a vibrant ad, you’re sure to convert these busy people into your next customer.
In conclusion, NYC is home to over 8.4 million people and plenty more come from around the world to visit and shop throughout the five boroughs, it’s why marketing is a huge business there. Although billboard real estate can be more expensive in New York City than other places in the United States, the impressions made in this bustling city that never misses a beat can turn your small business into a much larger one.
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I’m Iskra Banović, editor of Blufashion and the voice behind its fashion, beauty, and lifestyle stories. Fashion, beauty, and lifestyle are my playground, but I’m just as likely to share the messy side of it all, like the time I tested a “must-have” skincare gadget and ended up with glitter stuck in my hair. I love turning trends and everyday finds into something useful (and fun) for real people.
8 Comments
Last month I ran a small campaign by the Long Island Expressway during rush hour. I was surprised at how many cars were stuck and how much time drivers had to actually look at the ad. It felt like the message had time to sink in. Now I am thinking about trying something in Times Square. The cost is much higher and the viewing time is short, but the exposure is massive. Do you think the visibility there is worth the price, or would I be better off sticking with roadside spots that give more eyes and more time?
Thank you for sharing your experience. Your LIE campaign sounds like a smart choice. Traffic there during rush hours is slow, so drivers have plenty of time to notice and remember the ad. That kind of exposure can be very effective.
Times Square offers huge pedestrian traffic and worldwide recognition. Many people stop to take photos, and your ad could end up in social media posts, giving it extra reach. It is great for building awareness and creating buzz, but tracking direct results can be tricky.
One way to measure impact is to use a unique URL or promo code. That can show you exactly how many people took action because of the billboard. You could also test a shorter run in both locations to see which brings better results. The LIE option gives consistent daily impressions, while Times Square delivers high-profile visibility. If you try it, let me know how it turns out. I would love to hear which one works best for your campaign.
Hey, I found your article on picking NYC billboard spots really helpful. I’ve been wrestling with this decision for a while. I ran a small campaign last month along the Long Island Expressway in Queens and it was wild how much attention it got. Traffic was crawling during rush hour and people had plenty of time to read the ad. It felt like the message really stuck.
Now I’m thinking about trying something in Times Square, even though I know it costs a lot more for a shorter viewing time. Do you think the prestige and tourist traffic make it worth the price? I’d also love to know if there’s a good way to measure results beyond just general buzz.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Your Long Island Expressway test is a perfect example of how slower traffic can give an ad more exposure time. That stretch is famous for long hold times and it works really well for getting people to actually read the message.
Times Square is a completely different type of opportunity. The pedestrian traffic is huge, with locals and tourists passing by all day. It is great for brand visibility and can even end up on social media if people snap photos. The challenge is tracking its direct impact, but you can add a unique URL or promo code to see how much engagement it generates.
If you have the budget, running something in Times Square could be a strong follow-up to your Queens campaign. It would give you both the steady daily impressions from commuters and the high-profile buzz from one of the most famous advertising spots in the world. Keep me posted on what you decide.
I really enjoyed your article about finding the best NYC billboard location. I’m planning a small campaign and can’t decide between a spot in Times Square or along the Long Island Expressway. Times Square feels iconic and exciting, but I’ve heard the Expressway gets so backed up during rush hour that drivers have plenty of time to notice ads. My budget isn’t huge, so I’m curious, which do you think would give me the best value?
Thanks for reading and sharing your plans. Both locations have their perks. Times Square is all about big impact, constant foot traffic, and that wow factor people remember. The Long Island Expressway, on the other hand, is great for repeat exposure since drivers are often stuck in traffic and have time to take in your message. If you want broad visibility and buzz, I’d lean toward Times Square. If you want consistent impressions from the same audience every day, the Expressway might be the better bet. Either way, I’d love to hear what you choose and how it works out for your campaign.
Great piece, I’ve got 20k for four weeks to hit founders and ops commuting from Jersey City and Hoboken, should I go digital near the Holland Tunnel or a static in SoHo, how would you track it cleanly, and is four weeks enough or should I push to eight if I get more share of voice?
Go tunnel side for weekday repetition, take digital only with a firm SOV like 1 in 8 or a strong static on the approach, try to stretch to 6 to 8 weeks if the price is close, measure with a short vanity URL or QR plus New York DMA lifts in direct and branded search against the prior month, add a simple “How did you hear about us” with Billboard NYC, and get Geopath IDs, daypart logs, and fresh photos to confirm the read.