Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

The figures came from what mobile billboard companies use as a reference to show customers the number of people they reach just by traveling aprox 30mins through the cities that were listed. Sooo.... I took those numbers for the cities that we would be spending more than an hour in or around. Plus there is the fact that we will not be going the speed limit, as our wonderfull bus is geared out at 62 mph. Also we will be stoping at major attractions almost every day. 

Example:We are spending a day at the San Diego Zoo and a day at the San Diego Wild park. "During the summer, ten to fifteen thousand people visit the San Diego Wild Animal Park every day" http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/sandiego/a/sdwildan.htm
that is the less popular destination of the 2. Going by the average crowds and assuming we park in a visible location, if even half of those people see the bus at the park alone (not counting going around the city to the park, elsewhere to get food, to the water, or to tijuana) we will have 20,000+ people (able to) see us there alone. So granted the 2 million figure may be slightly bloated based on driving through the cities alone. We are having t-shirts made of the event, and if we do find a sponsor we would all be fine with adding it to the shirts. So once we get to the places we will still be promoting the trip. 100,000 people visit mall of america daily. 24,000 people would easily see us the 2 days we are there. I realize not everyone that would possibly see us or be within eyeshot of us will fully realize the campaign we run, but there is a great potential for product placement and that is what I hope to tap into. I stumbled upon this website doing the research I thought necessary to approach a company willing to do this kind of advertising. So if anyone has any more information reguarding such please let me know.

There is no way you can reach 2 million people, which would be 0.6% of US population, unless you don`t plan to drive on free way.

Using your San Diego Zoo example, if the zoo is packed, do you really think there is a thing as "visible location"? Well, you will be visible to maybe to the 30% area behind you. If someone packed on the same row as you, your vehicle will be blocked from his view. If someone packed in front of you, he will not notice you because he will only care about going toward the zoo gate. I don`t know the parking lot layout at SD zoo, but my guess is that you will be seen by 100 to 500 people, at most.

Or, let`s use your Mall of America example. You will be luck if you are seen by 1% of the shop goers! At the parking for ANY mall, there is no way I would notice a car, no matter how fancy the color is, unless I walk directly by it.

I am just being realistic.

Still working on a package to send to those I can get ahold of so I`ll make sure to let you know when I am finished. As far as how many people see the ads, it is up in the air... I have tried to find as much as I can to help figure out the numbers but other than people`s guestimates there is nothing statistical I can find to say one way or another. True, I don`t pay any attention to cars as I walk by them either... if there was a bus with a full skin ad parked as I was driving in I would definately take notice, but that is just me. With the shirts I expect to get a lot more circulation than just a static bus in the parking lot as well. I`ll keep you guys posted.

Why not contact a charity and see if you can interest them in the concept of as you travel, have planned stops where local radio stations let their listeners know that you will be stopping by to collect (whatever.. canned goods, clothes, Christmas presents for children of the troops in Iraq, etc etc)... The radio stations may participate on the basis of getting a write off, you could attract more interest from sponsors looking for exposure knowing this will be advertised on the bus as well as the radio stations..

In terms of the goods collected, you can schedule pick up from the charity and not have to actually *handle* the goods..

I would think companies that spend big bucks like *Lending Tree* for example would love the nationwide exposure...

Do you have any updates??