How Automotive Brands Can Win with Billboards in the OKC and Tulsa Metro Areas

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Automotive advertising is one of the most competitive sectors in local and regional media.

With declining returns from digital ads due to privacy changes and ad fatigue, many car dealerships and manufacturers are turning back to one of the most reliable formats in the game: billboard advertising. In Oklahoma City and Tulsa, outdoor advertising provides unmatched reach, local dominance, and the capture of buyer intent, especially for auto brands.

In this guide, we’ll break down how automotive brands can use billboards to drive awareness, foot traffic, and leads across the Oklahoma City and Tulsa Metro areas. We'll explore strategic placements, creative tips, campaign timing, and how to integrate billboards with digital and dealership marketing for maximum ROI.

Why Billboards Work So Well for Automotive Brands in Oklahoma

If you want to move metal, you need visibility. Billboards deliver that at scale.

Here’s why they work:

  • Car buyers drive a lot before they buy. Commuting, test-driving, and dealership hopping make drivers a captive audience.
  • Brand recall is high. 47% of U.S. adults have searched online after seeing a billboard, according to Nielsen.
  • Billboards drive real action. A study from the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) found 32% of viewers visited an advertiser’s website after seeing a billboard.

In Oklahoma, where vehicle ownership is high and public transit is limited, automotive billboard campaigns have a powerful opportunity to intercept buyers on the move.

Key Oklahoma Metro Stats That Favor OOH Automotive Advertising

Let’s look at the data behind the opportunity:

  • Oklahoma City has over 700,000 residents and is one of the most car-dependent cities in the U.S. It’s also home to I-35 and I-40, two of the nation’s busiest cross-country interstates.
  • Tulsa has over 400,000 residents and a robust suburban halo. U.S. Highway 169, I-44, and the Broken Arrow Expressway experience high daily traffic volumes, making them prime billboard real estate.

According to the Federal Highway Administration’s April 2025 Traffic Volume Trends report, total vehicle miles traveled in Oklahoma increased 1.8% year-over-year, a strong signal for increased roadside impressions.

What does this mean for car brands? It’s simple: Billboards give you a constant, high-frequency presence right where buyers are making decisions.

Best Billboard Locations for Auto Dealers in OKC and Tulsa

Not all billboard placements are equal, especially for dealerships. The key is to combine high traffic with local relevance.

Here are the top placement types that drive results:

1. Interstate and Highway Corridors

  • I-35, I-40, and I-44 in OKC
  • U.S. 169, I-244, and BA Expressway in Tulsa

These locations capture long commutes, weekend traffic, and daily exposure.

2. Retail Power Centers

  • OKC: Penn Square Mall, Quail Springs, Sooner Mall
  • Tulsa: Woodland Hills Mall, Tulsa Hills, Promenade

Auto shoppers tend to compare offers before purchase. Billboards near these shopping centers reinforce dealer presence and recall.

3. Dealer Row Zones

  • In OKC: Automall Drive off Memorial Road, NW Expressway
  • In Tulsa: 41st & Memorial cluster, 71st Street corridor

Billboards near dealership clusters enable conquesting strategies, ultimately targeting shoppers who are heading to competitors.

4. Suburban Commute Routes

  • Edmond, Norman, Moore, and Yukon in the OKC Metro
  • Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks, and Owasso in the Tulsa Metro

Suburban drivers often travel 30–45 minutes to make a shopping trip. Frequent OOH touchpoints build consideration over time.

Best Practices for Automotive Billboard Creative

Auto shoppers are comparison buyers. Great billboard creative can influence decision-making before they ever click a digital ad.

Keep these tips in mind:

1. Use Clear, Brand-Forward Messaging

  • Feature your logo, dealership name, or OEM prominently.
  • Avoid generic slogans—clarity wins.

2. Leverage Limited-Time Offers or Events

  • Promote seasonal sales, rebates, lease specials, or new arrivals.
  • Use dates or countdowns to create a sense of urgency.

3. Include a Location Cue

  • Add city name, neighborhood, or cross streets.
  • If multiple locations exist, show the nearest major one.

4. Use Readable Fonts and Real Vehicle Imagery

  • Drivers have 6–10 seconds to process your ad.
  • Big vehicle visuals (especially trucks and SUVs in Oklahoma) perform well.

