Upcoming Forecast: Chance of Showers... If It Changes, We'll Tell You

WNY Ford Dealers tout 2010 Taurus with by the minute, digital billboard messaging

BUFFALO, N.Y., Oct. 7 -- This month, commuters on Western New York roadways will learn about the all-new 2010 Ford Taurus via digital billboards on the I-190. And while digital billboards are not a brand new technology, the way the WNY Ford Dealers are using them just might be.

If it starts sprinkling, drivers could see a digital board that says "it's raining" and then serves up an advertisement about the new Ford Taurus' all-wheel drive options or rain-sensing wipers. In fact, about 50 different boards may pop up tugging commuters' interest and funny bone. Everything from a Monday morning post about coffee and the new Ford Taurus' seven cup holders, to the time of Sunday kickoff and a plug for the car's new EcoBoost(TM) V6 engine can be expected.

The campaign is part of a program to introduce people to the new 2010 Ford Taurus, and drive home the message that the car, along with the billboard messages, are "unexpected".

"The new Ford Taurus is a very unexpected vehicle so we wanted our advertising to follow suit," said Chuck Basil, representative of the Ford Dealers of Western New York. "The boards allow us to talk to people about relevant local events, news and weather, while having some fun introducing the vehicle's features."

According to Todd Schaefer of Lamar Advertising, digital billboards offer creative flexibility never seen before in the billboard industry. "Advertisers are now able to change their messages as often as they want, set up their ads to run up-to-the-minute weather forecasts or even link to a Twitter or Facebook account updating the board's message almost instantly. The creative options are endless," Schaefer said.

The new Ford Taurus campaign is now running on two new digital billboards on the I-190 northbound and southbound routes. They can be updated and changed within minutes, giving the Ford Dealers of Western New York a unique opportunity to 'talk with' and entertain commuters.

"Our billboard messaging is sure to pop up and surprise you... just like the car itself promises to do for drivers," Basil added.

For more information on the 2010 Ford Taurus, visit www.wnyford.com. To view and subscribe to news and photos from the 2010 Ford Taurus' splash across WNY, visit http://www.pitchfeed.com/wnyforddealers/11898.

About the WNY Ford Dealers

The WNY dealers are part of the Western New York Ford Stores, an advertising cooperative comprised of 33 dealer locations, that provides support for Ford vehicle sales and service in the 13 counties of Western New York and two counties in Northern Pennsylvania.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091007/NY88966