Unusual ways to advertise your business
Advertising plays a vital role in creating interest and awareness for the products and services a business sells. While most businesses use customary channels like newspapers, magazines or the media to promote their products, others prefer to be different in their advertising options. It is sometimes called ambient advertising, and here are some of those unusual ways that are used to advertise to make a business stand out from the rest:
Inflatables
Hot air balloons, blimps or cold air inflatables come in every size and shape to attract public attention to a company’s products. They are a cheap, fun and interesting way to advertise company brands, special offers or promotions in a specific location via slogans, colorful banners or images. While some choose Helium-filled balloons that can float over a wider area for maximum coverage, others prefer balloons that are tethered to a location singly or in groups. This kind of customized advertising can be tailored to suit all budgets and definitely gets the attention of the public by alerting people to the launch of a new business or for promoting a new product or service in the area.
Advertising messages
Companies use boxes, wrappers, paper cups or mugs for advertising their name, slogans or any promotional offers to the people who visit their premises. A similar concept is used in billboard advertising or on taxis and buses where strategically placed advertisements attract the attention of passersby. This kind of subliminal advertising is colorful and designed to leave an impact so that it can be retained in the memory of all those who view it. Occasionally a well-known artist or a familiar, household slogan will be used to make the product even more tempting or attractive to onlookers. Giving personalized gifts at events like seminars, conferences or company meetings also help create an impact on the minds of potential clients.
Experiential marketing
Experimental marketing allows customers to experience and test a product or service before making the decision to buy it. There is personal experience involved, for example, at exhibitions, in store promotions or in road shows, and the success of the marketing depends on how user-friendly, convenient or practical the product is, as well as the quality of the promotional demonstration done for it. Rather than bringing products and services to a customer’s home, there is the opportunity to view it in a public environment without any pressure to purchase. The key is to make the whole experience enjoyable for customers, alongside experiencing how the product would fit into their own home or work environment.
Mobile marketing
The extensive and increasing use of mobile phones globally has opened the world to marketing products and services of various companies via these devices. Downloading ringtones, screensavers or music videos are only some of the ways in which companies conduct their marketing. Using text messages for advertising company products and services is another, and the quick response these generate from the user makes this form of advertising very user-friendly. The downside is that not many people like the intrusion of an advertisement on their mobile phone, and this can make mobile advertising a lot less popular than the other methods.
Mural advertising
Murals can be used to advertise company products while changing the look of a plain building into one that is colorful and striking to the eye. However, they can pose a challenge for an artist, especially if the building is large in size and, although creative, it can also turn out to be an expensive form of advertising.
Contests
This is an interactive way to get customers to buy a company’s products in exchange for entering a contest. The prize could be free food, cash or discount vouchers that can be used in the store or elsewhere. Some online contests direct the contestants to the company Web site, where their e-mail addresses are entered in return for receiving future marketing information from the company.
