PR firm hopes hangers on will get the message

Jamela Daniels is always thinking of ways to get the word out — and her latest method of doing so will ensure it goes island-wide.

She made a successful approach to the Public Transport Board to put advertising in its fleet of vehicles on behalf of PR company Impact Media.

From last month, Ms Daniels, Impact’s director of innovative advertising, replaced the old bus handrails with new ones that businesses and organisations can use to promote their products.

As an added benefit, the new handrails are stationary, so if the bus has to come to a sudden stop, the passengers do not feel as big a jolt.

Ms Daniels said: “We put up new handles and all the advertising as well.

“They don’t move unlike the old ones so it’s more secure and allows vendors to advertise in the bus.

“For years most people wanted to advertise on the bus like in the U.S. but it was never allowed.

Safety

“We were allowed to do it because it encompasses passenger safety.

“We started on June 1 and are on most of the buses. This is a great way to advertise because once people come on the bus there’s nothing to do except look at other people or look at what is going on outside, so it is a captive audience.

“This is catching on really fast.”

Impact Media is advertising four clients so far, including the National Drug Control.

The organisation was first to “hop on the bus”.

Ms Daniels said: “People can sign up for all year. They can sign up so they can be exclusive, meaning we won’t put a competing business on the same bus.”

Firms can advertise for as little as $100 per month.

Ms Daniels said: “We have several different packages people can purchase.

Cost-effective

“There are 122 buses. You could buy from one bus to all the buses.

“We also have a small business package for a lot of up-and-coming businesses, which is really cost-effective.

“Small businesses can’t afford big newspaper or print campaigns so this is a good place for them to advertise.” Unfortunately, businesses in St. George’s or Dockyard cannot get buses that only cover routes to those destinations.

Specific buses may do a St. George’s run one day but be on another route the next, so advertising cannot be targeted that way.

But Ms Daniels said: “We can guarantee a high revenue bus.”

She added: “Each handrail is rented to one customer. That one customer has both sides of the handrail so it's double exposure and the customer has the choice of advertising more than one product or service at a low cost."

For more information call Jamela Daniels on 599-3338 or e-mail impactmediabda @gmail.com