Out-of-the-Box Marketing Ideas

When it comes to marketing, most people think that you need an army of promoters, designers, and developers to launch a successful marketing campaign. But that’s not true.

All marketing is, is about creating a strategy, identifying your target audience and then executing it in a way that resonates with them, and that is no different than with out-of-home advertising such as billboards.

It can be a difficult process to get right but one of the best things about it is the opportunity for creativity and innovation along the way.

So, if you’re looking for some inspiration on how to do just that, we can help! We have put together this list of our favorite out-of-the-box marketing ideas that will help you stand out from the crowd and win customers over before they even know what hit them.

marketing ideas

What is An Out-of-Box Marketing Strategy?

Out of the box marketing comes down to one thing – data-driven marketing with emerging strategies.

For instance, if you choose to buy a placement on a billboard, using data technologies that measure traffic and the prospective reach is one thing, but merging that with custom URLs, hashtags, or QR codes creates an ecosystem that propels brand awareness and experience.

Below are ten out of the box marketing ideas that can help benefit you and your business.

Offer a Trade

If you have a product that has value and your customers don’t want it, they’ll probably be willing to trade something else instead. This is a great way to get rid of products that are too expensive to distribute or not selling well.

There are many ways you can offer trades:

  • Trade-in credit: Offer customers the option of trading in their old product for store credit toward future purchases. This can be especially useful when selling electronics or other expensive items that require replacement parts or repairs regularly.
  • Gift card swap: You could give out gift cards at the checkout counter when someone makes a purchase, but then offer them the option of also receiving an extra gift card for every item they trade in as well! This could double or triple your return on investment (ROI) from these discounted sales because people will actually buy another item with their first credit rather than just leaving empty handed—which happens more often than not when companies only offer one type of payment option during checkout processes like this one does.

digital marketing ideas

Use Digital Signage

Digital signage is the use of digital technology to promote products, services, events and brand messages on large displays in public locations – such as stadiums, shopping malls and terminals.

Digital signage serves a number of purposes including:

  • Promoting your business
  • Providing information to customers on where they can find what they’re looking for or what is happening in the area

Create a Scavenger Hunt

This is a great way to get your team or clients involved and increase brand awareness/loyalty.

Create a list of items, then take pictures or video of them in your office and store it online or across social media so your participants can see them.

On the day that you launch your scavenger hunt, send out an email with instructions for how to participate (you can also post on social media if you have room for more exposure). The instructions should include what image(s) are needed from each location, how participants will know when they’ve found the item(s) needed and other details like this one: “The first person who finds [an item] at [location] wins!”.

Make sure the prizes are worth winning! It’s always good to give away something that has value because it shows appreciation towards those who took time out of their busy days in order to participate. The prize doesn’t have to be big though; it just needs something special about it so people feel good about themselves after receiving one as opposed to feeling like they’re just some dumb loser who couldn’t find anything cool enough.

Use the Mail

  • Use the mail to send coupons, information about your business or products, and thank you cards.
  • Send holiday cards to customers, friends, and family that have expressed interest in your business.
  • Send birthday cards for every employee, including yourself! It’s important for employees to feel connected to the company beyond just working together on projects.

Go Mobile With Mobile Coupons or QR Codes

Using billboards or fuel pump advertising allows the use of QR codes.

QR codes saw a resurgence during the 2020 COVID lockdowns, and the momentum has not stopped.

QR codes can offer mobile coupons that are a great way to reach your audience and get them into your store. They can also be used in many ways. For example, you could offer free shipping on a certain day or time period, or coupons for discounts on items in your store. Mobile coupons are also helpful for getting people to try new things, like offering free samples at checkout counters.

Create a Viral Marketing Campaign

When you think of your content, don’t limit yourself to what’s on the paper in front of you.

Think about how you can add value to that content. For example, in a recent film “Smile”, the marketing team sent paid actors to baseball games to ‘Smile’ for the duration. The goal was to raise awareness but also to creatively expand the audience in a viral marketing effort.

Viral marketing combines out of home marketing with digital marketing and PR to produce word of mouth awareness.

Host an Event at Your Place of Business

Hosting an event at your business is a great way to get your brand in front of your customers. For example, if you’re a barber shop or salon, you can host an event where people come in for discounted haircuts. This is also a great way to build brand loyalty and engage with customers on a deeper level.

You don’t have to hold the event at your place of business either! You could host it off site and encourage people from all over town or even around the world to attend. This gives them something fun and entertaining while also bringing more traffic into your store or office space.

Give Away Swag

Gifting swag is a great way to get your name out there. The trick is to give away something that’s relevant to your business, useful for the customer, and not too expensive. A good example of this is offering an in-store coupon when people bring their pets in for grooming.

