Free Online Billboard Maker: A User Guide

Learn how to create professional billboard ads easily using free online billboard makers. Discover tips for effective billboard design and how to combine billboards with digital marketing.
Written By
Nitin Mahajan
Published on
October 5, 2024

Looking to create a billboard ad but don't have design skills? No problem! With free online billboard makers, anyone can design professional-looking billboard ads easily. Here's what you need to know:

  • Easy to Use: Drag and drop your pictures, logo, and text into customizable templates.
  • No Design Skills Needed: These tools are user-friendly, perfect for beginners.
  • Versatility: Templates for all billboard sizes and styles.
  • Collaboration: Work on projects with your team in real-time.
  • Ready for Print: Download your design in high-quality format for printing.

Billboards are an effective way to reach a wide audience, and combining them with digital marketing can boost your ad's visibility. Choosing the right online billboard maker is crucial, and tools like Quickads.ai offer intuitive interfaces, diverse templates, and smart AI enhancements. Follow this guide to sign up, select a template, customize your billboard, and get it ready for the world to see. Plus, discover tips for effective billboard design that captures attention and conveys your message clearly.

Billboard Effectiveness in the Digital Age

Even though we're all about digital marketing these days, billboards haven't lost their touch. They're out there in the real world, catching people's eyes when they're driving or walking around. Plus, when you use billboards and online ads together, they help each other out:

  • Online ads can point people to billboards nearby
  • Billboards get people's attention, then online ads can follow up
  • Using both makes people more likely to remember your ad

Billboards are still a smart choice for getting your message out there.

Benefits of Billboard Advertising

Billboards have a bunch of perks, like:

Local Reach

  • They cover a big area, so lots of local folks see your ad
  • People see them when they're out and about

24/7 Visibility

  • Your ad is up all the time, day or night
  • Regular travelers or commuters see it over and over

Demographic Targeting

  • You can put your billboard where your specific audience hangs out
  • You can make ads that speak directly to the local vibe

Flexibility

  • Lots of sizes and styles to fit what you need
  • You can go for digital screens, mobile billboards, or the classic stationary ones

Memorability

  • Big, bold ads stand out and stick in people's minds
  • They can make people think of your brand when they're ready to buy

Billboards are great for getting your brand stuck in people's heads, especially when you're trying to reach folks in a specific area.

Choosing the Right Online Billboard Maker

Picking an online tool to make your billboard ad shouldn't be tough. These tools are made so anyone can create eye-catching ads that speak for their brand, without needing to be a design pro. Here's what to keep an eye out for when choosing one:

Key Features to Look For

  • Intuitive interface: You want something simple where you can drag and drop items without needing to know all the tech stuff.
  • Diverse templates: It's good to have lots of layout options so you can find something that fits what you're looking for, no matter the size or shape.
  • Extensive media library: Having access to lots of pictures, graphics, and fonts means you can make your ad look just right.
  • Customization capabilities: Being able to change fonts, colors, and add your own pictures or logos is key to making the ad your own.
  • Collaboration tools: If you can work on the ad with others at the same time, it makes things a lot easier, especially for getting approvals.
  • Multiple export formats: You'll want to be able to download your ad in a format that's ready to print in high quality.

Tools like Quickads.ai are great because they tick all these boxes. They even use AI to help make your ads better suited to what you're trying to do, saving you time and making your ads work harder. If you're after an easy way to make billboards with some smart help, Quickads.ai is worth a look.

Getting Started with Your Online Billboard Maker

Sign Up and Log In

First, go to the website of the billboard maker and click on the sign up or register button. You'll need to give some simple info like your name, email, and a password. Make sure your email is correct, then look for a confirmation email and click the link in it to activate your account.

Once your account is ready, you can log in with your email and password. Most times, the website will remember you, so you won't have to log in every time. But, it's a good idea to log out when you're done for safety.

