INTRODUCTION No matter what product or service you’re selling, it’s important to promote your
brand in a way that gives you the biggest possible audience. To achieve this, you should exploit every
promotional avenue available, which can include effective yet unconventional methods
that many companies overlook. Let’s explore some off-the-beaten-track
VIDEOS
Who doesn’t watch videos on the Internet? These days, it’s a simple matter to create a video and post it on the web. A humorous and/or attention-grabbing video can literally make your brand famous overnight. YouTube is a popular site for posting videos, but don’t overlook Vine, a relative newcomer among video sharing services. Vine specializes in snappy six-second video clips designed for quick consumption.
INFOGRAPHICS Infographics present information in a visually compelling way, using
graphs, illustrations, and other design elements to communicate relevant facts. It’s a great way to
grab the attention of consumers who don’t like to read large blocks of text.
Research has shown that people remember visually presented data more
It’s a simple concept:
Post a photo on your website (or social media account) and invite the public to
send a witty caption that fits the image. These contests often provide a small prize,
usually cash or merchandise, to the winner. To maximize the publicity value of
the contest, try to tie the photo to your products or services in
CAPTION CONTESTS
INTERNET POLLS Most people love having an opportunity to voice their option. Inviting customers
to participate in an opinion poll is a good way to attract attention to your brand.
There are many free-ofcharge poll generator tools available on the Internet,
like websitepollcreator.com. These tools allow you to
EBOOKS From web pages to mystery novels, reading materials tend to be consumed on handheld devices nowadays, and this trend is likely to increase as technology makes this option even more convenient. One way to capitalize on this trend is to create an authoritative eBook on a subject that relates to your products or services. If you don’t want to write an eBook from scratch, you may be able to repurpose old blog posts or articles.
COMIC STRIPS Like so many types of media, comic strips have successfully
made the transition to the Internet. Comic strips provide a simple way to communicate with your
audience, and a really funny strip may even “go viral.” Don’t worry—creating your own comic strip is a snap. There are several widely used comiccreation tools out there on the Internet, such as
WEBINARS Otherwise known as a web-based seminar, this is a presentation that is broadcast over the
Internet via video conferencing software. Many webinars take the form of a lecture on a particular topic. It’s another good way to position yourself as an authority on a specific subject. Some webinars allow real-time communication between the presenters and the audience, often via voice chat or text box.
Founded in 2002, Artex Group creates custom embroidered patches and emblems for a wide range of organizations. To date, the company has sold more than 25 million
patches to clients around the world. Artex Group is based in Fairview, North Carolina. http://www.artexgroup.net/
866.845.1042
Sources • http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/i nternet-marketing-trends-and-tactics2014-infographic • http://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2014/ 06/12/marketing-ideas • http://websitepollcreator.com/ • http://stripgenerator.com/
Summary • To market your brand effectively, you should consider looking beyond conventional marketing strategies. Videos, webinars, comic strips, and interactive polls are just a few effective yet commonly overlooked branding options available today.