Yearly, spring marks the one week migration of college students to the beaches of Florida and Texas for their annual break from the books. This year an estimated 2.5 to 3 million will be basking in the sun on the beaches.  They have money to spend now, and a potential to spend another $125-$130 billion dollars during the year. Where they spend that money will depend on how effective advertising is directed at them.

One of the most effective forms of advertising to these students is arial banner or billboard advertising.  Aerial advertising is well known.  Someone hires a company to make a banner and fly a plane over a crowd of people pulling the banner. The banner could be as long as 70 feet and will usually contain contact information such as a phone number or webpage.  (Aerial billboard ads are like highway billboards flown over the crowd.)  Most merchants subscribe to a flight duration of one to two hours.  Each pass allows about 17 seconds of viewing time.  How many times could they potentially read your ad during an hour of passes? By the time an hour is up, your message will be imprinted in their brains.

During spring break week students are relaxing and mentally open.  They have money to spend during this week of vacation.  Picture this: millions of students are lying on the beach when suddenly the drone of a plane overheard catches their attention.  Behind the plane a banner or billboard is seen, displaying your ad. The company has just made an initial contact with tens of thousands of potential customers.

The items or services offered in the aerial ads could be for something they will want to buy when they return to college.  On the other hand, many of the ads are for items they will need immediately, like ads for restaurants or clothing. It is a choice chance to impact a large gathering of impulsive buyers all at once.

 Many advertisers are cutting back now because the economy is in shambles and unemployment is high. Yet, here is the opportunity that should not be overlooked.  The spring break students aren’t thinking about the economy or even the future.  They just want to have some fun, regardless of the cost. One tourism expert from Florida calls them “recession-proof” because the students consider it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you can’t put a price tag on that!

 Electronic communication makes it even better.  One merchant says he has his phone number on the banner and, almost immediately, he is being texted with orders.  Others use G3 networks to make Internet orders. The cost of the advertising is returned quickly and profits follow.

 Aerial ads have another advantage: they are timeless. For example, a restaurant could pay for a banner to be flown over the spring break crowd this year.  However, the banner could be stored and used again next year, saving the cost of making the banner.  Some might even want their banner flown during another week or in a different location. The banners are well made and will last a long time.

 Many are pessimistic about advertising while the economy is low. But wise businesses will want to take advantage of the spring break students and, those who do, will probably make a sizeable profit through aerial advertising.