How Our First Install Sparked a Conversation About One of Our Advertisers

When we installed our very first screen at Revolution MMA here in Langley, we expected people to notice it. We expected some curiosity. Maybe a few glances. What we did not expect was how quickly it would spark a real conversation about one of our advertisers.

It happened within minutes.
The screen went live.
The loop started running.
And someone standing near the front desk looked up, pointed at the screen, and said they recognized one of the businesses featured.

That moment was small. But it showed something powerful about how real-world visibility creates word of mouth in ways digital ads simply cannot match.

When People See Something in a Real Place, They Talk About It

There is something different about being seen in the real world. When your ad shows up in a space people already trust, like a gym or café, it feels natural. It feels like you are part of the environment.

And when someone sees a brand they recognize on a screen right in front of them, the reaction is simple. They mention it. They talk about it. They bring someone else into the moment.

This already happens regularly for the big brands - think of the last time you saw a commercial of a new Doritos flavour, and you mentioned you had already tried it and either liked (or disliked) it.

That is exactly what happened during our first install. The screen did not shout for attention. It did not interrupt anything. It simply sat on the wall, doing what DOOH does best.

And that was enough to start a conversation.

Word of Mouth Begins With Recognition

People share what they trust. And people trust what feels familiar.

When someone sees a local business on a digital screen inside a place they visit often, the effect is instant. The business gains credibility. The brand feels established.

Real-world visibility gives a simple boost to the question every customer asks themselves:
“Do I know this business, and can I trust them?”

In that moment at the gym, the answer was yes.
Someone recognized the brand.
Someone spoke up.
And someone else listened.

That is the beginning of word of mouth.

Conversations Lead to Curiosity

After the first person pointed out the business on the screen, a few others glanced at it too. A small group started talking about the service. 

All of this happened before the screen had been running for ten minutes.

This is the magic of DOOH in local spaces.
It creates small conversations that spread on their own.
Nothing forced. Nothing pushed.
Just natural moments between people who live and work in the same community.

Online ads rarely spark this kind of interaction.
People scroll past them alone. They do not discuss them. They do not connect over them.
Yes, they do sometimes share them. 

But real-world screens bring people together physically. That shared environment turns a simple ad into a talking point.

Trust Grows When Other People Validate a Business

The moment someone says “I know that business” or “I have used them before” everything changes.

One person’s experience becomes social proof for everyone nearby. And in local markets, social proof is everything.

People want to buy from businesses that their neighbours trust.
People want to support businesses that feel grounded in their community.
People believe other people more than any ad.

Our advertiser gained instant trust that day. Not because of a scripted message.
Not because of a high budget.
But because someone in the gym recognized them and said it out loud.

That type of trust cannot be bought.
But it can be earned through visibility.

Small Moments Become Referral Chains

When people start talking about a business, it creates a ripple effect. One conversation becomes a referral. One referral becomes a new customer.
That new customer becomes another person who talks about your business.

This is how local businesses can leverage digital billboards to grow.

Our first install proved something we already believed.
Real-world attention drives real-world referrals.

DOOH Makes Word of Mouth Easier

Digital screens in community venues help local businesses get talked about more often.
They turn waiting areas, workout spaces, and dining rooms into natural marketing touch points.
They put your brand in front of people who live here and talk to each other.
They make recognition easier, which makes conversation easier, which makes referrals easier.

This is why Gand1 exists.
 

One Conversation Was All It Took

That first moment during our install told us everything we needed to know.
People notice.
People talk.
People share.

And when your business becomes a topic of conversation inside a place people already enjoy, you gain something far more valuable than a simple impression.
You gain a voice in the community.

That is the power of DOOH.

And that is what we are building with every new screen across Langley and the Fraser Valley.How Our First Install Sparked a Conversation About One of Our Advertisers