There are various marketing tactics used by major companies to promote their products. Usually, companies like to go big and flashy for their business forgetting that sometimes less can be a lot more.
Subtle forms of marketing leave all the bold flash and in-your-face advertising in the backseat while it shines with low key presentation that is just as effective. Not-so-flashy ads like the CarMax commercial --featuring personified puppies-- hooked buyers with its clever appeal and undeniable cuteness. Not all buyers can be bought with per-meditated publicity stunts, and prefer slower paced marketing tactics that just work just as well.
The "wow factor" isn't always what gives a business a booming head start, and these reserved forms of advertising prove that they can still have impressive results.
25 Examples of Subtle Marketing Tactics
From Adorable Animal Ads to Radically Romantic Billboards:
Malika Renee Butss — Feb 26, 2014 — Marketing
24
Pictorial Popsicle Packaging
Freeze Ice Lollies Branding Features Iconic Images of Colorful Treats
23
Butchered Snack Branding
Real Meat Jerky Packaging Presents Itself Simply But Successfully
22
Creepily Illustrated Toothpaste Ads
The Colgate Pro Sensitive Toothpaste Campaign is Disturbing
21
Geektastic Love Songs
‘Canon Boy Meets Nikon Girl: the Rap Video' is Hilariously Aweso
20
Fast Food Diorama Ads
The McDonald’s Happy Meal 2013 Campaign Promotes Children's Creativity
19
Choco-Bar Juice Boxes
The Cocoa Metro Campaign is Crafty, Creative and Clever
18
Personifed Canine Campaigns
The Acne Studios Spring/Summer 2013 Advert Stars Fashionable Animals
17
Surreally Mouthed Fish Ads
The Saila Breath Mint Campaign Centers Around Hilarious Hybrids
16
Car Key Landscape Ads
The Volkswagen Amarok Campaign is Imaginatively Adventurous
15
Romantic Snowman Ads
‘The Journey’ by John Lewis is Adorably Enduring
14
Bad Food Boomerang Ads
The Teva Losec Capsules Campaign Fights Against Acid Reflux
13
City-Garbed Couple Ads
The Thalys Fast Train Campaign Focuses on Long Distance Relationships
12
Dueling Brother Campaigns
The 'Claude vs Pierre' Stella Artois Commercial is Cute
11
Canine Car Shop Ads
The 'Slow Bark' CarMax Ad is Made for the Puppy Bowl
10
Illustrated Avian Supplement Packaging
Pearlfisher's Avian Packaging is Beautifully Minimalist
9
Cheek-Bursting Sweet Bread Ads
The Panettone Tottus Campaign Revolves Around Eager Children
8
Animal Print Branding
Saloio Cheese Packaging Wears the Skin of its Livestock Source
7
Tooth-Shaped Plate Ads
The Even Mouthwash Campaign Encourages Removing All the Dirt
6
Bittersweet Canine Auto Ads
This Citroen Car Commercial Shows Two Dogs in Love
5
Transforming Candy Campaigns
Enjoy Strawberry and Pear with these Starburst Flavour Morphs Ads
4
Family-Finding Foster Videos
The Story of I Shows How Parents Can Bring Joy to a Lonely Child
3
Monstrous Pimple Ads
The Oatmeal Spot Clear Ad Campaign Shows What People See When They Have a Zit
2
Sweet Escape Perfume Commercials
The L'Eau de Chloe Advertising Campaign is Fresh and Spring-Like
1
Clumsy Animal Branding
Pekabesko Pate Packaging Features Cartoon Creatures in Dangerous Situations
Related Ideas
Playful Billboard Campaigns
Dreamies Treats Unveil a Show-Stopping 3D Billboard Campaign
Heritage-Driven Boot Campaigns
The Red Wing Made the Hard Way Goes Against Sneaker Drops
Sensory Outdoor Posters
Billie Introduced its Scratch-and-Sniff OOH Campaign
Debunking Skincare Campaigns
The Periodic Fable by The Ordinary Exposes Beauty Industry Buzzwords
Humorous Menswear Ads
Men’s Wearhouse Goes Full Funny with its 'Love the Way You Look' Campaign
Gen Z Advertising Initiatives
Tubi Targets Younger Viewers with Ad Innovations at IAB NewFronts
Furniture-Honoring Campaigns
IKEA Wherever Life Goes Campaign Honors Furniture as Everlasting
Heartwarming Bank Campaigns
Chase's Next Thing You Know Campaign Captures a Full Life
Authentic Mother's Day Commercials
Amazon Boxes Take Center Stage in a Heartfelt Campaign
