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
Heritage-Driven Boot Campaigns
The Red Wing Made the Hard Way Goes Against Sneaker Drops
Dating Profile Billboards
Simply Spiked BOLD Moves Tackles Dating App Fatigue
Debunking Skincare Campaigns
The Periodic Fable by The Ordinary Exposes Beauty Industry Buzzwords
Scent Spritz Billboards
goodwipes' Scentsational Summer Billboard Releases Scent Every 30 Seconds
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
Pet-Powered Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Animal Intelligence Redefines "AI"
Confidence-Boosting Back-to-School Campaigns
Matalan Big Them Up Instills Confidence for Kids
Milestone Beauty Campaigns
The Body Shop Launched Its 'Rebellious by Nature' 50th Anniversary Ad
Fashion-Inspired Food Marketing
Magnum Blends Beauty, Music and Luxury Culture into Its Brand
Halloween Essentials Campaigns
IKEA Turns Home Essentials into Shields for Scary-Movie Nights
Modern Backlit Signages
Toronto Sign Media Elevates Brand Visibility with Custom Illuminated Signs
Wishlist-Spotlighting Billboards
Sephora Canada Features Customer Wishlists on Holiday Billboards
Interactive Advertising Installations
Intimissimi's 'Feel the Billboard' Uses Tactile Advertising
Haute Auto Pattern Campaigns
The Audi Car Couture Ad Turns Car Parts into Dressmaking Layouts
Night QSR Campaigns
The Mcdonald’s Night Posters Turn Post-Party Cravings into Glowing Urban Art
Gen Z-Themed Soda Campaigns
Pepsi Relation-Sips Showcase Small Gestures This Valentine's Day
Functionally Focused Dog Campaigns
The Honest Kitchen's Inflatable Dogs Challenge Beauty Standards
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"
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
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Pet-Finding Billboards
Hrvatski Telekom Created Scented Billboards That Attract Lost Dogs
Condiment Marketing Campaigns
Hellmann’s Launched Its ‘Main Flavour Energy’ Marketing Campaign
Cheeky Food-Focused Soda Campaigns
The 'Share a Pepsi' Campaign Encourages Pairing with Food
Small Beer Billboards
Modelo Chose a Large-Scale Ad to Highlight Compact Modelito Bottles
Scented Canine-Meal Billboards
Ollie and Zola Introduce the 'Dog of Honor' Campaign
Bee Habitat Billboards
Disney x National Geographic Bee Billboards Double as Shelters
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Home-Centric Beauty Campaigns
Sally Beauty Debuts the Holiday Beauty at Home Campaign
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
Absurd Gummy Ads
Skittles Gummies' "Uncomfortably Soft" Ads Were Shot Without AI and CGI
Decluttered Ad Campaigns
IKEA Unpackaged Goods Organizes Branded Products into Storage Containers
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Unfiltered Sleep Campaigns
The IKEA Sleep Talk Reviews Campaign Uses Real Nighttime Mutterings
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
Eating Ritual Campaigns
Müller You Know How You Like It Celebrates Unique Snacking Methods
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Emotion-Led Household Brand Campaigns
Royale’s ‘There for All’ Campaign Emphasizes Daily Moments
Human-Made Car Campaigns
The Coded Love Letter is a Porsche Short Film Made with Hidden References
Personalized AI Billboards
Mercado Libre's Custom Billboards Analyze Their Surroundings and Adapt
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
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
Heritage Grocery Packaging
Bob’s Red Mill Redesigned Its Packaging for Easier Shelf Navigation
Gamified Snack Packaging
Hershey’s Released Pokémon Chocolates with 151 Collectible Foil Designs
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
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
Chicken Wing Teasing Campaigns
This Pizza Hut Wings Campaign Pokes Fun at Competitors
Anime-Inspired Creative Campaigns
Canva Japan Launched Animated Commercial Films
Culture-Driven Product Launches
Church’s Texas Chicken launches Churchie Sauce with a local event
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Polo Shirt Marketing Campaigns
U.s. Polo Assn. Launches a Global Campaign Highlighting Its Origins
Sophisticated Cinematic Ad Campaigns
Church’s Fall 2026 Advertising Campaign Taps Theo James
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
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
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
Social-First Body Care Campaigns
Suave Runs the 'Smell Like Your Ex(foliating Body Wash)'
Bubble Wrap Billboards
Tombola's Interactive Billboards Engage Passersby with a Sensory Activity
