Sell Your Car with Alfa Romeo

In order to spread the word about the low price of a new Alfa Romeo, the company took out ads on the side of bus shelters (as if a high=speed car chase in Quantum of Solace wouldn't raise interest enough). Adding a guerrilla marketing element to this new method of automobile product promotion, however, they made these ads into free classified posting zones, encouraging the people of Brussels to sell their own vehicles since the Alfa Romeo is now so affordable. As might be expected, the ads were soon covered in postings with photos of cars for sale, and whether or not any of the sellers actually went out and bought an Alfa Romeo afterward, they were doubtless grateful to the auto brand for providing them with a free marketplace.

[via IBelieveinAdvertising]

Alzheimer's Map

The Alzheimer Society of Hamburg wanted to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease - both the disease itself and its symptoms. They had promotional maps made of Hamburg with street and place names removed and distributed them in restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions throughout the city, catching people's attention by leaving them disoriented when they most needed directions - just like Alzheimer's disease itself.

This is a really clever promotion - it helps people empathize with Alzheimer's patients in real-world situations. According to the agency, it was quite successful, resulting in notable increases in calls and donations to the Alzheimer Society of Hamburg.

[via AdsoftheWorld]

Unconventional Job Listings

Shield Security wanted to make sure that its new hires had appropriate industry experience. The easiest way to do this was to recruit at existing security checkpoints, but how to do this discreetly? Steel letters embedded in their custom briefcases, of course. These letters would show up on the security scanner, alerting security personnel reading the x-rays to the new job opportunities at Shield.

I like this idea a lot - it's unusual and very accurately directed at the target audience. Plus, it keeps security checkers on their toes - with so many bags going through, for example, airline security, the steel letters will remind checkers that they have to pay attention.

[via IBelieveinAdv]

Snake Snack

Commuters in Copenhagen were recently faced with a giant snake apparently snacking on their bus in this clever guerrilla marketing advertisement for the city zoo. Whether or not they got on the bus or meekly waited for the next, normal-looking vehicle wasn't the point - they couldn't avoid the seeing the enormous boa constrictor and the accompanying ad copy proclaiming the Copenhagen Zoo "The Wildest Place in Town."

The placement of this ad is especially smart because everyone already has to look at buses, for simple reasons of road safety. Ads inside of buses limit their audience to people who use public transportation, but the outsides of the huge vehicles are better than billboard logos because they can't be ignored.