Nostalgic Y2K-Inspired Commercials
Dove Reinterprets 'Don't Cha' with the 'Hot Like Us' Campaign
Pristine Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's All Flavour, No Mess Spotlights a Tidy Snack
Playful Creative Design Billboards
Canva Unveils 3D Billboards to Spotlight its Capabilities
Enigmatically Suspenseful Fashion Campigns
Tom Ford Presents Its Fall 2025 Advertising Campaign
Major Fan-Centric Candy Campaigns
Skittles Debuts the Playful Skittles Obsessed Initiative
Pet-Powered Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Animal Intelligence Redefines "AI"
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
Milestone Beauty Campaigns
The Body Shop Launched Its 'Rebellious by Nature' 50th Anniversary Ad
Halloween Essentials Campaigns
IKEA Turns Home Essentials into Shields for Scary-Movie Nights
Wishlist-Spotlighting Billboards
Sephora Canada Features Customer Wishlists on Holiday Billboards
Haute Auto Pattern Campaigns
The Audi Car Couture Ad Turns Car Parts into Dressmaking Layouts
Interactive Advertising Installations
Intimissimi's 'Feel the Billboard' Uses Tactile Advertising
Night QSR Campaigns
The Mcdonald’s Night Posters Turn Post-Party Cravings into Glowing Urban Art
Functionally Focused Dog Campaigns
The Honest Kitchen's Inflatable Dogs Challenge Beauty Standards
Gen Z-Themed Soda Campaigns
Pepsi Relation-Sips Showcase Small Gestures This Valentine's Day
Romantic Retailer Basket Campaigns
The Asda Red Baskets are Arriving for Valentine's Day
Urban Landscape-Inspired Campaigns
The Casablanca Fall 2025 Advertising Campaign is Interesting
Cinematic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Mazda Debuts the '5 Sides of the All-New CX-5' Film
Surreal Car Care Campaigns
Turtle Wax's You Are How You Car Reimagines Drivers as Their "Car-Self"
Telenovela-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Big Game Ad Airs Ahead of Halftime
Retail Advertising Campaigns
IKEA Hides Price Tags to Highlight Material Quality in a New Campaign
Brighton Retail Launch Ads
IKEA Brighton Uses Seagull Splatter Campaign to Win Local Attention
Self-Discovery Soda Ads
Pepsi The Choice Features a Polar Bear Finding His Taste Preference
Geo-Targeted Beauty Campaigns
It's a 10 Haircare Engages Uber Riders Going to Ulta & Sally Beauty
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Art-Promoting Campaigns
Beige Billboards Spark a Bold Call to Save Charlotte’s Art Scene
Pet-Finding Billboards
Hrvatski Telekom Created Scented Billboards That Attract Lost Dogs
Condiment Marketing Campaigns
Hellmann’s Launched Its ‘Main Flavour Energy’ Marketing Campaign
Personalized AI Billboards
Mercado Libre's Custom Billboards Analyze Their Surroundings and Adapt
Cheeky Food-Focused Soda Campaigns
The 'Share a Pepsi' Campaign Encourages Pairing with Food
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Experiential Marketing Campaigns
MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES, and Marvel Team Up for Campus Tour
Home-Centric Beauty Campaigns
Sally Beauty Debuts the Holiday Beauty at Home Campaign
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Bee Habitat Billboards
Disney x National Geographic Bee Billboards Double as Shelters
Decluttered Ad Campaigns
IKEA Unpackaged Goods Organizes Branded Products into Storage Containers
Festive Scratch-and-Sniff Billboards
Subway's Interactive Ad Shares the Aroma of Stuffing
High-Value Pizzeria Promotions
The Little Caesars More for $9.99 Promotion Maximizes Value
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Timely Delivery-Centric Billboards
Pizza Pizza Creates a Truck-Side Billboard Inspired by the LRT
Eating Ritual Campaigns
Müller You Know How You Like It Celebrates Unique Snacking Methods
House Party-Themed Campaigns
Hiders Keepers Shows Stella Artois’ Clever Take on Party Etiquette
Scan-to-Sniff Fragrance Billboards
Rare Beauty's Activation with Shopify Shop Promote a New Scent
Unfiltered Sleep Campaigns
