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Would you, Could you, On a Cow? Unusual Advertising Spots

June 7, 2006 By Susan Young Leave a Comment

Leave it to online casino GoldenPalace.com (the company that paid $28,000 on eBay for the ‘Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich’) to come up with another original marketing idea: Advertising on Cows! I almost didn’t believe this when I heard it, so I had to go directly to the source. You can check out pictures of the “branded” cows (I couldn’t resist!) here.

That got me thinking: what other unusual (or less traditional) places might it make sense to advertise your business? So I’ve created a list of unique advertising venues and some potential companies that might consider advertising in these places. Here goes:

Places to Advertise  | Potential Advertisers

  • On a cow  | herbicide company
  • On a park bench | bird seed company
  • On an automobile | car insurance company or auto repair shop
  • On a temporary tattoo | fitness center; health foods store
  • On a shopping cart or checkout divider stick | impulse  item (gum, batteries) or purchase (dry cleaners, car wash)
  • Movie theater screen | soft drink; nearby restaurant, coffee shop or retail establishment
  • Grocery store receipt | local retail shop or restaurant
  • Back of a baseball ticket | kids sports league; restaurant near the stadium
  • Hotel key cards | pizza delivery; tourist destination
  • Bar bathroom stall | alcoholic drink; brand of painkillers
  • Church bulletin | breakfast or brunch restaurant; Christian bookstore
  • These are just a few ideas to get you started. Obviously, if companies are advertising on cows and foreheads, the possibilities are endless!

Have you seen any unusual advertising spots lately? Tell me about it! I’ll be happy to add them to this list!

Filed Under: Advertising, Branding, Marketing-Mix, Public Relations, Unusual Advertising

Marketing Madness: Seasonal Marketing Strategies to Help your Business Stand Out

March 22, 2006 By Susan Young Leave a Comment

So I’ve got March Madness on the mind this month, even if my favorite team, the Fighting Illini, are no longer in the NCAA Men’s College Basketball tourney, and my brackets aren’t faring so well. 

What does March Madness have to do with marketing, you ask? Actually, marketing is everywhere this time of year. Here are a couple of examples of how companies have tied their marketing messages to March Madness.

Some Good March Madness Campaign Examples:

  • State Farm Insurance has been running television spots where their competitors are lined up against them in bracket format and eventually all of their competitors are crossed off/eliminated, leaving State Farm as the champion.
  • Papa John’s sent out email campaigns with special March Madness pizza offers. I also received an oversized postcard in the mail in early March with a magnet on the back so I could put it on my fridge. It consisted of an empty bracket that I could fill out and also included four pizza coupons. What a great way to incorporate the March Madness theme into a promotional campaign!

How can you utilize a popular time of year like March Madness in your marketing?

  • Incorporate ‘Madness’ Words and Themes into all of your Advertising & Communications: Even if you don’t offer a sports-related product or service, people will instantly recognize your special offers or coupons when you use the word ‘madness’ or create basketball themes in your marketing campaigns (whether it is an ad headline, article name or email subject line). 
  • Offer a Madness-Related Giveaway: You don’t have to be a national sponsor of the NCAA basketball tournaments to take advantage of basketball mania. Invite your customers to visit your business to enter to win a basketball-related product, or tickets to an upcoming sporting event.
  • Offer a Solution or Product Related to March Madness: Do you supply or sell a product that basketball fans might find interesting? Do you offer a solution to the decreased work productivity that typically occurs in the office environment this time of year, such as software that blocks certain websites or encourages worker productivity? If you can tie your PR into this theme, the News media will be more inclined to hear your story. Tip: Be sure to pitch your story idea well in advance, keeping in mind the reporter’s lead time (as deadlines are often weeks or months prior to publication date).
  • Market Entertainment Options for Basketball and Non-Basketball Fans: If you are a movie theater or other entertainment venue, there are plenty of non-basketball aficionados who are longing for something else to do besides sit in front of a television. Now is your chance to reach them. Restaurants can offer a dine-in or take-out special in honor of March Madness.  

So whether it’s a holiday like Saint Patrick’s Day, an event such as the Indy 500, or a popular trend such as Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, make your marketing message stand out from the crowd by relating it to what’s current. Do this and I promise you’ll have an instant edge on your competition.

Filed Under: Advertising, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Public Relations, Public Relations Ideas, Seasonal Marketing, Target Marketing, Unusual Advertising

Viral Marketing at its Best: Ricola’s “Thanks a Million” Campaign

January 9, 2006 By Susan Young Leave a Comment

It’s the middle of the cold season, and hopefully you have avoided any major viral infection so
far. While we’re on the subject, I wanted to share with you what I think is a very good example
of viral marketing from which we all could learn a lesson.

Have you heard the latest Ricola radio commercials? The Swiss-based herbal cough drop
company has launched a contest, which began last October 1 and runs through February 28, in
which they will give away anywhere from one thousand to one million dollars to someone if they
offer a Ricola cough drop to a person who is coughing in a public place. The official Ricola
spokesperson could be any person, anywhere, and at any time of the day. The radio spots have
been airing in Indianapolis, so there is even a possibility that the mystery cougher is in our
midst.

The radio spots feature a website at www.ricolausa.com, where one can even sign up to receive
clues by email and view an interactive map to see where the mystery cougher has appeared.
What a perfect example of viral marketing at its best. Not only is Ricola getting consumers to buy their product, but they are also encouraging people to recommend the product to others. What better advertising is that?

So next time you hear someone coughing in the next month or so, you may want to offer them a
Ricola cough drop. You may also want to think about a way your company can engage in this
form of viral marketing to promote your business in an unusual yet effective way. Thanks a
million to Ricola for showing us a great way to do so.

Filed Under: Advertising, Branding, Marketing Strategy, Public Relations, Seasonal Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Unusual Advertising, Word of Mouth Marketing
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