When to Run Billboard Campaigns for Maximum Auto ROI

Timing is everything. In Oklahoma, automotive billboard campaigns perform best during key seasonal triggers:

  • Tax Refund Season (February–April): Use this window to offer down payment matches or trade-in promotions.
  • Summer Travel Months (May–July): Ideal for promoting SUVs and trucks.
  • Back to School (August–September): Push safety, reliability, and family-friendly vehicles.
  • End-of-Year Closeouts (October–December): Leverage urgency and manufacturer rebates.

Pro tip: Coordinate OOH timing with local events like the Oklahoma State Fair (OKC) or Tulsa State Fair for added brand lift.

How Local Dealers Can Conquer Competitors with Billboard Ads

Billboards aren’t just for brand-building—they can be used tactically.

Here’s how Oklahoma auto dealers are using OOH to gain a competitive edge:

1. Geo-Target Competitor Stores

Place a billboard 0.5–1 mile before a rival dealership. Hit drivers with a competing offer before they park.

2. Highlight What Competitors Can’t Match

If you offer lifetime warranties, free maintenance, or better APRs—say it boldly.

3. Use Billboard-Digital Integration

Run dynamic search and social ads triggered by billboard zone impressions. This drives instant online engagement.

Digital + Billboard = The Winning Formula for Auto Leads

The smartest car brands in OKC and Tulsa don’t treat billboards as a solo act.

They integrate them with digital efforts like:

  • Geo-fenced mobile display ads targeting people who drive past the billboard
  • Retargeting campaigns showing matching creative online
  • Google Ads and YouTube ads using search terms tied to billboard offers
  • Facebook and Instagram ads synced with the same message as the billboard

According to a 2024 Nielsen OOH advertising study, combining OOH with digital can increase brand effectiveness by up to 42%.

Billboards get attention. Digital closes the loop.

Measuring ROI: How to Track Billboard Performance for Automotive

Many automotive marketers hesitate on billboards due to perceived tracking limitations. But attribution has come a long way.

Here are the top ways car dealers in Oklahoma are measuring billboard ROI:

1. Google Trends and Branded Search Volume

Monitor spikes in direct traffic after campaign launches, especially branded queries.

2. Unique Offer Codes or URLs

Use landing pages with billboard-only URLs (e.g., “/tulsa-trucks”) to isolate lead sources.

3. Call Tracking Lines

Assign a separate phone number to your billboard creative to track inbound calls.

4. Foot Traffic Attribution

Platforms like Reveal Mobile and AdQuick can track lift in dealership visits tied to billboard exposure zones.

Local Dealer Success Stories from OKC and Tulsa

Case Example: Ford Dealer in Tulsa Metro

A dealership in Broken Arrow launched a 3-month truck clearance billboard campaign targeting suburban work commutes. Using bold “ZERO DOWN” creative near Highway 169 and a matching Facebook retargeting campaign, they saw:

  • 24% increase in test drives
  • 17% lift in branded search traffic
  • 3x return on ad spend compared to paid search alone

Case Example: Used Car Superstore in OKC

An independent dealer along NW Expressway used billboards to conquer a major franchise dealer nearby. Their creative emphasized a 90-day warranty and no-haggle pricing. Over two quarters, they saw:

  • 22% increase in walk-ins
  • 33% growth in low-funnel leads from nearby zip codes

Why Billboard Advertising in Oklahoma Beats National TV or Digital Alone

Let’s be real—automotive brands spend millions on national ads that don’t move the needle locally.

Here’s why billboards beat broadcast for regional auto success:

  • Local relevance: Customize creative to your city or dealership location.
  • Guaranteed visibility: You’re not fighting for clicks or skipping ads.
  • Lower CPMs: OOH in Oklahoma ranges between $3–$10 CPM, according to the June 2025 Media Monthly Report.

In a market saturated with online noise, billboards give car dealers a chance to stand out, stay seen, and sell more.

Final Thoughts: Start With the Right Billboard Partner

To win with billboards in OKC or Tulsa, you need more than just placement. You need strategy, data, and ongoing support. That’s where working with an experienced out-of-home advertising partner like Whistler Billboards makes the difference.

Whether you're a franchise dealer or an independent lot, billboards can help you:

  • Increase lot traffic
  • Boost brand credibility
  • Capture in-market shoppers
  • Conquer your local competitors

In a state built on wide roads and wide-open opportunity, billboard advertising puts your automotive brand right in the driver’s seat.

https://www.whistlerbillboards.com/billboard-mastery/how-automotive-brands-can-win-with-billboards/?feed_id=462&_unique_id=688a18bb40773

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