If your entire promotional strategy consists of posting Instagram stories and hoping for the best, you are missing out on the magnetic power of street marketing. 

Everyone is glued to their screens, and digital sponsored ads are ignored without a second thought. People scroll past hundreds of online event posts every day without remembering a single DJ or line up. But when someone is walking down the street or standing in a venue and sees an intriguing sticker that says “DO NOT CALL THIS NUMBER”, it instantly catches their attention, forcing them to pull out their phones to call the number and figure out what the mystery is all about. 

Guerrilla marketing isn’t just about saving ad budgets, it’s about turning your event into an exclusive, exciting, underground movement. 

Cryptic Posters Strategy

Most street posters fail for one simple reason: they’re boring. A typical event poster crams in 10 sponsored logos, a massive list of secondary artists, venue rules, and door times. 

Guerrilla marketing takes the exact opposite approach, less information and more curiosity. 

• Create posters featuring striking artwork, minimal context, a singular phrase, and a QR code. This minimalist approach triggers curiosity far better than a poster with too much information on it. 
• Go around the city and leave fake tickets on cars or leave them on coffee shop tables with subtle event details and a secret message printed on the back. This will keep customers curious and interested in learning more. 

Secret Phone Hotlines 

Word of mouth is still the most powerful way to get news around. Setting up an interactive experience early gets fans invested long before doors open. Create a local hotline number where fans hear a custom audio clip, a snippet of a song, a clue about the location of the venue, or a voice message revealing a password to access the sale when they dial in. Interactive secret access builds community and turns passive fans into active brand advocates. 

How AdmitONE Powers the Hype 

The one major flaw people may think guerrilla marketing has is that it is impossible to track return on investment (ROI). How do you know if that sticker actually sold tickets or if people just looked at it and moved on? 

This is where modern event technology comes in. AdmitONE gives you the tools you need to track real world hype and figure out whether or not that sticker brought in sales. 

• Secret Promo codes: Include unique promo codes directly onto physical poster artwork or stickers. This lets you track exactly how many sales each physical street placement generated. 
• Password protected sales: Secret access makes attendees feel important, driving them to buy tickets immediately. AdmitONE allows you to set up password protected ticket tiers that are unlocked only by those who know the code.

Stop Running Boring Ads

Your event isn’t going to sell out if you’re just relying on boosted social media posts. Fans want an experience that begins the moment they find out about your event. Combine old school guerrilla marketing with AdmitONE’s smart tracking tools and you can run a sold out event that feels like the best kept secret in town.