What's one unconventional advertising tactic you've seen success with? What advice would you give others trying to replicate it?

One of the Saas clients we worked with wanted to get small business owners in the U.S. to use their software so we sent $5 Visa gift cards in the mail to a very precise segment of local business owners along with an individualized note and specific action copy that linked directly to the customer's LP. Though the campaign cost per recipient was higher than typical email or social ads, the open and visit rate was above 70%, and conversions were over 3x our previous cold outreach endeavors. Holding the physical asset in their hands broke through digital fatigue and grounded the option as real, personal and trustworthy. For anyone else attempting to do this, I can tell you that precision and authenticity really matter. Focus on high-fit prospects to give the gift they are most likely to find relevant and make the landing page experience seamless (no long forms, just a simple next step). Make the message short, centered around one reward, and connect it directly to the value being delivered by your SaaS. And it's so essential to monitor ROI closely. For us, the long-term value of sales qualified leads far surpassed our initial investment. When the audience least expects it is when this works best — and that's really the point of this tactic.

One of the most unconventional advertising tactics I have seen deliver strong results is what I call "contextual surprise placement." Several years ago, while consulting for a global consumer electronics brand, we faced a saturated market where conventional digital ads blended into the background. Instead of fighting for attention in the usual digital and physical spaces, we identified highly specific, often-overlooked micro-moments in the customer journey and placed our brand messaging there. For example, we negotiated with a popular ride-sharing app to sponsor in-app messages that only appeared when a user's ride was delayed or rerouted. The message offered a branded playlist and an exclusive discount code for our noise-canceling headphones, positioned as a way to improve a frustrating wait. This tactic brought two key advantages. First, it reached customers at an emotionally charged moment, making the message relevant and memorable. Second, it side-stepped the ad blindness typical in standard channels. Measuring direct conversions, we saw a higher-than-expected redemption rate and significant lift in brand recall for those exposed to these timely messages compared to control groups. For those looking to replicate this approach, my advice is to start by mapping the entire customer journey in granular detail. Identify not just the obvious touchpoints, but the hidden moments of friction or anticipation that competitors ignore. Then seek partnerships with platforms or services that own those moments, even if they are outside traditional advertising channels. The creative challenge is crafting messaging that feels native and genuinely helpful in that context, rather than opportunistic. From my experience leading ECDMA initiatives and consulting for global brands, the real impact comes when you surprise your audience with relevance where they least expect it. This demands operational agility and a willingness to experiment with nontraditional partners, but when executed thoughtfully, it can cut through the noise far more effectively than increasing spend on mainstream ads.

One unconventional tactic that's worked for me is turning high-value, educational media interviews into micro-ad campaigns. Instead of running traditional ads, I've taken a 30-60 second clip from a podcast or video interview where I'm giving useful, non-promotional advice, added captions and a subtle CTA, and run it to a highly targeted audience. Because it feels like organic thought leadership rather than an ad, engagement and watch time are significantly higher, and leads come in warmer. My advice: pick clips that solve a specific problem, keep the tone authentic, and lead viewers to the next step without a hard sell.

One unconventional advertising tactic that's worked really well at Ranked is geo-targeted micro-campaigns using community creators instead of broad national ads. Instead of pouring budget into generic display or social campaigns, we partnered with micro and nano creators in specific neighborhoods, ZIP codes, or local scenes, letting them authentically promote products and collect insights in real time. For example, for a sneaker launch, we activated creators across five key urban ZIP codes, each creating local content tailored to their audience. The result? Engagement and conversion rates were 3x higher than the nationwide digital campaign we ran previously, and the brand gained hyper-local insight that informed product restocking and messaging. Advice for others: don't replicate the tactic blindly. Focus on understanding the local audience, choose creators with authentic reach in that community, and measure results at the micro level. The key is precision, authenticity, and data-driven iteration, otherwise, even unconventional tactics fall flat.

