SeeMe City vs flyers, social ads and billboards: where a $29 sign fits
Ad-free post. SeeMe City sells signs on its street; this post explains how it works.
In short: A $29 SeeMe City sign is a low-cost place to put your name and a coupon, paid once for a year. It is not a replacement for search ads, which reach people who are already looking for what you sell. Use it next to your other advertising, not instead of it.
How is a SeeMe City sign different from other local ads?
You pay once, and the sign stays up for a year. Most other ads charge while they run, by the day, by the click or by the print run. A SeeMe City sign is one payment, from $29 to $79, plus optional extras. There is no bidding and no daily budget.
It is also a different kind of place. People walk Ocean Ave to browse signs and find deals, so your sign sits where people are already looking around.
How do the options compare at a glance?
Each option does a different job, and most of them charge while they run. Here is the short version.
| Option | How you pay | Good at |
|---|---|---|
| Flyers | By the print run, plus your time | Reaching people near your shop |
| Social ads | By the day or by the click | Choosing who sees your ad |
| Search ads | By the click | Reaching people who are searching right now |
| Physical billboard | Usually by the month | Being seen on one real road |
| SeeMe City sign | Once a year, from $29 | A low-cost sign and a coupon where people browse |
How does it compare with flyers?
Flyers work in the real world, and SeeMe City works online. A flyer reaches the people who take one, near where you hand it out, and it costs printing and time. A SeeMe City sign needs no printing and no handing out, but it only reaches people who visit the street. They do different jobs, so they can work together.
How does it compare with social ads?
Social ads let you choose who sees them, and a SeeMe City sign does not. With social ads, such as Instagram or Facebook ads, you can usually aim by place, age or interest and set a daily budget. They stop showing when the budget stops.
A SeeMe City sign has no targeting. Everyone who walks the street can see it. In return, there is no budget to watch, and the sign stays up all year.
How does it compare with search ads?
Search ads win when someone is searching for what you sell right now, and SeeMe City is not a replacement for them. Search ads, such as Google Ads, reach people at the moment they ask for something. A SeeMe City sign is a fun, browsable place with coupons.
Each building also has its own web page with your name, your offer and a link to your site, and search engines can read it.
How does it compare with a physical billboard?
A physical billboard is usually rented by the month and costs far more than a SeeMe City sign. It reaches drivers and walkers on one real road. A SeeMe City sign is virtual, and it reaches people who visit the street online.
SeeMe City has painted billboards of its own. A rooftop billboard adds $30 a year to a building lease.
Where does a $29 sign fit?
A $29 sign fits as a small, steady extra next to your other marketing. It is a good fit if:
- you want a low, fixed cost with no budget to watch,
- you have an offer people can copy, such as a code in the Deals list, or
- you want a sign that is up day and night for a full year.
It is not a good fit if:
- you need customers this week from people searching for you, which search ads are built for,
- you need to pick who sees your ad by age or interest, which social ads can do, or
- you need to be seen on one real road, which a flyer or a physical billboard can do.
SeeMe City is brand new. We have no traffic numbers to share, and a sign does not promise views or sales. Your private owner page shows your own numbers, so you can judge it yourself. Read how to advertise for under $100 a year, see the prices and walk the street to decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is SeeMe City a replacement for search ads?
No. Search ads reach people who are looking for what you sell right now. SeeMe City is a fun, browsable place with coupons. Use it next to search ads, not instead of them.
Is there bidding or a daily budget?
No. You pay once for a full year, and nothing renews by itself.
How does the cost compare with a billboard?
A SeeMe City sign starts at $29 a year. A physical billboard is usually rented by the month and costs far more.
Can I see if my sign is working?
Your private owner page shows views, time on screen, link clicks, coupon copies and card opens for the last 30 days. SeeMe City does not promise any number of views or sales.
Want to try it? Lease a building on Ocean Ave from $29 a year.