Let's Motor

MINI Cooper has an incredible track record for creative, witty, and unique advertising campaigns. The majority of them stress the tiny car's size and its massive power. Their out-of-home advertising is what I love the most, but MINI has done a great job integrating various tactics to reach their objectives. 


The following pictures are a few of my favorite MINI advertisements. I learned about some of them in my Communications and Promotions course a few days ago and felt compelled to see more (and share them). Hope you're all as impressed as I am!

    

I really love the billboard on the left, with the two bent palm trees. Yes, this was completely staged BUT super effective in showing how MINI has speed and power. It's a great illusion. The billboard on the right, with the digital screen, was really innovative at the time it was up. As MINI Cooper drivers passed by, it would show a personalized message for them (and the rest of the drivers) to enjoy. How clever is that?! The board used a signal from a radio chip that was embedded in the car's key fob. Obviously this was a few years ago, before the world became ultra techy. Now we can watch streaming videos via billboards -- crazy!

I love building advertisements like this, but these specific ones are especially clever. On the left is vending machine. Not a typical vending machine though. You can't get a Snickers or a Diet Coke, instead you get a MINI Cooper! Does it still cost $1? On the right, an actual MINI is turned into a literal YoYo! It moves up and down. LOVE IT. Both ads are obviously promoting the small size of the automobile. Its size is one of its main differentiators. If you've got it, flaunt it. 

I'm a big fan of guerilla marketing. I think it's fun and really grabs attention and generates buzz. If I had stumbled across either of these guerilla marketing efforts in real person, I'd be talking about it for days... weeks maybe! I'm a big skier, so the MINI Cooper chairlift really resonates with me. The MINI Cooper box presents the car as a toy... or "toy size".

Another car that uses a clever guerilla marketing campaign is the Smart Car. Also, click that link and check out their killer website. There are so many companies want to have the "Apple" of websites... I'd want to have the "Smart Car" of websites.

Adorable. A cute Smart Car parked next to a phone pole and locked up with a (giant) bike lock!

Keep an eye out for MINI Cooper ads in the future. The advertising for the small car really has a big impact.


POGS,
AKtually Ashley