Hello, Our most successful advertising tactic wasn't digital at all it was putting our reclaimed stone on flatbed trucks and parking them at construction hotspots. Instead of billboards or social ads, we turned the product itself into a moving advertisement. Architects and contractors stopped in traffic to photograph the loads, and several major commissions began with a simple phone call that started with, "I saw your truck on the 405." The lesson here: in a world oversaturated with polished campaigns, raw authenticity stands out. My advice find a way to showcase your product in its most natural, unfiltered form, and let curiosity do the heavy lifting. Best regards, Erwin Gutenkust CEO, Neolithic Materials https://neolithicmaterials.com

We had created a "Book a Demo" campaign for a software client, but there was an INTENTIONAL TWIST behind it -- the next available slot was 5 MONTHS LATER! This wasn't an accident. We made it look like their product was so anticipated that prospects would have to wait months to test them, which created a feeling of anticipation and scarcity. Placed on the app stores, demo requests came up by 40% which pushed them to adopt a waitlist (80+% follow-up engagement) as people began to think this is one of a kind and something they shouldn't miss. The scarcity experience eventually led to demand viewing demos as opportunities rather than just another sales call. It was an early indicator of this strategy working, where you want the best of both worlds... Scarcity without necessarily making it unavailable. We nurtured the waiting prospects by sending educational content, case studies and relevant product updates to keep them warm until their demo 5 months later. Not to artificially raise urgency, but rather position the offer as one with market value and a competitive edge. When done correctly, it absolutely becomes a facilitator of trust and excitement instead of a hindrance.

I've had remarkable success with 'Property Transformation Open Houses' where we invite the entire neighborhood to view a home before, during, and after renovation. This builds tremendous trust because people can see the quality of our work firsthand and understand how we're improving their community. Homeowners love watching the transformation process, and it's created a pipeline of referrals from neighbors who eventually need to sell. If you want to try this, be genuinely transparent about your process and create opportunities for community members to feel involved in the positive changes happening on their street.

At a previous company, we worked with the owner of a large Facebook group and paid him to share our content as if it were just another post in his community. The deal was simple. We gave him a flat fee for each post, usually around $200, plus $0.01 for every click it generated. We tracked everything with UTM parameters so we could measure results. We were careful about what we sent over. Only posts we knew the audience would love made the cut. After the first year of running this strategy, it had driven more than a quarter of a million clicks to our site at an average cost of $0.02 per click. The natural question is whether the clicks were any good. To find out, we built a fun quiz around The Office that revealed which character someone was most like. Using their answers, we discovered that more than 60% of the people engaging were a strong match for our ideal client profile. My advice for anyone looking to replicate this is to focus on relevance. Do not just pay for placement. Make sure your content feels native to the group and genuinely connects with the people in it. That is what turns an unconventional tactic into a sustainable growth channel.

One unconventional tactic I've had great results with is hosting casual, no-pressure backyard BBQs in neighborhoods where I buy homes--inviting local residents, not clients. Grilling burgers and simply chatting builds trust and often leads to honest conversations about real estate needs down the line. If you want to give it a shot, keep it relaxed and authentic--it's the personal connection, not the pitch, that gets people to remember you when it matters.

One unconventional advertising tactic I've seen success with was using augmented reality filters on social media to let users "try on" our product virtually. We ran a campaign where people could see our sunglasses on their faces through Instagram, and it generated a ton of organic shares. My advice for others trying to replicate this is to focus on making it genuinely interactive and fun rather than just a gimmick. The engagement comes when users feel like they're experiencing something new, not just seeing an ad. Also, track the conversion path carefully—sometimes the buzz is high, but purchases only follow if the experience leads smoothly to a call-to-action. In our case, adding a direct "shop now" link inside the filter made all the difference.

One unconventional tactic that's consistently surprised me is leaving a small chalkboard in my Airbnb rentals for guests to write reviews or recommendations for future visitors. Not only does it encourage honest, positive feedback right at the property, but guests often snap a photo and share it on social media, tagging us. If you want to try something similar, make it fun and personal--when guests see you care about their experience, they do the advertising for you.

Here's an unusual one that paid off for us: During prime moving season, I set up a free 'moving truck loading' station outside busy self-storage facilities - helping folks quickly shift heavy items while answering honest real estate questions as we worked side by side. It led to genuine connections and eventual deals because people appreciated unexpected hands-on help during stressful transitions. My tip: Look for those high-pressure moments where you can physically assist your community - showing you understand their hustle builds lasting trust faster than any brochure.

One of the most unconventional advertising tactics I've seen work wonders is cab advertising. Think about it, most people expect ads on billboards, bus shelters, or even their phones, but they rarely anticipate seeing a moving story right on the cab they're riding in or passing by. That little element of surprise is what makes it stick. I remember a campaign where branded cabs weren't just painted with logos; they were designed like moving extensions of the brand's world. Passengers didn't just see an ad; they rode inside it. And for people on the road, the cab kept showing up in traffic, at signals, near offices, almost becoming a part of their daily scenery. That kind of repetition creates recall without feeling forced. If you're trying to replicate this, my advice is: don't treat the cab as just a surface for your logo. Treat it as a stage for your brand's personality. Make it playful, relatable, or even conversation-starting. When the ad blends into everyday life while still standing out, you're not just advertising; you're leaving people with a lasting memory.

