What do you do when you lack funds and need a way to cut through the noise and reach people in new ways when your traditional marketing strategies aren’t working? For many, guerrilla marketing is the answer. What is Guerrilla Marketing? The concept of guerrilla marketing is derived from the idea of guerrilla warfare. It’s a gritty, under-the-radar approach that aims to disarm the competition through clever, creative, and unforeseen methods that are unique and organic. In the context of warfare, guerilla marketing tactic are predicated on the element of surprise. Armies use sabotage, ambushes, raids, and decentralized fighting forces to overwhelm much stronger enemies with unpredictable attacks. And while guerilla marketing isn’t nearly as intense, it’s equally as creative. The term “guerrilla marketing” was coined by business writer and entrepreneur Jay Conrad Levinson in the early 1980s. The father of the movement wrote numerous books about so-called guerrilla tactics and his thoughts surrounding marketing have become increasingly relevant in the digital age. The goal of guerrilla marketing is to play on the element of surprise. This approach is effective for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it yields benefits like: Memorability & Recall  What was the last great billboard you remember seeing? Can you recall a recent TV commercial or piece of digital content that you engaged with? Most people struggle to recall anything beyond the last couple of days. And when people do recall an ad, it’s only because it was unique. The entire premise of guerrilla marketing is to be unique. When you execute well, there’s much better recall and superior long-term benefits. Budget-friendly While there are plenty of expensive guerrilla marketing campaigns, the beauty of this strategy is that you can execute on a minuscule budget. This provides a wealth of new opportunities for business owners who don’t have access to four-, five-, and six-figure marketing campaigns. Viral Marketing Potential  In today’s internet and social media age, clever marketing gets recognized and shared. If you execute well, your outdoor guerrilla marketing strategy could go viral. This increases exposure exponentially and provides a massive return on investment. While traditional ads still have a place in today’s marketplace, people are becoming less and less attuned to standard billboards, flyers, and banner ads. The only way to stand out is to do something unique and different. guerrilla marketing plays on this idea by initiating clever marketing campaigns that stand out above the rest. 10 guerrilla Marketing Tactics A Guerrilla marketing campaign is at its best when it’s unique, instantly relatable, and able to be shared. (This latter aspect increases its potential for virality). Here are some marketing ideas you can use to inspire your own campaigns: 1. Go Totally Opposite of the Competition If you notice everyone in your industry moving in one direction toward an obvious angle, it could be a good tactic to temporarily move in the opposite direction. (We say “could” because this isn’t necessarily true in every industry – particularly ones with sensitive subject matter.) Let’s say, for example, that every one of your competitors is talking about how they offer the lowest or best price. You could run a guerrilla marketing campaign where you talk about how you offer the highest price. It can be done so in both a tongue-in-cheek manner, as well as a serious proposition that positions you as the authority figure and leader in quality. When you take a strong contrarian stance, people take notice. And though there will always be a certain faction of people who are turned off, many will be magnetized to what makes you unique. If nothing else, your brand will be memorable. 2. Try Unique Business Cards Who says business cards have to be boring? Even a small slip of paper can provide an opportunity to engage in . And while it may cost you significantly more on a per-unit basis, clever cards can make a huge statement.guerrilla marketing campaigns Examples of creative business cards include: A cosmetic surgeon who used circular latex inserts within a woman’s profile to create the appearance of enlarged breast implants. A cheese shop that found a way to incorporate small metal graters into the card’s surface, which created a functional, pocket-sized cheese grater. A tearable business card for a divorce lawyer (featuring contact information on both sides of the tear. A foam business card that comes rolled up in a rubber band. Upon unrolling, you realize that it’s a mini yoga mat. A personal trainer’s stretchy business card that resembles an elastic resistance band. A seed packet and other businesses card for a lawn care company. (Contains actual seeds inside the envelope-style card.) We often think of business cards as a boring and predictable piece of marketing unconventional marketing. However, even traditional elements such as this can be utilized as clever guerrilla-style “attacks” for increasing engagement. 3. Leverage User-Generated Content Sometimes it’s best to let your hair down a little and not take your brand too seriously. You aren’t the only one who can create content for your brand. In fact, your customers might even be better equipped to do so. And it’s for this reason that sharing user-generated content on your website and social media platforms can be effective. User-generated content works especially well when you have a rabid fanbase who is skilled at creating visual content like images, videos, and creative designs using your products. Fashion and athletic wear brands are good examples. By getting people to post pictures wearing the attire, companies can repost for free and highly-effective social proof that outperforms the efficacy of paid content with professional models. 4. Street Marketing Street marketing is one of the classic use cases of guerrilla marketing. It provides an outlet for almost unlimited creativity. And when compared to other categories, this tends to generate the most noticeable impact and chance for virality. (It can also be among the most expensive options, depending on how you execute.) Two specific examples come to mind. The first guerrilla marketing … Continue reading Guerrilla Marketing Strategies: 10 Creative Marketing Ideas