The world of marketing is constantly evolving, with new concepts and ideas making their way onto our television screens, internet pages, and streets on an often daily basis. The world wide web is only a couple of decades old itself, and the relatively young idea of using social media, online content and other forms of digital marketing is newer still. When you think about how quickly that trends can change in the media today, with mobile technology on an ever-increasing rise and new social addictions such as vine, Instagram and twitter filling up the airwaves, it’s clear to see that the smartest marketer will always be prepared for the next big thing. Sometimes, it’s the concepts that don’t seem like they’re going to work that offer the best possible results, and in recognition of that, The Trending Buzz is here to provide you with an insight into the strange marketing strategies you might not have considered before.
Make Everything a Competition
[quote_right]Keep competition healthy: No fights to the death over the last gold bracelet[/quote_right]On a basic level, this seems a little bit petty and childish, but stay with me. As much as we might like to deny it, human beings are extremely competitive as a species. It’s a trait that runs down to the very core of our DNA, forcing us to continuously strive to have the most, be the best, get there faster, do that quicker. Using the idea of competition and games as a marketing concept is effective because it ignites this competitive streak within us, and the more interactive your company or brand is, the more likely consumers are to connect with whatever it is you are selling.
Keep Your Eye on the Rumour Mill
[quote_right]Obviously, finding out that the CEO is having an affair, doesn’t count as relevant info[/quote_right] You have to be careful with rumours. If my time at school taught me anything, it’s that not everything you hear in the playground is true – and this applies equally well to the marketing world. Although not everything you’re going to learn about will be reliable information (make sure to check your sources), you might find that you learn something important from listening to the people in your industry gossip. Do your best to get involved with as many community events as possible, and speak to colleagues whenever you have a chance, this will give you the opportunity to pick up some vital information, including what customers aren’t happy with about your competitors. If you know the things that your market like, and dislike, about the other people in your industry, you’ll be more prepared to beat them.
Make Everything Personal
[quote_right]Keep the interest in your customers to a pre-stalker level[/quote_right]
This doesn’t mean tracking down personal information about each and every customer you have so that you can ask them how their Aunty Dora is doing the next time they log on to buy a pair of socks. Just remember that just because you’re running a business, doesn’t mean that everything has to be corporate and straight-laced. You are allowed to have a little bit of fun. Come up with slogans and marketing campaigns that apply to you, and try to make sure that everything you do keeps the customer you’re working for in mind. After all, without the client or consumer, no business would survive. Think about the latest craze with Coca-Cola products, nothing’s physically changed about the drink itself, but as soon as they brought out bottles with people’s names on, people were flocking to the shelves to find one that was personal to them.
Act like A Snob
Acting like a snob can be a difficult technique to do right. You definitely don’t want to go around telling your customers that you’re too good for them, or that they’re not elite enough to shop at your store, but developing a careful amount of snobbishness can help to generate attention in your direction. Recently, a mustard manufacturer opened up a closed Facebook group for a society of people with ‘Good taste’, where all members were carefully screened before admittance. Try to think of fun and exclusive things that you can do on social media for your fans and customers, you may not be able to use snobbish behaviour as the centre for your entire marketing campaign, but it can be a fun way to generate a bit of extra buzz.
