Photo via Ivan Rodic
I have always wanted to be involved in ‘grassroots marketing campaigns’ that reach real people. It seems like the best way to do this would be to become ‘a bro holding up a sign on the side of the street.’ I feel like this strategy might have been stolen from homeless people, usually using their lil sign to let people know that they are ‘hungry’ or that they would ‘welcome any sort of cash donation’ towards their survival fund.
The truth is, online advertising might not even work–mainly because not every one uses the internet. Did you know that only 10% of the world uses the internet (uncited). Did you know that only 1% of the world has a ’smartphone’ (uncited)? Did you know that only 10K units of iPhones have been sold (uncited)? Did you know that only 34% of the world has an email address, while 100% of the world has a physical street address (uncited)? So while you may think that the whole world is a savvy consumer just like you, the way the world works is completely different. While ‘banner ads on websites’ might reach ’stuck up Gen Y a-holes from all of the world’, a more effective marketing campaign on a microscale might involve ‘holding up a sign on the streets telling consumers about your product.’
For example, these bros have a lemonade stand in their suburban neighborhood. They are letting drivers know that they have Lemonade and Bottled Water for sale, and that proceeds will help to clean water in Liberia. They utilized graphic design, computers, markers, and laserjet printers to break through society’s ‘noise’ and enable potential customers to ‘get their message.’
This pizza parlor is letting consumers know that they have ‘cheap ass pizzas’, possibly between the hours of 4-6 pm, when moms are driving their kids home from school and need a ‘cheap dinner option.’ Sometimes, u have to have a cheap product to tap into the ‘impulse buy’ economy.
If you do the math, you basically have to hire some ‘poor person with minimal pride/awareness of the world’ to stand outside with the sign, possibly for $10 per hour. I would avoid hiring young people, since they tend to ‘look ashamed’/'disinterested’ in holding up the sign, since they unintentionally outsourced their brand. It seems better to have a ’serious old person’ who thinks they have a real job, or possibly a ‘crazy old man’ who will wave to people and be a jovial extension of your brand. It is important not to hire a krazy homeless man, since he might scare customers away, even if he has tons of experience in professional sign holding.
It also seems like the seasonal tax services industry also utilize the gimmick ‘having some person stand outside in a Statue of Liberty costume.’ It reminds poor people driving by that they are ‘too dumb’ to do taxes, and need to get them done for a small fee at their local tax office.
Always remember that you have to ‘go to the streets’ to reach real people. While internet advertising ‘looks kewl’, sometimes u have to reach low-end consumers with your low-end product. I believe in the power of holding up signs on the side of the road.
‘Know your customer.’
-Warren Buffet, CEO of Chili’s Fun Foods Corp
Previous ’shitty marketing jobs’ coverage: Guy sitting at a table representing a brand
http://www.hipsterrunoff.com/2009/08/hello-i-am-a-guy-sitting-at-a-table-i-represent-a-brand-i-want-to-sell-you-something-that-you-are-not-interested-in-buying.html
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IAmCarles.com
18 Comments
first
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FIGHT SMACK IN THE ORPHANAGE EVERYONE. THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO BE HAPPENEING PLEASE BUY A SHIRT OR PERHAPS ‘LIVING STRONG’ TYPE OF BRACELET. PEASE BE WITH YOU.
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//////////Reply by al x
//////////Posted September 15th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
@chukkie, orphans are doing smack?
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‘I HOPE BEERS SOLD IN HELL’ CLAIMED AN ORPHAN SAVED BY FSITO WHILE IN WITHDRAWAL. HE COULD NEVER AFFORD SPARX ONLY PBR.
-FORGIVE THE ERRORS POSTED FROM A FUCKING IPHONE
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//////////Reply by vdieselfor20
//////////Posted September 13th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
@chukkie, lol (posted via facebook mobile)
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//////////Reply by gnar sesh
//////////Posted September 13th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
@vdieselfor20, hahaha never forgive. never forget.
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utilize the gimmick
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two successful shoe salesmen from competing firms are sent to Africa to sell shoes to this wonderful new market. Next day they both phone back and the first shoe salesmen says “no one wears shoes here, it’s no good y’all”. The other calls his firm and says, “no one wears shoes here, bring all of our stock, ASAP Y’ALL”.
based on a true story via the world wide web.
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That man is wearing a brandwich.
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I’m starving and would kill for a 5 dollar little caesars pizza
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those people that spin signs on the side of the road are mad distracting
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what does this have to do with hipster culture?
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//////////Reply by le CEECEE
//////////Posted September 13th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
@relevancy police,
zany life
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//////////Reply by Madi B
//////////Posted September 14th, 2009 at 10:13 am
@relevancy police,
FUCK THE POLICE!
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r u training 2 b a business teacher or wut
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kinna like lil caesars, yall…
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LOL, Carles. 95% of the shit I read on the internet should be followed with “(uncited)”. You may have just introduced your most significant meme.
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saw a bro yesterday who did tricks with his sign. he was throwing it, catching it, spinning it, and dancing while listening to his ipod. its sad that ppl are forced to use ‘uppers’ to maintain a real job in the world.
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//////////Reply by Madi B
//////////Posted September 14th, 2009 at 10:12 am
@cabdriver, i done did it.
hurts like a bitch when you catch the sign at an angle.
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i once worked at a little ceasers.
i was the girl in the short shorts
and hot n ready t-shirt.
i was paid to shake my ass.
minimum wage @ minimum age.
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I like to express my personal brand here in your comments section where I will try to capitalize on your immense comment traffic. My personal brand is all about farting.
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I like to express my personal brand here in your comments section where I will try to capitalize on your immense comment traffic. My personal brand is all about farting. It should read “I farted”.
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This IS shameless – getting a little girl to hold up a sign – and dragging her out to the street to delude peeps into thinking shopping is fun again.
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This IS shameless – getting a little girl to hold up a sign – and dragging her out to the street to delude peeps into thinking shopping is fun again.
http://www.style.com/slideshows/trendsshopping/stylenotes/091009_Astrid_Munoz/08m.jpg
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