We live in a social media marketing ruled age. Print media is still slowly dying; things like DVR’s, Netflix, and Hulu plus have ruled commercials almost obsolete. And good luck even thinking about email campaigns or cold calling. The face and strategies of marketing have changed so drastically in the past few years. So much that most traditional strategies I learned in college are null and void, and I’m only 3 years removed!

But every so often I see or here glimpses of good old fashioned Guerilla Marketing. What is guerilla marketing? According to Wikipedia:

What is Guerrilla Marketing?

“Guerrilla marketing is an advertising strategy in which low-cost unconventional means (graffiti, sticker bombing, flash mobs) are utilized, often in a localized fashion or large network of individual cells, to convey or promote a product or an idea. The term guerrilla marketing is easily traced to guerrilla warfare which utilizes atypical tactics to achieve a goal in a competitive and unforgiving environment.”

Examples

Other examples of this are street teams, road tours, and brand ambassadors. This can be a breathe of fresh air in a world where digital marketing rules. Call me old fashioned; but sometimes its nice to see businesses large and small put fourth to engage their consumers face to face. Two prime examples of this are BMW America and the Hostess. BMW holds a countrywide tour each summer called “The Ultimate Driving Experience”. They send brand ambassadors around the country driving BMW’s making stops at dealerships giving customers the chance to test drive the cars as well as the top competitors. And if you remember in my last blog, Hostess had a sweeter approach; in where they hit major cities and gave away free Twinkies.

These examples are large well known businesses but that doesn’t mean smaller businesses can’t participate as well. Smaller businesses can focus on their communities. Put up stickers around town, give away t-shirts or small items with your brand name, or try and orchestrate a flash mob, who knows. The more you make an effort to physically engage your consumer base the more beneficial over time. It’s just another way to get your name out there, especially closer to home.