The IKEA Sleep Talk Reviews Campaign Uses Real Nighttime Mutterings
Human-Grade Pet Food Campaigns
The Honest Kitchen Debuts a Pet Parenthood Campaign
Creative Music-Based Campaigns
Bose Launched its 'Life Deserves Music. Music Deserves Bose.' Spot
Cinematic Condiment Campaigns
Mike's Hot Honey Has Debuted Its First National Advertising Campaign
Aspirational Mother's Day Campaigns
Tiffany & Co. Boasts 'Strong Like Mom' Mother's Day Campaign
Emotion-Led Household Brand Campaigns
Royale’s ‘There for All’ Campaign Emphasizes Daily Moments
Traveling Fashion Showcases
The Guess Bus in Sydney is an Example of Experimental Marketing
Human-Made Car Campaigns
The Coded Love Letter is a Porsche Short Film Made with Hidden References
Gamified Scent Marketing Experiences
Axe's Grab The Sweet Turned a Bus Stop into a Claw Machine
Pick-Your-Own Bouquet Billboards
5,000 Tesco Mother’s Day Tulips Formed an Interactive Display
Affiliate Marketing Guides
Affiliate Marketing Prompt Book Provides 500+ Prompts for Marketers
Adventurious Luxury Furniture Campaigns
Louis Vuitton's 2025 Travel Campaign is Visually Appealing
After-Dark Pizza Ads
Morrisons' Market Street Halloween Pizza Ads Transform at Night
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Cinematic Video Game Spots
Droga5’s ‘Wake Up’ Campaign for Xbox Shows an Escape from the Everyday
Poetic Secondhand Campaigns
Depop's Where Taste Recognizes Taste Celebrates Style Doppelgangers
Youthful Convenience Store Campaigns
7-Eleven is Running the Roll-Up & Refuel™ Initiative
British Countryside-Inspired Holiday Campaigns
The Miu Miu Holiday 2025 Campaign is Sophisticated
Early Allergen Exposure Ads
The Square Baby Super Bowl Spot Promotes a Science-Backed Message
Lyrics-Inspired OOH Campaigns
Taskrabbit Interprets Pop Culture Songs for Summer Home Tasks
Humorous Chocolate Spots
Toblerone Introduced its ‘Chocolate Like Nobody’s Watching’
Chicken Wing Teasing Campaigns
This Pizza Hut Wings Campaign Pokes Fun at Competitors
Polo Shirt Marketing Campaigns
U.s. Polo Assn. Launches a Global Campaign Highlighting Its Origins
Interactive Scented Billboard Ads
LOLA MullenLowe Presents a Scented Lynx/Axe Campaign
Football-Focused Sofa Campaigns
Pepsi Presents the Refresh the Game Campaign with Icons
Video Business Cards
Vidcard Helps to Make Connections and Leave a Lasting Impression
Causal Retail Media Metrics
Albertsons Media Collective Quantifies True In Store Ad Lift
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Ice Cream Popsicle Campaigns
Häagen Dazs’ Devoured Campaign Sparks Craving Through Absence
Playfully Branded Crosswalks
OREO Turned Marked Areas Outside Some Kroger Stores into OREO Walks
Social-First Body Care Campaigns
Suave Runs the 'Smell Like Your Ex(foliating Body Wash)'
Affectionate Cat Campaigns
SHEBA's Ignored to Adored Invites Cat Parents to Build Better Bonds
Spontaneity-Inspired Travel Campaigns
Wyndham Debuts 'Where There's a Wyndham, There's a Way'
Creative Eerie-Themed Soccer Campaigns
Nike Football Reimagines Soccer with 'Scary Good'
Cost-Conscious Clothing Campaigns
The Primark 'Never Basic' Campaign Focuses on Value
Vibrant Cafeteria-Inspired Campaigns
Lunchtime Becomes a Joyous Time in 'The Lunchables Effect'
Tactile Marketing Campaigns
She Said Yes Strives to Increase Tactile Engagement
Cut-Out Easter Treat Disguises
Cadbury Created Print Ads That Hide Easter Eggs as Everyday Items
High-Concept Brand Campaigns
The ‘Legitimate You’ Campaign Proves Every Brand Can Look Pro
Mystery-Driven Beauty Brands
Enigma Launched with the Philosophy That Beauty Should Be Personal
Interactive Traveling Marketing Initiatives
Heinz Pllayfully Spotlights the Heinz Ketchup Zero
Human-Centric Marketing Agencies
Literal Humans Prioritizes Authentic Storytelling Over AI Content
Playful Hide-And-Seek Holiday Campaigns
Chaumet's Holiday 2025 Campaign Film is Whimsical
Empowering Cosmetic Campaigns
The Revlon Be Unforgettable Campaign Reinterprets a Brand Tagline
