Top 5 OOH Advertising Trends to Watch in 2025
The advertising landscape is constantly evolving and shifting. In 2025, technology (especially the rise of AI-driven campaigns), creativity, and consumer behavior are set to collide in ways that will redefine how brands connect with their audiences.
Staying ahead of the curve is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity.
These top trends in Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising will help you position your brand for success in the upcoming year.
2025 OOH Forecast
The Out-of-Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) has already predicted that OOH will become more data-driven. Budgets will be reallocated from other channels as advertisers see diminishing returns. Digital experiences will become more interactive with the rise of AI, while programmatic advertising capabilities will enhance omnichannel strategies.
Here are the top five trends we see for 2025:
Digital and Programmatic OOH will Continue to Rise.
Digital Innovations in OOH
Higher Expectations for Interactivity
Sustainability in OOH
Return to Traditional Tactics
The below sections will outline these in more detail.
Digital and Programmatic OOH will Continue to Rise
Programmatic Digital OOH continues to grow in popularity. It’s projected to lead DOOH by using live data to adjust ads instantly. Using triggers such as weather, traffic, time of day, and events, advertisers can immediately swap out ads to be more relevant to their audiences. The ability to personalize messaging and provide hyper-targeted content across digital screens quickly will make programmatic DOOH a key player in omnichannel strategies.
2. Digital Innovations in OOH
OOH has seen many digital innovations recently and we expect that to continue in 2025. Smart screens are being deployed in cities that not only provide interactive advertising but also important information for those visiting or new to a city.
In the coming year, we will likely see additional capabilities, such as displays that can display personalized ads for passers-by. There’s also the likelihood of AI-generated campaigns coming to life on OOH screens.
In addition to developments in advertising, there will continue to be developments in OOH measurement. The industry is still developing new approaches to measure campaign effectiveness beyond traditional metrics. Attribution models are also evolving and will be more capable of accounting for the impact of OOH advertising on overall marketing goals. This will help advertisers better understand the medium’s contribution to sales and conversions.
3. Higher Expectations for Interactivity
Audiences are becoming increasingly more selective about what content they will engage with. As we enter 2025, static displays and one-way messaging are no longer always the answer. To stand out, brands must deliver OOH campaigns that invite audiences to participate, interact, and immerse themselves in the experience.
More than just locations for ads, public spaces are now platforms for engagement. As discussed above in the digital innovations section, brands are using technology such as touch-sensitive billboards and augmented reality activations to transform passive observers into active participants. But, as more brands embrace these forms of advertising, the bar to stand out gets ever higher.
Incorporating interactive elements is now essential to break through the noise. Consider immersive experiences like gamified displays, motion-sensors, displays with scent elements, and more, give audiences a reason to stop, engage, and remember the message. It makes advertising feel personal and dynamic, rather than static and generic.
4. Sustainability in OOH
OOH can be thought of as a less sustainable advertising channel than digital channels that require little to no physical materials. But there are eco-friendly OOH options that can beautify spaces and purify the air, while getting your message out there. From a global perspective, European countries, such as Germany, have much stricter OOH laws than the United States. Depending on the markets you want to advertise in, you may have to consider more sustainable options. Here are just a few:
Eco-Friendly Materials: Biodegradable vinyl, recycled plastics, and eco-friendly substrates can reduce environmental impact while still being durable and high quality.
Renewable Energy Integration: Some digital billboards may have solar or wind-power capabilities, reducing digital displays' carbon footprint. LED technology can also save energy.
Community-Centric Installations: OOH installations can use a special coating that purifies the air. There are also OOH installations that are surrounded by greenery or urban gardens that are integrated into ad structures to enhance the physical and environmental spaces they occupy.
5. Return to Traditional Tactics
There has been a return to traditional advertising tactics like OOH for a couple of reasons, including privacy restrictions and diminishing returns on overspent channels.
Privacy changes decrease data availability, which is not an issue with awareness-based campaigns that rely less on personal data.
Channels like TV and online are overspent beyond the point of optimization. Research from OAAA shows that advertisers can significantly increase their overall ROI on metrics like brand awareness, consideration, and purchase intent by diverting funds from other channels towards OOH.
Stay Ahead of Emerging OOH Trends with PJX Media
At PJX Media, we are solely focused on OOH advertising. We know how to keep you abreast of changes in the marketplace so that we can help you build the most effective campaigns for your budget. We know where your audience is and what inventory is available, and we have the tools to report on the effectiveness of your campaign. Contact us to get started.
