Your competitors are throwing all their cash at Facebook Ads, Google Ads and the usual suspects. But here’s the thing… so is everyone else 🙄
If you really want to cut through the noise, it’s time to look where they aren’t. These 5 overlooked advertising channels are clever, effective and – best of all – under-utilised. Ready to get ahead? Let’s go ⬇️
1. Podcast Advertising 🎙️ – The Ad People Actually Listen To
Let’s be honest – no one remembers the 47th Facebook ad they scrolled past today. But when a podcast host casually drops a brand recommendation into their show? That sticks.
Podcast listeners are engaged, loyal and trusting. Ads feel more like personal recommendations when they come from a host they already know and love.
🎯 Why it works: Listeners feel connected to podcast hosts, making them more likely to trust and remember the brands they recommend.
🛠️ How to use it: Sponsor a podcast that matches your audience. Selling gym gear? Get on a fitness podcast. Launching a new productivity app? A business podcast is your goldmine.
2. Branded Packaging Partnerships 🍫📦 – Turning Everyday Purchases into Ad Space
Forget boring billboards – your brand could be in someone’s hand, in their shopping cart or in their snack drawer right now.
Paramount+ recently partnered with M&Ms for a genius marketing move – when you bought a pack of M&Ms, you got a free 30-day trial of Paramount+. A total win-win. M&Ms get more buyers and Paramount+ gets people hooked on their streaming service.
🎯 Why it works: It turns everyday items into high-visibility, low-cost ad space.
🛠️ How to use it: Team up with local brands – a coffee roaster, a bakery, a boutique retailer – to feature your brand on their packaging. Imagine your brand on takeaway boxes, chocolate bars or energy drinks – now that’s creative marketing.
3. Coaster & Coffee Cup Distribution ☕🍻 – Getting Your Brand in Hands (Literally)
Think about the two places people stare at their drinks the longest:
Bars & Pubs – Where they sit, sip and chat over a branded coaster.
Cafés & Coffee Shops – Where they clutch their takeaway cup for half an hour while commuting or working.
That’s valuable brand exposure right there.
🎯 Why it works: People physically interact with coasters and coffee cups, making your ad more memorable than a digital ad they scroll past in 0.3 seconds.
🛠️ How to use it: Place branded coasters in bars and branded takeaway cups in cafés. Add a QR code that links to a promo, exclusive content or a cheeky discount – because who doesn’t love a surprise with their drink? 😉
☕ “This coffee is strong. So is your next marketing move. Scan here to see why.”
🍻 “Sip happens. Your next beer is on us – find out how.”
4. Sign Wavers 🏁 – Guerrilla Marketing That Moves
Static billboards? Boring. A human billboard that dances, waves and interacts? Now we’re talking.
Sign wavers are a high-energy, attention-grabbing form of guerrilla marketing that makes people look. Whether it’s targeting drivers at an intersection or pedestrians on a busy street, this old-school marketing tactic is amplified when done right.
🎯 Why it works: A moving ad is harder to ignore than a static one. Plus, it adds a human touch that makes brands more relatable.
🛠️ How to use it: Put your sign waver in a high-traffic area (think near a shopping centre, outside an event or at a busy intersection). Want to go viral? Give them a costume, props or a hilarious sign.
💡 Bonus: Film your sign wavers in action and turn it into fun, shareable social media content. Two birds, one sign 😉
We can source the perfect sign waver AND design the sign to make sure your brand gets maximum attention. We take care of everything while you sit back and watch the leads roll in.
5. Webinars & Live Events 🎤 Build Engagement & Brand Authority
Webinars and live events both bring your brand to life, but they work in different ways.
🎯 Why it works: Whether online or in person, these events help your brand connect directly with people, making them more likely to remember and trust you.
Webinars 📡 – Digital, Scalable, & Interactive
Webinars give you a virtual stage to educate, engage and convert your audience. Unlike ads, they provide real value, keeping people interested instead of tuning out.
🛠️ How to use it:
– Host a mini masterclass on a topic related to your business.
– Run a Q&A session to answer common industry questions.
– Offer exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content or expert insights.
🎥 Examples:
– A financial advisor could host a “How to Save for a House in 12 Months” webinar.
– A fitness trainer could do a “5-Minute Desk Stretches to Fix Your Posture” session.
– A skincare brand could run a “Morning vs. Night Routine – What Really Works?” live stream.
Live Events 🎟️ – In-Person, High-Impact & Memorable
Live events take engagement off the screen and into real life. They create buzz, increase brand credibility and let people experience your brand firsthand.
🛠️ How to use it:
– Throw an invite-only launch party to create exclusivity.
– Host a pop-up activation at a shopping centre or festival.
– Create an in-person masterclass for your most loyal customers/clients.
🎉 Examples:
– A clothing brand could run a fashion pop-up with a styling session.
– A tech company could hold a hands-on product demo event.
– A cocktail brand could throw an experiential tasting event with mixologists.
Whether online or in-person, both strategies help your brand connect with real people, in real time.
People join for the value, stay for the engagement and leave remembering your brand. Plus, you can repurpose both events into social clips and YouTube videos to keep the momentum going long after it ends.
Final Thoughts: The Best Ad Spots Are Where No One’s Looking 👀
While your competitors are busy battling for Facebook and Google ad space, you could be owning these underused advertising channels. It’s all about thinking beyond the algorithm and getting your brand into unexpected places.
So, which one are you jumping on first? Podcast ads? Coffee cup branding? Sign wavers? Or all of them? (We love a bold move.)
If you’re ready to break the mould, stand out and get people talking, Wild & Free Media is here to make it happen. Let’s get creative 🚀
