How to successfully launch OOH in Manchester

Want to make noise in Manchester? Well, obviously you do.

A well-executed OOH campaign can put your brand centre stage. From billboards in Deansgate to digital screens displayed on Printworks, this blog breaks down how to launch OOH that performs, not simply just appears. 

First things first: location is everything.

Manchester’s mix of bustling high streets, student hubs and commuter routes means you need to be strategic. Think big screens at Piccadilly Gardens for mass reach, or hyper-local placements in the Northern Quarter to target trend-led audiences. Do the research, know where your audience hangs out and meet them there.

Once you’ve nailed the location, it’s time to focus on the creative.

You have just a few seconds to make your brand and message stick, so simplicity is essential. Make sure to use bold visuals, concise messaging and a clear CTA to ensure your brand is sticking out in these busy Manchester hotspots. Whether it’s a QR code which is linking to a landing page or a striking image that reinforces brand recall, every element of your OOH design should be optimised for performance. Remember effecting OOH advertising isn’t just about looking good, it’s about delivering measurable impact. 

With your creative ready, the next crucial step is campaign execution and tracking.

This is where strategy meets performance. Partnering with trusted media owners ensures your OOH advertising goes live on time, in the right format and in Manchester’s highest-traffic areas, think Deansgate, Piccadilly Gardens, Oxford Road and the Northern Quarter. Proper planning around timing, frequency and audience behaviours is getting your ads seen by the right people, most importantly at the right moment.

But launching your OOH campaign is only half the job, measuring its effectiveness is what sets high-performing campaigns apart. Make use of QR codes, custom URLs and UTM tracking to connect physical ads with digital performance. Combine this with footfall data, brand uplift studies and online engagement metrics to build a clear picture of ROI. At a time when every marketing channel is expected to prove it’s worth, data-backed OOH campaigns not only raise awareness, they drive real, measurable results. 

The final step? Integrating your OOH campaign into your wider marketing strategy. OOH performs best when it doesn’t work alone, so amplify it across digital channels for maximum impact. Use social media to tease your campaign before it launches, repurpose creative for paid ads and encourage UGC from people spotting your ads around Manchester. Syncing OOH with email, PPC and influencer activity creates a seamless brand experience which drives both awareness and conversions. When OOH is fully integrated into a wider marketing strategy, it becomes more than just brand awareness, it becomes a powerful performance driver across every channel.

Successfully launching an OOH campaign in Manchester requires a combination of strategic location selection, impactful creative, precise execution and data-driven measurement. By aligning your OOH efforts with a broader marketing strategy, you can ensure maximum visibility and performance. Whether you’re targeting commuters in the city centre or trendsetters in the NQ, a well-planned OOH campaign can elevate our brand and deliver measurable results. Keep it bold, targeted and integrated, and watch your campaign be loved by those in Manchester.

Ready to take your brand to the streets? At Serotonin, we specialise in performance-led OOH campaigns that don't just get seen, they get results. From finding the perfect Manchester locations to designing high-impact creative and tracking performance with precision, we can sort it all. Whether you’re launching locally or scaling nationally, we’ll make sure your OOH campaign delivers. Get in touch and we can build something that performs for your brand.