Advertising on Rooftops

There's an idea I've had ever since I was in college and Google Earth came out, and I'm surprised it hasn't become more prevalent. That idea is advertising on rooftops. With the advent and recent explosion in usage of satellite maps (Google Maps, etc.), there's a huge new medium for advertising, and it's very cheap.

There are 2 ways you could put this idea in motion. First, if you're a big company with big buildings, throw your logo on your roof. Especially if you're in a major city or area that would have a lot of map searches. If you're in the middle of nowhere, not sure it would be as valuable, but Target obviously thinks it is worth it, as shown in the picture above. It would only cost the amount of money it would take to get someone up there to paint the logo. That's it. Then anytime someone searches that area using a satellite map, there it is.

Second way to put this idea in motion is to sell your rooftop as ad space. Similar to how businesses sell space on the walls of their buildings, why not sell the space on the top of the building? You have a huge roof, but you're some generic manufacturing plant and it would do you no good to have your logo on there. Sell it. Make some extra money, and you will never see it, people who drive by won't see it, only online satellite search traffic.

Now, a few pitfalls. I'm not sure what the sign laws say about rooftop advertising (nor am I interested in looking it up) but that could limit this option in certain cities / states. Also, you wouldn't capture the eyeballs you have in front of the store, only those looking at a computer screen, but that's why you have signs on the side of your building already, and that's why you should probably throw your website on the roof. Also, there are many buildings that aren't actually owned by the companies in them. But in that case, those companies should sell that space to those companies. But this is inexpensive enough, especially if you own the building (like most Wal-Marts and Targets, etc. do), that it just makes sense.

I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes more and more prevalent in the near future. I would be surprised, as a former marketing student, if it does not.