Affectionate Cat Campaigns
SHEBA's Ignored to Adored Invites Cat Parents to Build Better Bonds
back-to-school retail campaigns
Target rolls out its back-to-school & back-to-college campaigns
Creative Eerie-Themed Soccer Campaigns
Nike Football Reimagines Soccer with 'Scary Good'
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
Performance Tire Brand Campaigns
Goodyear Launched Its Fast Is In Us Global Eagle Tire Campaign
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
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
Body Typography Campaigns
Holland & Barrett Back Your Body Uses Anatomy to Form Letter Shapes
AI-Personalized Streaming Ads
Amazon Customized Prime Video Ads Using Shopping Behavior Data
Sports Advertising Moments
Genius Sports Found Emotional Sports Moments Can Double Ad Recall
Value-Driven QSR Campaigns
Domino's 'Who Likes Pizza?' Visualizes Pizza's Worth
Chameleon-Inspired Flavor-Focused Campaigns
Tootsie Roll Debuts a Color-Changing Chameleon
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
Silent Nature Campaigns
Jeep Promotes Its Cherokee Hybrid with Quiet Wildlife Photography
Destination-Branded Transportation
Themed Taxis Promote Scottish Travel During Major Soccer Events
Self-Expression Retail Campaigns
Tillys Marked Ten Months of Its Discover Your Style Campaign
Performance Marketing Platforms
PebblePost Expanded into Connected Television Advertising
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
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
Cultural Heritage Beauty Branding
KATE Blends Kabuki Artistry with Shadow-Enhancing Makeup
Shopping-Friendly Ad Formats
Equativ Shoppable Ads Allow Consumers to Seamlessly Make Purchases
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns
Dove's #UnseenBeauty Initiative Challenges Y2K Beauty Standards
Predictive Mobile Advertising Features
T-Mobile Advertising Solutions Unveiled Contextual AI Ads
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
Seasonal Value Campaigns
Huey Magoo's Combines Value Meals with Collectible Cups
Cheekily Satirical Sweetener Ads
In The Raw Embraces Satire with a Comedic Hero Film
Interactive Streaming Ads
Spotify Turns Listening into Engagement with Carousel Ads
Playful Brand Messaging Campaigns
Chicago Town Pizza Unveiled the 'It IS that deep' Ad
Omnichannel Retail Media Networks
Target's Roundel Expands Advertising Across Streaming and Stores
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
Summer-Forward Food Billboards
Waitrose Launched its 'Let Your Summer Side Out' Campaign
In-Store Retail Media Networks
Raley's Expands Shopper Advertising Through Grocery TV
Ad Creation Platforms
Magritte Helps Marketers Discover, Design, and Launch Ads Quickly
Customizable Marketing Postcards
Smartpress' Sticker & Magnet Postcards Fight Digital Fatigue
Marketing Jargon Games
Marketing Bingo Turns Buzzwords Into A Fun Client Meeting Game
Local Restaurant Activations
Pepsi Hosts Community Events to Drive Restaurant Discovery
In-Store Ad Networks
ISM Powers Programmatic Advertising Across Retail Locations
Founder Marketing Tools
Marketing Toolkit For Founders Helps Create Marketing Content Every Month
Marketing Discovery Tools
Marketer Tools Helps You Find Unique Solutions For Every Marketing Need
Neighborhood Storytelling Campaigns
Vitaminwater Expands Neighborhue with Community Mural Stories
AI Marketing Tools
21 Free AI Marketing Tools Helps Founders Complete Marketing Tasks Faster
Outdoor Beer Advertising Campaigns
Busch Wraps Hay Bales to Promote Its Busch Farmer's Pack
Nature-First Store Concepts
Rocky Embraces Its Nature-First Ethos in the Store Environment
Entertainment-Driven Direct Mail
Valpak and Hallmark Turn Mailers into Movie Experiences
Local Shop Portrait Campaigns
Coca-Cola Highlights Bosses Campaign Celebrating 125 Years in UK
Data-Activated Direct Mail Programs
AI Mail Predicts Homes Most Likely to Convert to Leads & Sales
Logo-Based Health Campaigns
NHS Blood and Transplant Launches Logo Campaign for Blood Donations
Self-Serve TV Advertising
Walmart Acquires Vibe.co to Simplify Connected TV Campaigns
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Startup Marketing Resources
The Marketing Playbook For Startups Breaks Down 80+ Growth Tactics
Retail Marketing Advancements
Westfield Rise Debuts a Programmatic Targeting Solution For Malls
Time Reclamation-Focused Cleaning Campaigns
Maid Brigade Launches a Cheeky Summer Ad Campaign
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
AI Product Advertisments
Mintly Creates Brand-Style Product Ads Using AI And Proven Templates