What Is Advertising Used For? A Visual Guide to Public and Business Communication
Nov 23, 2025
What Is Advertising Used For? A Visual Guide to Public and Business Communication
What is Advertising? Definition According to KBBI
According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), advertising is a form of public information about goods or services being traded using attractive words and images to promote sales. Generally, advertising is used to attract attention, introduce, persuade, and provide advice and information for consumers to learn about and consider a particular product or service. Advertising also contains messages that can influence consumers' decisions to purchase the product, goods, or services being offered.
Advertising Functions: From Information to Consumer Influence
The primary function of advertising is to convey information directly to the public about a product, service, or brand. Beyond promotion, advertising also serves to convey social messages, such as drug campaigns to raise public awareness of important issues.
Furthermore, advertising also plays a role in building relationships between sellers and potential consumers. The messages conveyed, both visually and audibly, can influence purchasing decisions for a product or service. Furthermore, advertising helps build a strong, recognizable, and memorable brand image for people in their daily lives.
Commercial and Non-Commercial Advertising
Commercial advertising aims to promote products or services to increase sales and generate profits for a business. Examples include new product launch campaign displays or discount banners. Non-commercial advertising, on the other hand, contains information about appeals or calls to action related to social, health, education, or environmental issues. Examples include road safety campaigns or election campaigns.
Types of Advertising Based on Media and Format
The type of advertising plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of message delivery. Based on the medium, advertising is divided into three types:
Media audio
Like radio ads or music platforms, conveying messages through sound.
Media visual
Like billboards, banners, and billboards, using images to attract attention.
Media audio-visual
Like commercials on TV and YouTube, combine sound and images to make it more dynamic.
Rectangular in shape, printed or digital, often used for event or product promotions.
Billboard
This type of advertising is in the form of a large board installed in a strategic location, suitable for long-term exposure.
Poster
Posters are typically printed on medium to large-sized paper. They are generally used for promotions and brief information.
Brochure
Brochures are book-like, comprehensive, and usually distributed in person. They convey detailed information.
Banner
A flexible cloth banner that is hung in a busy place, used for temporary promotions.
Leaflet
Leaflets are one-page paper leaflets, practical and easy to read, distributed directly or placed at strategic points.
Billboards
Large billboards in public spaces, permanent or temporary, are effective in reaching a wide audience and are placed in strategic locations.
Characteristics of Effective Advertising
Effective advertising is characterized by a concise, clear, and easily understood message. Advertising with attractive and audience-relevant graphic designs is also crucial. Furthermore, appropriate placement and timing also determine the effectiveness of advertising, ensuring it leaves a lasting impression and is easily remembered by the audience.
Examples of Commercial and Non-Commercial Advertising in Indonesia
Commercial advertising is a type of advertising that's readily found in large cities, such as beverage billboards in business districts or discount banners in malls. Non-commercial advertising, on the other hand, is typically used by governments and social organizations, for example, election campaigns or mask-wearing campaigns. Both types of advertising can utilize a variety of media and formats to reach a wide audience.
Building Synergy in Product and Service Promotion
Advertising plays a crucial role in strengthening product and service promotions by building a consistent brand image. When combined with other marketing strategies such as social media or digital campaigns, advertising can create effective synergy. For example, a billboard advertisement for a new product can be enhanced with online promotions to reach a wider audience. This approach helps increase awareness, reinforce the message, and drive consumer purchasing decisions.
Are Billboard Advertisements Still Effective?
Despite the growing popularity of digital advertising, billboards remain an effective advertising medium. Their placement in strategic locations such as main roads, business centers, or busy areas allows them to be seen by thousands of people every day. Their large size and striking visual design quickly capture attention. Without the need for direct interaction, billboards provide consistently high exposure. This is what makes billboards remain relevant and effective as a promotional medium, even amidst today's onslaught of digital advertising.
Digital Advertising: The Evolution from Billboards to DOOH
As technology advances, conventional billboards have evolved into more dynamic and interactive media. The advent of Digital Out of Home (DOOH) represents a transformation from static advertising like billboards to digital displays that can be controlled in real time. DOOH allows for more flexible, scheduled messaging, and even integration with audience data.
Besides capturing attention with moving displays and bright lights, digital signage also opens up broader creative opportunities for brands. This is a new form of outdoor advertising that is gaining popularity in today's digital age.
How to Measure Advertising Effectiveness?
Measuring advertising effectiveness is crucial to ensure that the message reaches the target audience, delivers results, and achieves the desired goals. Some indicators that can be used include increased brand awareness, changes in consumer behavior, and even spikes in sales after a campaign.
For digital advertising such as DOOH, effectiveness can also be measured through impression data, screen time, and audience interaction. For conventional advertising, perception surveys or traffic analysis at the installation location can serve as benchmarks. Regular evaluation will help refine future campaign strategies.
Prisma Ads and Digital Advertising Innovation
In the ever-evolving world of advertising, Prisma Ads is here to provide leading advertising innovation in Indonesia. By offering the latest OOH media, Prisma Ads offers trusted solutions for various types of outdoor advertising, such as billboards, transportation advertising, creative branding, DOOH, and various other types of advertising. As a pioneering advertising medium in Indonesia, Prisma Ads helps brands appear stunning and striking in public spaces and reach a wide audience with attention-grabbing visual innovations.
Want to Start Advertising? Prisma Ads' Solution
With Prisma Ads, make your ads more meaningful and vibrant. For businesses looking to start promoting through advertising, Prisma Ads offers a comprehensive and accessible solution, with full control over your campaigns. From strategy planning and location selection to display, to performance assessment, Prisma Ads can handle everything tailored to your brand's needs.
With DOOH technology and an extensive outdoor media network, Prisma Ads helps deliver messages effectively to target audiences, both for short-term campaigns and long-term branding. Build brand visibility and meaning with Prisma Ads. Explore more about our services here.
Advertising FAQ
What is the main use of advertising? Advertising is used to convey information, promote products or services, and build brand image. It also serves to engage or encourage the public on social issues such as health, safety, and education.
What is the difference between commercial and non-commercial advertising? Commercial advertising aims to increase sales and business profits by promoting products or services. Conversely, non-commercial advertising aims to convey messages to the public that are persuasive or educational, such as safety campaigns or election campaigns.
What are the types of advertising commonly used? Advertising types are distinguished by media and format. Based on media: audio (radio), visual (billboards, banners), and audio-visual (TV, YouTube). Based on format: banners, billboards, posters, brochures, leaflets, and billboards.
How to create an advertisement that attracts attention? Effective advertising must be concise, clear, easy to understand, and visually appealing. Selecting a strategic location and appropriate broadcast timing are also crucial to maximizing the message's reach to the target audience.
Are there examples of successful advertising campaigns in Indonesia? Examples include commercial beverage advertisements on billboards in busy areas or big discount banners in shopping centers and businesses. Non-commercial campaigns, such as mask-wearing campaigns during the pandemic and road safety advertisements, are examples of successful campaigns that have reached a wide audience.
Prisma Advertising: Your Partner in Powerful OOH Advertising
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The Cadbury Valentine 2026 campaign delivers an interactive OOH and FutureOOH+ experience with Prisma Group across Jakarta and Bandung.
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