You should also try gifting things that will get people talking about your brand and put you at the forefront of their minds — like branded water bottles or reusable totes!

Go ‘Live’ on Social Media Platforms

Live video is a great way to connect with your audience. It’s a great way to show off your products, new or old. You can use live video to promote a new product or service, share information about your company, and even answer questions from people who are interested in what you have to offer.

Get Local Businesses Involved in a Larger Campaign

  • Think about how you can work with other businesses in your area.
  • Get them involved in a larger campaign, and ask them to promote your business for free.
  • Offer them a free service in return for their support.
  • Offer them a discount on one of your services or products if they agree to help promote it through their own channels (e.g., website, social media).
  • Give away free gifts to people who attend events at another business’s location (e.g., restaurant) as part of an event of yours that’s happening nearby—this could be tickets or gift certificates that they can use on their next visit!

marketing strategy session

Think Outside the Box for Creative Marketing Ideas

The best way to get creative marketing ideas is to think outside the box. If you are getting stuck on a project and need some inspiration, here are some ways to help you come up with unique ideas for your business:

  • Get on the internet! There are so many websites out there that provide excellent resources when it comes to searching for creative marketing ideas. There are also plenty of blogs and articles written by successful entrepreneurs who have used these techniques before.
  • Use what works! If an idea worked well in the past, there’s no reason why it won’t work again! Don’t be afraid of trying something again if enough time has passed since its initial success; after all, nothing beats experience when it comes down to figuring out how effective certain techniques can be at generating interest among potential customers.
  • Survey your audience! Go right to the source and ask what they want to see more of from your business or brand.

bMedia and Out-of-the-Box Marketing Ideas

Out of the box marketing ideas come in many shapes and sizes. While viral marketing worked for the team promoting a film, it’s best to consider your options, keep an open mind, and find a partner that can help you achieve your KPIs.

As a local leading media promotion company, our goal is to provide advertising avenues that make your message get through to your target market in order to solidify your brand image and / or increase your sales through impact, quality, innovation, and distinct services. We’re

Contact bMedia and learn more about our services and how we can help promote your business.

Billboard Marketing Strategy

In the world of advertising, there’s an old saying that stands the test of time: “Out of sight, out of mind.” This principle drives the importance of staying visible to your potential customers, and what better way to do so than through a strategic billboard marketing campaign? As a leading provider of outdoor media solutions in Puerto Rico, bMedia Group presents this comprehensive guide to help you create an effective billboard marketing strategy.

bmedia billboard advertising

Understanding Billboard Advertising

Billboard advertising is a form of outdoor advertising that provides large-scale promotions usually along highways, busy streets, and other prominent locations. This visibility makes them an excellent way to get your brand noticed.

Here’s why:

  • High Exposure: Billboards are seen by thousands of people every day, offering unrivaled reach.
  • Cost-Effective: When calculated per impression, billboards can be more cost-effective than other forms of advertising.
  • Brand Awareness: They’re ideal for boosting brand visibility and building brand identity.

Crafting Your Billboard Marketing Strategy

Crafting an effective billboard marketing strategy involves careful planning, creativity, and understanding of your target audience.

Here are some key steps to follow:

Define Your Goals

First, define what you want to achieve with your billboard advertising. Your goal could be increasing brand awareness, promoting a new product or service, or reaching a new audience segment.

Identify Your Audience

Understanding who your target audience is will dictate where you should place your billboards for maximum visibility. Consider demographics like age, occupation, income level, and interests.

Design Your Message

Less is more when it comes to billboard design. The average viewing time is about 5-10 seconds, so keep your message short, compelling, and easy to understand. Need some inspiration with your overall design? Here are some best practices.

Choose Your Locations

Location is critical in billboard advertising. Pick high-traffic areas where your target audience frequently passes by. For maximum exposure in Puerto Rico, bMedia Group offers a wide range of prime locations.

Set a Budget

The cost of billboard advertising can vary based on the size, location, and duration of the ad. Define your budget in advance and consult with your outdoor media provider to find options that suit your financial plan.

strategizing and meeting

Integrating Billboard Advertising Into Your Marketing Strategy

Billboard advertising should not stand alone but rather be integrated into your overall marketing strategy.

Here’s how you can achieve that:

  • Consistency is Key: Your billboards should reflect the same message and branding as your other marketing channels.
  • Drive Online Engagement: Use your billboard to drive traffic to your website or social media platforms. This could be through a call-to-action, a scannable QR code, or mentioning a hashtag.
  • Track Your Performance: Utilize tracking methods, like unique URLs or promotional codes, to measure the success of your billboard campaigns.

