A formal articulation of advertising encountered outside the home environment provides a framework for understanding its scope and characteristics. This includes various advertising formats such as billboards, transit displays, street furniture advertising, and place-based media. An example is advertising displayed on bus shelters or within shopping malls.
The significance of this advertising category stems from its ability to reach audiences in public spaces, often when individuals are en route to or from their destinations. Its benefits include broad reach, high frequency of exposure, and the potential to target specific geographic areas. Historically, it has been a cornerstone of marketing strategies, evolving alongside technological advancements and urbanization trends to offer increasingly sophisticated methods of audience engagement.