Dashboard Overview

The dashboard is like your command center for making billboard ads. Here's a quick guide to what you'll find:

Projects

This is where all your ads are. You can work on many ads under one project.

Media Library

This spot holds all your images, graphics, and logos. You can upload your own stuff or use what's already there.

Teams

Here, you can invite others to work on ads with you and decide who can do what.

Analytics

If you're running digital billboard ads, this part shows you how they're doing. You can see things like how many people saw your ad or clicked on it.

Take some time to explore the dashboard, but these are the main parts you'll use to make your ad.

Now that your account is set up and you know your way around, you're ready to start creating!

Creating Your First Billboard

Selecting a Template

When you're ready to make your first billboard, start by looking at different designs. Online tools have a bunch of styles to choose from:

  • Orientation: You'll find designs that are wide (landscape), tall (portrait), or square.
  • Size: They have designs for all the standard billboard sizes.
  • Style: You can pick from simple, bold, old-school, modern, or other looks.

Use filters to find what you're looking for faster, then click on ones you like to see how they'd look as a real billboard. Choose a design that's easy to read and catches the eye.

Customizing Your Billboard

Make the design your own by adding your pictures, changing the look, and writing your message. Here's how you can do it easily:

  • Images: Put in your own photos. Make sure they're clear and high quality.
  • Graphics: Add small designs or symbols to make your point.
  • Logos: Put your logo on there. Make sure it's a clear version.
  • Fonts: Pick letter styles and colors that go with your brand. Simple styles are usually best.
  • Colors: Choose a few colors that look good together.
  • Text: Write your message in a few, easy-to-read words. Don't forget to tell people what you want them to do next.

Look at your design on the preview to make sure everything looks good together.

Collaborative Editing and Sharing

These tools let you work on your design with others at the same time:

  • Share links: You can send a link to others so they can see or help edit the design.
  • Commenting: Your team can leave notes right on the design.
  • Live editing: Everyone can work on it together, which makes things go faster.

Let your team know when you make big changes, so they can check it out. Use the notes feature to point out specific things that need work.

When your design is all set, you can get it ready to go up on a billboard or be shown on a digital screen. Great job on making your first billboard ad!

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Exporting and Publishing Your Billboard

Getting your billboard design ready for the world to see is a big deal. Here's a step-by-step guide to make sure everything goes smoothly:

Exporting Your Design

Once you're done designing your billboard in the online tool, it's time to save it in a way that works for printing or showing on a digital screen. You'll usually have options like JPG, PNG, PDF, or SVG.

For printed billboards:

  • Pick PDF for printing and make sure it's super clear (300 dpi or more)
  • Double-check that the size matches the billboard you're planning on using

For digital billboards:

  • JPG or PNG work well
  • Aim for 1080p resolution for a clear picture

This helps make sure your billboard looks crisp and clear, no matter how big it is.

Sending Files to Your Billboard Company

Billboard companies need your design files in a specific way. Make sure you know what they need before you send anything. You can usually send your design by:

  • Email
  • FTP upload
  • Sharing a link to a cloud storage

When you send your file, remember to:

  • Put your account number and important details like billboard location and when you want it to run
  • Check in to make sure they got your design

This helps keep things running without any mix-ups.

Displaying Digital Billboards

If you're using a digital billboard, there are a few extra steps:

  • Scheduling - Decide how often and when your ad shows up
  • Testing - Look at a test version on the digital billboard to make sure it looks right
  • Analytics - Keep an eye on how many people see and interact with your ad

Digital billboards are great because you can change your ad whenever you need to.

Tips for Billboard Publishing

Here are some simple tips to make sure everything goes as planned:

  • Start the process 2 weeks before you want your billboard to show up
  • Make sure your design fits the billboard company's requirements
  • Confirm all the details like where and when your billboard will be, and how much it costs
  • Check how your digital billboard looks before it goes public
  • Tell people about your billboard on social media when it's up

By keeping these things in mind, you can get your billboard out there without any stress. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Billboard companies are usually ready to assist.

