Have you taken notice of some seriously shocking advertising campaigns that have taken place over the last decade?
With the increasing number of entrepreneurs trying to get their businesses off the ground, the easier it is for them to fall by the wayside.
In today’s market, it’s important to be seen; to be remembered.
To do this, organizations need the power of persuasion; the power of the masses and to dare to be different.
The 21st century brings a new method to the advertising madness. These days, we hear a lot about the fact that content marketers need to be storytellers. But that story has to be about a great product, ideal or agenda, otherwise customers can see right through it.
Take, for example, Sir Richard Branson, British tycoon, founder of Branson Group and CEO of Virgin Group. He authored a book titled “Screw Business as Usual,” and is in the process of perfecting the world’s first commercial passenger spaceship, the Virgin Galactic VSS Enterprise.
That’s two-fold shocking.
Sex Always Sells
Remember back in 2002, when Goldenpalace.com fashioned a henna tattoo on the very muscular back of champion middleweight boxer, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins to promote their website? It caused quite a stir among advertisers, reporters and consumers alike (especially when it ran down his back after a round of sweating).
Using athletes and model’s bodies to promote a product may infuriate naysayers but it always captures attention.
What about the (in)famous wardrobe malfunction that the NFL so cleverly fashioned…or did they? JT and Janet (Miss Jackson if you’re nasty) will never tell.
No matter the product — jeans, food, beauty, etc — throwing in sexual content almost always works.
In a Nikon ad, you can see through the digital screen two young ladies in their bras and underwear toying with each other on a hotel bed. Axe body wash has launched a huge marketing campaign with muddy and dirty women and men in all settings.
Also, there’s a Wonderbra advertisement that shows a beautiful blonde, busty woman in a bra with lots of cleavage and states, “I can’t cook. Who cares?”
Improving Upon the Norm
Getting crafty is the name of the game in this innovation advertising world.
Vancouver-based yoga studio, FLOW created unconventional foam business cards that roll up like a yoga mat. While a professional card player may use a poker chip as his “business card,” a musician can print their information on a guitar pick.
These are memorable experiences.
What about a hairstylist? Have the business card printing for less company design a card, so they’re in the shape of a comb.
Boom — standing out.
Poop, The Universal Language
We recently caught wind of a new marketing technique found only in the bathroom.
Yes, we all go there.
What else is there to do but sit patiently on the john and look at your phone? Two brothers in New York created a company that prints ads on rolls of toilet paper … brilliant! The company’s website says the toilet tissue itself is perfectly comfortable, safe and, best of all, printed with vegetable oil-based ink and is non-abrasive (thank you).
Food, People Love to Eat
Imagine there’s a knock at your door.
It’s fine you’re expecting pizza and wings. But what you weren’t expecting was that box to have a coupon for dog grooming (you were going to make an appointment for little Schnitzel B tomorrow) and $4 off an oil change (which you actually need to do as well).
Pizza box advertising is a bit of an unconventional method, but food always sparks people’s interests.
With business comes ingenuity. Don’t let these little advertising tricks get to you. Companies have to go to great lengths to stand out from the rest. And as the media becomes more allowing, we keep pushing the envelope. Go big or go home, right?
Blogger, entrepreneur, digital marketing consultant and recording artist. I make money online and teach others how to do the same.
"You’re such a smart boy!" were his first accolades heard. So, it’s no wonder that this phrase became the title of his business, Smart Boy Designs.