B-to-C Events

When the Cartoon Network set out to promote “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” with a 10-market guerrilla marketing effort the company never could have imagined the publicity the stunt would get.

Any brand with enough money can attach itself to the biggest music acts in the world. But finding a lesser-known band—one that hasn’t hit iTunes or the Billboard charts yet—can be more difficult. Hooking on with an up-and-coming band that has a following in a given market can give a brand instant credibility among the target audience.
When you’re on the outside of a market looking in it might be difficult to separate the next My Morning Jacket from the group that’s destined for the bar mitzvah circuit. Three tips:

It might seem counterintuitive but letting someone else put their mark on your product might be the hook you need to connect with certain consumers. That’s why marketers are signing deals with street-style artists—letting them create distinctive looks for otherwise mass-produced goods. Sneaker companies are leading the movement but the trend clearly has legs outside of athletic footwear.

If you suspect your mobile marketing vehicle may be as much of an attraction as the events you’re bringing it to there’s good news. When it comes to negotiating with properties and venues there’s sometimes wiggle room at the negotiation table.
But to get the best deal you have to know your value and your options. Execs on both sides of the table give you the inside scoop.

For event marketers the bonds between brand and agency are so close they’re often downright personal. With big budgets at stake—not to mention the tight deadlines and long working hours—it’s no wonder the dream partnerships often become love-hate relationships. Hey it ain’t always easy to keep a business marriage intact. Just like happy marriages healthy brand-agency partnerships often require working through hurt feelings misunderstanding hidden resentment and communication problems.