Tips for Effective Billboard Design

Creating a billboard that catches people's eyes and gets your message across doesn't have to be complicated. Here are some simple tips to help you out:

Keep it Simple

  • Stick to one big picture and no more than 7 words. Remember, simpler is better.
  • Pick a font that's easy to see from far away, like Arial.
  • Focus on what's most important, like what you're selling or what action you want people to take.

Ensure Readability

  • Make sure your text is big enough to read from far off. A font size between 48 and 72 is usually good.
  • Use colors that stand out against each other for your text and background. Light text on a dark background is easiest to read.
  • Keep your message quick to scan and to the point. People only have a few seconds to look at your billboard.

Reinforce Your Branding

  • Make sure your logo is easy to see. This helps people remember your brand.
  • Stick to your brand's colors and fonts to make your billboard feel familiar.
  • Use your brand colors and fonts consistently. This helps make your business stick in people's minds.

Motivate Your Audience

  • Be clear about what you want people to do next. For example, visit a website, call for more info, or come to your store.
  • Use simple phrases that grab attention, like "Act Now" or "Free Shipping."
  • Focus on what people will get out of it, not just what you're offering.

By keeping your billboard design straightforward but striking, and making sure it's easy for people to understand and remember, you'll be on your way to making a great billboard. Trying different designs to see what works best with your audience is a smart move. Putting in a bit of extra effort can really pay off when it comes to getting noticed outdoors.

Conclusion

Making billboards online with a free tool is a smart move for any business wanting to grab people's attention. These tools are super easy to use, so you don't need to be a design expert to make something that looks professional.

Here's what you need to remember:

  • These online tools are made for everyone. You can drag and drop pictures, text, and logos to make your billboard.
  • There are lots of ready-made designs for all kinds of billboards, no matter their size or shape.
  • You can pick from tons of images, graphics, and fonts to make your ad stand out.
  • You and your team can work on the design together, even if you're not in the same place.
  • When you're done, you can save your design in a high-quality format that's ready for printing.

Nowadays, with everything moving online, these do-it-yourself billboard design tools give businesses a big chance to show off their messages in their local area. There are many free or cheap options out there, so even small businesses can make a big impact without spending a lot of money.

By using these online tools instead of going through an agency, small businesses and startups can make billboards that really show off what they're about. This saves money and time and still gets you a great-looking ad. Whether you're advertising in one spot or across a region, these easy-to-use online tools have everything you need to make your billboard pop.

FAQs

Here are some common questions and straightforward answers about using free online tools to make billboards:

Do I have to pay to use these online billboard makers?

No, you don't. Most of these tools are free. That means you can use their designs, pictures, and fonts without spending a dime. Some offer paid versions with more features, but you can do a lot with the free ones too.

Can I track how well my digital billboards are doing?

Yes, you can. These tools often provide info on:

  • How often your ad is shown
  • How many clicks it gets
  • The percentage of people who see your ad and then click on it
  • Basic info on who's seeing your ad

Do these tools work in different languages?

Yes, they do. You'll find designs and text options for various languages, making it easy to create billboards for different areas and audiences. Some even let you translate your message into over 35 languages.

Can I use my design for both print and digital billboards?

Absolutely. You can save your billboard design in formats like JPG, PNG, or PDF, making it suitable for both traditional printed billboards and digital screens.

Is there a limit to how many billboards I can make?

Generally, no. Most free tools let you create as many billboard designs as you like. Some might restrict how many ads you can have running at the same time, but you can still design and play around with as many ideas as you want without extra charges.

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Nitin Mahajan
Founder & CEO
Nitin is the CEO of quickads.ai with 20+ years of experience in the field of marketing and advertising. Previously, he was a partner at McKinsey & Co and MD at Accenture, where he has led 20+ marketing transformations.