Billboard Advertising with bMedia

In today’s fast-paced digital world, the value of physical advertising channels like billboards can be overlooked. However, a well-executed billboard marketing strategy can deliver significant value to businesses. Whether you’re a local business in Puerto Rico or a multinational corporation, bMedia Group offers the experience and coverage to help your brand make a lasting impression.

Brand Amplification

The post-COVID landscape is fraught with competition between brands. Businesses with compelling messaging and impactful marketing can identify with their audience and stand head and shoulders above their competition – so long as they know which strengths and goals to amplify, of course. Brand amplification lets you attract more customers and bring together your existing ones, and it’s the key to building long-lasting brand loyalty and customer relationships.

Brand amplification done right makes lasting first impressions on your customers and keeps people thinking about your brand long after you make that great first impression.

Sounds great, right? We think so, too.

To that end, let’s cover what brand amplification is, why it’s so important, how to amplify your brand with billboards, and how to measure your brand amplification.

amplification

Brand Amplification: What It Means and Why You Need It

Let’s face it: these days, people who engage with a brand are looking for more than just industry-leading services and products. They’re looking for brands that share similar values and promote those values genuinely.

Why? Because it’s easier for a prospective customer to connect with (and trust) an organization that lives out its values authentically. Brand amplification communicates the heart of your brand by highlighting its values, stories, and core message.

Think about what makes your brand stand out from its competitors, what makes it unique, and why what it does is meaningful. These insights are the stepping stones to successfully amplifying your brand. The more insights you have into the core of your brand, the easier you can convey authentic, compelling stories to your audience.

By now you may be wondering, “Do I really need brand amplification to be competitive?” If you want to build an experience that’s consistent across your customer touch-points, then the answer is a resounding “Yes!”

A well-thought-out, articulated strategy for your brand benefits more than just your audience. The most effective brand strategies give your staff members and third-party agencies a brand hierarchy that lets them establish consistency across customer touch-points. From the typeface on your website’s landing page to the logo you use on all your products, articulated brand strategies impact all your key assets.

Above all, though, brand amplification defines the type of business you want to build. It identifies the type of people you want to employ, the values you stand behind, and, of course, the values you adamantly oppose.

Now that you know a little bit more about brand amplification and why it’s so important to have, it’s time to dig into the nitty-gritty of actually amplifying your brand: let’s dive into some ways you can amplify your brand using billboards.

brand amplification billboard

How to Amplify Your Brand with Billboards

In today’s hyperconnected world, it’s true that ads on social media tend to dominate the marketing landscape. The popularity that social media ads enjoy may lead some to believe that billboards are no longer a viable form of marketing – this couldn’t be farther from the truth!

Whereas social media ads are often complex and sometimes vague and ambiguous, billboards are reliably straightforward and simple. There are plenty of ways to build a billboard campaign that’s effective and impactful, but we’ve picked a few tips that you simply can’t go without when using billboards for brand amplification.

1. Keep things simple

When designing a billboard, it can be tempting to cram as much info as possible onto your billboard. After all, you’ve got a lot to say about your brand, right? As great as it is to be passionate about your messages and values, though, too much content on one billboard can make it tough to distill your brand down into a single image.

Rather than include as much content as possible, it’s best for your billboard to concisely convey what your brand can do for its customers. What do you have that your target audience may be searching for? Is there info you think may intrigue someone to find out more about what you offer? These are the questions to keep in mind when building out your first billboards – just remember to keep everything as simple as possible.

2. Use geography to your advantage

When it comes to getting your billboards in front of more interested eyes, geography is your best friend. You’ll want to determine your target audience’s most common locations and habits so that you can get more eyes on it quickly.

If your target audience is mostly in a smaller geographical area, you may also want to consider using locally relevant billboards to get impactful results. Thinking of running a billboard campaign to target an audience in San Juan, for example? Try weaving in something unique to the city that may not resonate as well with the rest of Puerto Rico.

3. Use digital billboards for more dynamic marketing

As much as we love the simplicity and reliability that traditional billboards offer, there’s something to be said about the flexibility that digital billboards provide. Digital billboards let your marketers make things more dynamic since they can run different designs during different times of the day. Want to display one design during the early morning and another after the sun sets? Digital billboards have you covered.

Digital boards are particularly handy if you’re still tinkering with brand logos and product images. You can take a couple of risks using different designs without having to double down on a single board design that’s tied to your marketing budget.

billboard brand amplification

Measuring Your Brand Amplification

Don’t forget that once you’ve taken the above tips to heart, you’ll want to start measuring how successful your brand amplification is. We recommend that you keep an eye on spikes and dips in your website traffic, the number of shares and comments you get on your social channels, and increases in customer phone calls. You can use tools like Google Analytics to monitor the bounce rates on your website’s pages and Facebook to monitor your audience engagement and tie that engagement to recent posts you’ve shared.

