With the barrage of highly competitive ads on TV and in print, many are setting their sights on aerial advertisement. As an airplane flies over a crowd of people, attention is drawn to their message streaming in the wind and there is no competition to distract from it!

People have promoted products and places through TV and the printed page for decades. Some have asked themselves, "Why not try something different for a change?" A banner flapping in the wind behind a plane will be read. But will the message be remembered? The key is in the design of that message.

The first step is to know where you are headed. What would you like to have happen as a result of this advertising? Jot down your ideas and any creative ways to convey that goal through a simple message. Then discuss your idea with a design team. Compare your ideas with theirs and come up with a concept you feel will work for you.

The second step is to express the goal you have established in a message. The message may be long (some banners are over 100 feet) or it may simply convey information about the location of further information, such as a website. Even a logo, if well known, can convey the message desired.

The next step is to determine when and where the message of the banner will best be displayed. For example, a message to tune in to a certain radio station would be effective when flown over rush hour traffic. Messages in this manner have been displayed at fair grounds, beaches, concerts, anywhere a large group is assembled out of doors.

Determine of you want to design the banner yourself or have an expert do it for you. Of course, you can save some cost by doing it yourself but don't let this be the only factor. The message must have a good balance of being attractive and easy to remember to be effective.

Many naturally ask, "How long will people view my ad as it flies by"? Normally an audience sees the ad for 17 seconds before it is no longer visible. Though that may seem brief, remember that it is 17 seconds of undivided attention. Neither is any competition in view during that time. It is like a full page ad in the paper - with no on the opposite side. Then remember that the plane makes multiple passes over an area so the message is repeated over and over, impressing itself in the minds of those watching.

Finally, the cost of aerial advertising is competitive so shop around. The Internet is a great source of contacts. Consider the amount of guaranteed time the banner is flown as well as the cost of designing the banner. Make sure the company will handle the service and not just contract it out to someone else where they're not personally invovled. Remember that banners are reusable at different times or different locations. So consider aerial advertising. It may be just the thing your business needs to get it off the ground.