The first billboard I ever helped book took six weeks, four site visits, and one minor argument about a mango tree blocking the sightline. It should have taken five days. The difference between those two timelines is knowing the playbook — so here it is, step by step.
Step 1: Define the audience before the address
Don’t start with “I want Gulshan.” Start with who needs to see this — executives? students? families? — and let the audience pick the corridor. Every location page on our network lists the professions, age profile, and gender split a screen actually delivers, which turns this step from guesswork into a filter.
Step 2: Shortlist two or three placements
Compare daily traffic, dwell time, and operating hours side by side. A smaller screen at a 90-second signal regularly outperforms a giant on a fast road. Shortlist a premium anchor plus a volume option and price both.
Step 3: Request the media kit and availability
One enquiry gets you the rate card, the availability calendar, and the audience file. Good operators answer within a business day. Slow paperwork now predicts slow problem-solving later — treat response time as a vendor audit.
Step 4: Lock dates, then build creative
Dates first, creative second — prime quarters sell out, and creative is adjustable in ways that calendars are not. Standard flow: a work order confirms the flight, content goes in for approval at least 48 hours before air, and the operator QCs your MP4 against the panel’s exact pixel map.
Step 5: Go live and verify
From go-live, you should receive daily play-out log summaries — timestamped proof of every play. Add photo or video verification weekly. If a vendor resists logging, that tells you everything.
The timeline at a glance
| Stage | Typical Time |
|---|---|
| Shortlist & media kit | 1–2 days |
| Pricing & date hold | 1–2 days |
| Work order & payment | 1 day |
| Creative QC & approval | 2 days (48h before air) |
| Total: enquiry to on-air | About one week |
Frequently asked questions
What payment structure is normal?
The market standard is an advance on work order, a mid-campaign instalment, and the balance after invoice — confirm the split in writing before signing.
Can I change creative mid-flight?
On LED, yes — usually within 48 hours and at no printing cost. It’s one of digital’s quiet superpowers; use it for offers and dayparting.
How far ahead should I book?
Four to eight weeks for standard placements; a full quarter ahead for premium circles and festival windows, which sell out first.
Start the clock
Step 3 takes one form. Send your details through any enquiry form on this site and the media kit, rates, and availability land in your inbox within one business day — playbook included.