The Billboard Mastery Podcast

It’s a common theme for businesses that are in financial trouble to commit to huge ad campaigns, even though they have little intent to pay for it. Their theory is that with such a “Hail Mary” gamble they might pull themselves back from the brink of bankruptcy. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review what this type of situation looks like and how to protect yourself from it.

It’s one thing to build a billboard and something entirely different to maintain access to it. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review everything you need to know about getting and keeping access to repair lights, install ads, and keep tabs on your property.

One of the oldest styles of billboard structures in America are what are called “roof mounts” – signs that are physically built into roofs of buildings as their structural support. Dating from around the 1920s to 1960s, most cities will no longer allow you to build these, but they sometimes come on the market to buy. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review the history of this type of sign and what you need to know if you are looking at buying or operating one.

Whether it’s monopole, I-beam, or telephone pole, every billboard begins with digging giant holes in the ground. And there are many things that can happen when you dig a hole, and many things you can hit below the earth’s surface. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the lessons learned from digging hundreds of such holes.

At The End One of the key features to a successful billboard ground lease is not what happens at the start of the lease, but what happens at the end. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review the strategies regarding how to handle what happens at your ground lease’s conclusion.

Some billboards have no lights, and others are lighted from dusk until midnight. But in rare cases, some signs are lighted from dusk until dawn. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review the reasons and complications of lighting billboards all night.

There is a maximum level of net income that every billboard can attain, but few hit those numbers. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the normal categories of revenue and expense maximization that every sign should adhere to, along with tips on how to get there.

In the advertising business, bigger is always better – but sometimes “big” is not an option. City and state laws can sometimes alter the playing field with only small signs possible. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review the playbook on making money with tiny signs.

Some cities allow new billboards to be built, while others don't. And when new billboards are banned in a city you have to make a decision whether to give up or attempt to get a variance. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we're going to explore how to make that decision and how to successfully obtain a variance for new construction

Hyperbole is typically gaslighting with words, but in the billboard business it is more commonly done with numbers. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we're going to review methods of presenting numbers to get the desired results

When building a steel monopole structure there is an option to place the pole places except directly under the sign faces and this is called an "offset". In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the concept of "offsets" and what you need to know to use this tool effectively.

Clear Channel Outdoor has is selling and, if the deal closes, their stock will be delisted from the stock exchange. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore this massive deal and what the implications are for the billboard industry going forward.

Billboards are giant assets, often weighing in at over seven tons. The typical ad face is bigger than a tiny home. When dealing in this type of massive size, you can’t afford to make even a minor error as it’s impossible to fix. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore inexpensive options to take the guessing out of some of the big decisions billboard owners have to make.

DIY (Do It Yourself) seems like a great way to save money, but working on your house is a lot different than a billboard sign. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review what you can – and can’t – apply your DIY skills to.

Some property owners are hard to work with – and some are nearly impossible. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review some practical strategies to get deals done with the hardest negotiators, as well as when to simply walk away.

When a billboard can’t be seen from the road, its importance to advertisers is diminished or even eliminated. Yet many billboards are blocked by objects that could, with the proper strategy, be eliminated. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the options to remove obstructions.

There is a time to talk and a time to listen – but there’s also a time to talk a little less. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review when to hold back on talking and how to get straight to business in order to get deals closed.

There are few income streams more passive than owning a billboard. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how you can make outdoor signs into your own version of “mailbox money” as well as strategies to get started.

Warren Buffett’s partner Charlie Munger once criticized Berkshire Hathaway’s early focus on what he called “cigar-butt” investing. Yet it’s a philosophy that also holds true for billboard signs. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore what “cigar-butt” signs actually are and their advantages and disadvantages.

One of the most important attributes in the billboard industry – and life – is persistence against all odds. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the importance of “staying the course” and not giving up, as well as some methods to improve your steadfast resilience. 

There’s an old saying “it takes money to make money” and often times that money comes from a bank loan. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how to obtain a bank loan to build or buy a billboard, as well as some non-bank alternatives.

In honor of Veterans Day, in this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore some of the significant strategies to be found in books on military history and how they apply to the billboard industry. While business books have good lessons learned, the significance of military engagement and its life-or-death impact has yielded much more pronounced theorems on success.

Owning billboards is unlike most every other business. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the unusual lifestyle of most billboard owners and review the reasons for this unique style of business.

Every billboard deal begins and ends with a successful negotiation of terms. But many people don’t understand the mechanics of these transactions and the science behind them. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the art form known as American contract negotiation.

The worst thing that can happen to any billboard is to end up being torn down for property redevelopment. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore some of the real-life tricks you can use to minimize your exposure to this risk.

Tiny habits can yield big consequences. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review some simple habits that can reinforce important moments in building a successful billboard.

Although a good contract sets in stone the terms of your agreement, some things should maybe not be chiseled in as hard. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review the times that there should be little room to maneuver as well as when you should give yourself plenty of leeway.

