1. Eye-Catching<\/span><\/h3>\nThe first rule of ad creation is universal, but counts for even more in the subway. An eye-catching ad is crucial in a public transit setting due to all the distractions, including the people, the movement, and the ever-present smartphones.<\/span><\/p>\nAn ad in a station or train car should draw the eye, but must also strike a balance so as not to be abrasive or over-the-top. This explains why many modern subway ads take a colorful yet subdued approach with soft, cartoon-style artwork.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are no hard rules to follow here in terms of design, but make sure your ads aren\u2019t a bore or an eyesore.<\/span><\/p>\n2. City Specific<\/span><\/h3>\nNew York, Los Angeles, Washington DC – each city is unique and the subway system reflects that personality. This not only applies to the infrastructure of the trains, tracks, and stations, but also to how advertisements work in the context of a commute and the flow of traffic.<\/span><\/p>\nAs an advertiser, your responsibility is to figure out these unique characteristics of each city and use them to your advantage when crafting a campaign.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nYou also have a powerful asset in your playbook with subway advertising, which is mentioning city-centric features that engage viewers and relate to their way of life. Build your ads with the city in mind to succeed.<\/span><\/p>\n3. Well-Formatted<\/span><\/h3>\nEvery subway ad has different dimensions and placements within the physical space. Be sure you know these intricate details when designing a campaign, making no assumptions.<\/span><\/p>\nMany subway ads fall flat because the formatting is done haphazardly without regard for the perspective of the viewer. Consider factors like typeset, image size, proportions, and line of sight for passengers.<\/span><\/p>\nRemember: the experience of viewing a subway ad is distinct from scrolling on social media or flipping through TV channels. This is a dynamic, interactive environment with many more variables at play, so don\u2019t let any details slip by in the design process.<\/span><\/p>\n4. Memorable Message<\/span><\/h3>\nAll ads need a message at the core, and subway ads need to get the information across fast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPassengers may only view an ad for two or three seconds in passing before they need to catch a train or depart at the next stop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOn the other hand, some riders will view the same ad for several minutes at a time on a long trip, so a layered message could be more useful in this context. Giving audiences something to chew on for longer journeys may play to your advantage, especially in the actual subway cars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n5. Cohesive Theme<\/span><\/h3>\nFrom colors and characters to language and logos, your brand should be instantly recognizable and suited to other marketing assets in your repertoire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSubway ads are, after all, another component of your broader branding strategy and should be treated as such – even with unique elements involved.<\/span><\/p>\nThroughout the day, your audience may see various \u201cchapters\u201d of the same ad campaign in different locations and contexts. This is how you create a compelling narrative and draw new customers into the world of your brand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n