One unconventional tactic that worked for us was running hyper-local, story-driven ads in community newsletters instead of broad social or search campaigns. We partnered with small but highly engaged local publications and framed the ad as a mini human-interest story about how our product solved a problem for someone in that community. This generated warmer leads than standard ads and a higher conversion rate—about 2.5x better than our Facebook campaigns at the time. My advice: focus on trust-based channels with niche audiences, and make your ad feel like part of the content, not an interruption.

One unconventional advertising tactic I've seen work surprisingly well is using promotional beermats. At first glance, it seems almost old-fashioned - like something from the 90's - but when done creatively, they can leave a lasting impression. The key is that people interact with them in a relaxed, social environment, which makes them more receptive to the message. I've seen brands use beermats to feature QR codes linking to special offers, playful messaging that sparks conversation, or limited-edition designs that encourage people to collect them. The advice I'd give to anyone trying to replicate such designs is to focus on context and creativity. A beermat that's just another logo on a table won't get noticed. Instead, tie it to an experience s- omething that makes people smile, curious, or want to scan a code. Placement matters too: pubs, bars, or events where your target audience naturally gathers are far more effective than random distribution. Finally, make it interactive. A QR code or a challenge printed right on the beermat can turn a simple coaster into a gateway to engagement, website visits, or even sales.

One of the most unconventional, and wildly effective, campaigns I've be part of involved no paid media at all. Instead, we created a series of hyper-specific, tongue-in-cheek "lost item" flyers and posted videos about them. Each one hinted at our brand's value through absurd, intriguing copy that invited people to visit a website for "more clues." It worked because it felt like an inside joke the public stumbled upon, not an ad they were targeted with. My advice: embrace mystery and resist the urge to over-explain. Curiosity is the most undervalued conversion tool in advertising. In case you end up using my input, here is my press kit with my bio, headshots, and backlink - https://thinkenvy.com/presskit

One unconventional advertising tactic we've seen great success with is making ads saveable to the mobile wallet. Instead of forcing an immediate click - which often disrupts the consumer - brands give people the option to save their ad into Apple or Google Wallet for later. Consumers prefer this because it respects their timing. They'd rather save than click in the moment, and once saved, that pass becomes a high-engagement touchpoint. Brands can then send lockscreen notifications with a 98% read rate, driving 20x more engagement than a traditional click-through ad. My advice: stop trying to win the instant click. Utilise technology - like the kind we build at Tickle - that allows people to save your ad and act when it suits them. That simple shift from "click now" to "save now, decide later" turns fleeting attention into long-term conversions.

One unconventional advertising tactic that's yielded great results for us has been using AI to generate video content for ads. Instead of relying solely on traditional video production, we've leveraged AI tools to quickly create dynamic, on-brand videos tailored to different audiences and platforms. This enables us to test multiple creative variations without the high costs or long turnaround times associated with standard production. My advice for anyone trying to replicate this approach is to start with a clear creative concept and brand guidelines, so the AI-generated content still feels authentic and aligned with your voice. Additionally, use the data from each variation to continuously refine and optimize your campaigns; AI is powerful, but the insights you derive from the results are what truly drive success.

One unconventional advertising tactic I've seen deliver great results is creating and promoting industry rankings (for example, a "Top 5 SaaS Tools for Remote Team Management" list) and publishing them not only on your own website but also on partner platforms. What makes it even more effective is partnering with complementary or even competing companies to be featured in their rankings as well. This approach expands your reach beyond your own channels and places your brand in a "trusted recommendations" context, which has far higher credibility than a standard ad. Rankings perform exceptionally well in SEO, as they're keyword-rich, attract backlinks, and often earn high click-through rates. More importantly, they're now increasingly surfaced in LLM-powered search results, which is where a growing share of search activity is shifting.

Last year our intern took a complete unauthorized action by spending $20k on ads that directed users to a Reddit thread which mentioned our brand naturally. The ad account received a ban and the Reddit post disappeared. The unexpected move generated enough sales to reach a quarter of our revenue within a week. The intern received a fine but the lesson remained that unconventional methods can reveal new opportunities. You should avoid reckless behavior but exploring unconventional strategies will help you discover unexpected victories.