Whether you’re buying an existing sign or building a new one, everyone wants to avoid investing in a “loser” location. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the attributes that have proven to be good indicators of success, as well as those that are a warning sign.

The stock of Clear Channel Outdoor went for around $30 a share in 2007 but today trades for only around $1 a share. What went wrong? In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how the billboard industry made some fatal moves years ago, and how you can learn from their mistakes and build your business the correct way going forward.

Most billboards, when viewed from the side, are flat. But some billboards have large objects jutting out from them. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the world of 3-D billboard designs.

We think of billboard revenue as being strictly in dollars, but for decades some operators have garnered income in barter, as well. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to examine how you can use barter – exchanging goods and services – as a productive way to fill your vacant ad space.

Most billboards – but not all – have lights to make their ads legible at night. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review all the lessons we’ve learned about lighting billboards and how to make the best decision on what type of lights to use – or if you need to use any lights at all.

There are two basic construction methods on any billboard: 1) wood or 2) steel. But which is correct? In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review the methodology to determine which type of material to use and what the benefits and disadvantages are.

A recession is defined as “two consecutive quarters of negative GDP”. With Q1 of this year at a negative 0.3%, all it will take is a Q2 negative number to trigger a recession. While many fear this outcome, I have found recessions to be great opportunities to expand your business. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review the benefits derived from an economy in transition.

The U.S. economy seems to be slowing down, and even if it does not hit the "recession" threshold it’s important to understand what to do if it does. There is a strategy to renting billboards in tough times that revolves around certain advertisers and methods. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore successful "recession-resistant" marketers and how to attract them.

The difference between big companies and small players is that one never sees the opportunity and the other takes advantage of every opening. Yet sometimes the small player can start to act like a big company and completely ruin their advantage. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review how never to have a “big company” attitude.

Sometimes – even at the last minute – a bank can suddenly change its mind and retract their offer to make a loan. What do you do then? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore why this occurs and what the correct steps are to mitigate this potential event.

One of the most interesting types of billboard structures is the “wallscape” – in which the billboard is affixed to a masonry wall or similar fixture. By using the wall to hold the sign up, you save an enormous amount of money over a monopole, I-beam or wooden structure. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how to successfully put together a wallscape deal.

Life is made up of colors and there’s a science to their selection when it comes to billboard designs. How colors interact with the human mind has been a big part of the research of the billboard industry as well as many other applications. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the science of color to help create more effective billboards.

Billboards are massive and immovable. As a result, once they’re built, they’re built. Since the cost to move a billboard – even an inch – is thousands of dollars at best, it’s important to understand some simple tricks to make sure you’re not making a mistake in sign placement and construction. And that’s what we’re gong to explore in this Billboard Mastery podcast.

America is always expanding, and with that growth comes new opportunities to build billboards. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the fast-expanding markets known as “exurban” and “supercommuter” and how to spot these hot advertising markets in advance.

Billboard revenues are increasing in the U.S., after many years of weak performance due to a number of factors including competing advertising products, Covid, and corporate distractions from marketing to such initiatives as DEI. Now, suddenly, billboard rates of return are increasing. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we're going to explore why the sudden shift has occurred and if it's a fad or a permanent change.

So the property owner wants too much ground rent. What should you do? How about just telling them the truth? In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore one of the most powerful negotiating tools you have at your disposal: telling the truth in the strongest possible fashion.

The standard billboard ground lease involves trading the right to place a sign on the land in exchange for a monetary payment. But how do you decide that that amount should be? In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore some techniques that help steer you towards a land rent that is fair for both parties.

The majority of billboards in the U.S. are located on leased land. But a tiny fraction are cases where the sign owner also controls the land underneath, which gives them unique stability. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the strategies used to own the land as well as the sign.

Thoughts On "Founder Mode" Elon Musk is known to go into a period of intensity when he starts a business called "founder mode". It’s all about time management and focus. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we're going to review what “founder mode” is and you how can adopt its attributes to further your billboard business.

After you’ve gone to all the trouble of getting your billboard ground lease signed up, you want to take all the steps possible to protect your creation, right? In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore two different ways to better safeguard your ground lease and how to get those accomplished.

If you have a vacant billboard then your number one goal is to find an advertiser and fast. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore two “built-in” lists of advertisers that have perhaps your best odds of success.

Albert Dunlap was a corporate raider and turnaround expert on public companies in the 1970s through 1990s. He had one simple motto: “sell, sell, sell and cut, cut, cut”. Although his life ended in scandal when there were allegations of accounting fraud at one of his projects, he was heralded as the original powerhouse in restoring profitability to companies that had run out of steam. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review how “Chainsaw Al’s” philosophy can be utilized by every billboard owner to increase profits. 

To build a billboard you need a ground lease. And to get a ground lease you have to convince a property owner to agree and sign it. But what do you do when the owner says “no”. In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the next steps when a property shoots your presentation down.