Admit it! Facebook and Google advertising are the leaders and they very much control what we should or should not put on our ads. This has really grown really STALE! At times, we are just begging and yelling out for ideas and they are never forthcoming.
Where’s the box?
How many times have we been told to ‘think outside the box’ and to innovate and be creative, but we failed so miserably? Have we missed the box? Do you even know where to start? Perhaps you should really stop thinking so literally. Perhaps it is the thought process. Let’s try to change that and see where it leads us. We listed some pretty cool ‘radical’ ideas which you might incorporate into your marketing campaigns besides the usual big players.
Buzzfeed Sponsored Quiz
Facebook walls are filled with them. You would have seen questions like:
- Which Avenger Character are you?
- How many kids will you have in the future?
- At what age will you become a millionaire?
- When will you meet your dream lover?
Buzzfeed Quizzes are those that either you love it or you don’t. But whichever side that’s going to be, they work very well because this is a way to get users to tell you a bit about themselves.
Maps for travelers
You can try sponsoring maps that are used by travelers. It is the age of backpackers and the paper and foldable maps are just good for them, especially when they come with promo codes and other printed messages. Travelers can use Waze and such but they will appreciate these folded maps that have the essentials that they want.
Expand from conventional advertising
Standard billboards have specific dimensions and sizes. You can always use the size to your advantage. Add 3-D objects to make your ad stand out. It makes a lot of difference and a lot of recall when you do. Being creative here will enjoy higher rates of brand recall.
Some common but effective methods
One thing for sure, there are common methods and ideas that will surely sell. We cannot deviate too far from these ideas because they have been around for a long time and have not changed much because they are almost sure to work every time.
- Sex sells – The messaging and suggestions would always draw the attention you seek in your ads. No one said there must be profanities or sexy images. Suggestive innuendos will always draw in the audience.
- Words and text – Being creative with your ads will mean being clever in word-play. Use the right words and your ad will stand out. Using the wrong ones too might work. But using the forgettable ones will make your ad forgettable as well.
- Pop Culture – Be in the know of what is happening currently and stay abreast too. The latest movie characters or the current reality TV show star. They will help push your ads to greater heights for sure.
- Use puns when possible. The images will be the ones that tell the story for you. When you do this, it is all about the word and text used. Let your ad be a joke and they will remember it as such.
- Animals – A lot of people don’t know this but cute animals in ads are just as effective as sexy images
- Post your brands – Let users post your brands for you. The large Instagram frame is one of the most popular gimmicks used in events. When they post in their Instagram, you get great leverage.
Sounds and Videos
Remember that doorbell sound as you enter 7-Eleven? That is perhaps one of the most recognized tones in the world today. And that quick 2-second sound from Intel Processor? You should create a simple jingle for your brand. No doubt it can be annoying but that’s the market of advertising. And then, there will always be the video part of advertising. Enough has been said about how powerful video advertising is and how it can reach your target audience the way you want it.
Revisit old ads (that worked!)
If your brand had an ad that was successful (or failed badly) in the past, remaking it might give it a bit of a boost. This is all the more effective if the ad was really impactful in the past. Giving it a new take this decade will remind your customers and they will not stop talking about it.
Facebook Live
If you are in retail, Facebook Live could be a nice option. Broadcasting your business live might be a new thing but once you get the hang of it, you should be able to get a lot more viewers when you are on air. Periscope is another app that you can consider.
Make a movement
Remember the mannequin challenge or the Ice Bucket challenge? Those are movements that created quite a stir. Make no mistake about this. Those movements were so big, it spread across the world via videos recorded by users and uploading them onto their social media accounts. Such challenges might be quite simple and silly even, but when it starts rolling, people cannot stop.