Customized Restaurant Campaign Platforms
OpenTable Has Launched OpenTable Media
Emotional Delivery Campaigns
Shipt’s 'No Order Is Ordinary' Campaign Emphasizes Connection
Limited-Edition Beer Campaigns
San Miguel launches a Limited-Edition Beer Campaign for Summer
Value-Driven QSR Campaigns
Domino's 'Who Likes Pizza?' Visualizes Pizza's Worth
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Post-Game Breakfast Campaigns
McDonald's Flipped Its Ads Sideways for Super Bowl Recovery
Playful Holiday Jewelry Campaigns
Zales Ran the Decorating Season Campaign During the Holidays
Trading-Focused Marketing Initiatives
Exness Debuts an Ambitious Global Marketing Initiative
Silent Nature Campaigns
Jeep Promotes Its Cherokee Hybrid with Quiet Wildlife Photography
Performance Marketing Platforms
PebblePost Expanded into Connected Television Advertising
Body Typography Campaigns
Holland & Barrett Back Your Body Uses Anatomy to Form Letter Shapes
Festive Fairytale Campaigns
Boots' Gift Happily Ever After Celebrates Meaningful Gifting
Celeb-Packed Humorous Beer Campaigns
Bud Light's Keg Commercial is Airing for Super Bowl LX
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Tax-Focused Marketing Campaigns
Intuit Debuts the Second Iteration of 'Now This is Taxes'
Shopping-Friendly Ad Formats
Equativ Shoppable Ads Allow Consumers to Seamlessly Make Purchases
Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns
Dove's #UnseenBeauty Initiative Challenges Y2K Beauty Standards
Predictive Mobile Advertising Features
T-Mobile Advertising Solutions Unveiled Contextual AI Ads
No-Nonsense Grooming Campaigns
The Rock Face Makes Scents Campaign Pokes Fun at Marketing Cliches
Human-First Marketing Agencies
Alev Digital Prioritizes Human Creativity Over AI-Generated Content
Christmas Retail Delivery Campaigns
The Debenhams Delivered Campaign Was Created by Exposure
Cheekily Satirical Sweetener Ads
In The Raw Embraces Satire with a Comedic Hero Film
Ad Creation Assistants
Mintly Enables Fast Ad Generation Using Templates from Top Brands
Playful Brand Messaging Campaigns
Chicago Town Pizza Unveiled the 'It IS that deep' Ad
Appealing Text-To-Visual Tools
Word Glow Converts Text into Stunning Visuals for Social Media
Leather Goods-Focused Holiday Campaigns
Delvaux Debuted an Elevated Holiday Campaign This Year
Empathy-First Loyalty Playbooks
SumUp's CEO Highlights Main Street Tactics For Tech Loyalty
Copywriting Automation Tools
AI Product Marketing Generates Fast Product Descriptions At Scale
Summer-Forward Food Billboards
Waitrose Launched its 'Let Your Summer Side Out' Campaign
Ad Creation Platforms
Magritte Helps Marketers Discover, Design, and Launch Ads Quickly
Customizable Marketing Postcards
Smartpress' Sticker & Magnet Postcards Fight Digital Fatigue
Cheeky Auto Campaigns
Hyndai Presents the Entertaining and Practical He Got Money Campaign
Marketing Discovery Tools
Marketer Tools Helps You Find Unique Solutions For Every Marketing Need
Heartfelt Beverage Campaigns
The 'A Real BOOST®' Campaign Centers on Authentic Human Experiences
Nature-First Store Concepts
Rocky Embraces Its Nature-First Ethos in the Store Environment
Transparency Driven Shoppers
Akeneo's 'PX Pulse' Highlights Demand For Clearer Product Details
Cheeky Celeb-Inspired Tool Campaigns
Bosch Launches 'Just a Guy' for the Super Bowl
Local Shop Portrait Campaigns
Coca-Cola Highlights Bosses Campaign Celebrating 125 Years in UK
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Satirical Feminist-Forward Ads
A Spotlight on Underpaid Women Shakes Up Belgium’s Employee Day
Retail Marketing Advancements
Westfield Rise Debuts a Programmatic Targeting Solution For Malls
Calmly Dimmed Billboard Campaigns
Nescafé Joins Oglivy to Create the Decaf Billboards
Visual Discovery Campaigns
Pinterest Autumn-Winter Ads Highlight Castlecore Dreams and Fuzzy Vibes
Purpose-Driven Brand Contests
Publicity for Good is Supporting Goodness with Its Contest