Successful brand amplification doesn’t happen overnight; realistically, you can expect to spend at least a couple of months settling into a rhythm and locking down a brand voice you like. Once you find your groove, however, we guarantee that you’ll begin building trust and recognition among your target audience!

How To Promote a Startup Business

Starting your own business can be scary, right? When you have a great idea, putting the plan into motion can be daunting as you want your business to succeed, but a lot of startup businesses fail within the first few years. What makes these startups fail and how can you avoid it happening to yours?

One of the main reasons that startup businesses fail is down to a lack of advertising and promotion. If your business isn’t promoted, how will people know who you are? When people don’t know about your startup, the more likely that it is to fail. How can this be avoided to make sure that your business is well-known?

This article will teach you how to promote a startup business to make sure that your ideas are shown to the world and made successfully. You can find out more about how to promote your startup business below to generate interest and popularity for your brand.

how to promote a startup

Getting Your Startup Noticed

Getting your startup noticed can be easier said than done, but it is very important to promote your business to make sure that it generates interest to make it successful.

Having a marketing strategy is a great way to make sure that your startup reaches its target audience in the most effective way possible.

Create A Marketing Strategy

The most important things to think about when you are creating a marketing strategy are how you are going to introduce your products or services to people, who needs your products or services, and what exactly you are trying to sell.

They are the most important questions that need to be answered to create your marketing strategy to promote your startup.

Research Your Target Audience

To make your marketing strategy as effective as possible, it is important to thoroughly research your target audience.

By researching your target audience, you will be able to market your products or services to them in the most effective way to make sure that they become familiar with your startup, thus generating more business.

Research Your Competitors

Knowing who your competitors are will help you to differentiate your startup from other businesses.

When you have a unique selling point, you will be able to promote your business in a different way to make it stand out in the market. Your target audience will then become more attracted to your business as they will be aware of what makes you unique.

Purchase Target Market Research From Other Companies

When you are starting your business, it is important to make sure that you research your target market to make sure that you successfully reach your target audience.

Purchasing research from other companies allows you to start creating your marketing strategy sooner, but you will still need to carry out your own research for the best results.

promoting a startup business

How To Promote Your Startup

Once you have researched your target audience, you will be more aware of what the best way to reach them is.

There are many different ways that you can promote your startup, and your target market research may indicate that there is more than one way to advertise to your target audience.

Out Of Home Advertising (OOH Advertising)

A great way to reach your target audience is to advertise out of home (OOH). By using various eye-catching tools that will promote your business to a wider audience.

Only using one form of advertising is not good for your business as your business will not be promoted across a wider scale.

OOH advertising is able to reach a wider audience as your advertisements will have people’s attention drawn to them.

When you do not use OOH advertising, your startup will not be present to people and it will not remain in their minds. Using OOH advertising will generate interest and keep your business at the forefront of your target audience’s minds.

Using Billboards For OOH Advertising

Billboards are an incredibly effective way to advertise your startup as they build brand awareness.

It is important to make sure that your startup develops its brand awareness as this helps people to become familiar with your business, its products, its services, and what you can offer them.

As they have been around for centuries, billboards are very eye-catching and when they are positioned in busy areas, they can generate brand recognition. By using the same colors and logos on your billboards, your brand awareness will become very high level due to people becoming more familiar with your brand.

Other Forms Of Advertising

Although hiring billboards in high-traffic areas can seem expensive, the interest that they generate will promote your brand and build your brand awareness to a high level.

There are other cheaper ways of advertising like through social media and leaflets, but eye-catching billboards in high-traffic areas will generate incredible interest.

Social media marketing and paid advertising can reach a wide range of people, but they may neglect other target audiences that do not use social media. You can also advertise in news articles as these can be both online and in print, allowing your brand to reach a wider demographic.

How Effective Are Billboards?

Billboards are highly effective as when they are situated in popular areas, they can build brand awareness and brand recognition.

You can see how successful your advertising strategies are by regularly checking your social growth and website traffic. These will indicate how your brand awareness has increased as a result of advertising.

If your target market is a younger audience, social media advertising may be your first thought when advertising. However, using billboards increases your reach as more people will be able to become familiar with your brand. Positioning the billboards in busy areas like shopping malls or highways will reach thousands of people every day.

promoting a startup business

To conclude, it is important to promote your startup business as this will help you to generate more interest and prevent your startup from failing.

Advertising is very important for making sure that you reach your target market, but you need to make sure that you advertise your startup effectively so that your brand awareness increases.

Using OOH advertising is vital for improving your brand recognition, and using billboards can help to reach a wider audience.

In highly populated areas, billboards can generate high levels of reach that will help your business succeed and grow.