Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 476,093 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,281 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 304,534 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,281 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 304,534 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,229 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 476,093 cutting edge ideas.

25 Examples of Subtle Marketing Tactics

From Adorable Animal Ads to Radically Romantic Billboards

— February 26, 2014 — Marketing
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.
5.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
24
Family-Finding Foster Videos
Family-Finding Foster Videos
The Story of I Shows How Parents Can Bring Joy to a Lonely Child
<
23
Canine Car Shop Ads
Canine Car Shop Ads
The 'Slow Bark' CarMax Ad is Made for the Puppy Bowl
<
22
Romantic Snowman Ads
Romantic Snowman Ads
‘The Journey’ by John Lewis is Adorably Enduring
<
21
Sweet Escape Perfume Commercials
Sweet Escape Perfume Commercials
The L'Eau de Chloe Advertising Campaign is Fresh and Spring-Like
<
20
Bittersweet Canine Auto Ads
Bittersweet Canine Auto Ads
This Citroen Car Commercial Shows Two Dogs in Love
<
19
Monstrous Pimple Ads
Monstrous Pimple Ads
The Oatmeal Spot Clear Ad Campaign Shows What People See When They Have a Zit
<
18
Bad Food Boomerang Ads
Bad Food Boomerang Ads
The Teva Losec Capsules Campaign Fights Against Acid Reflux
<
17
Cheek-Bursting Sweet Bread Ads
Cheek-Bursting Sweet Bread Ads
The Panettone Tottus Campaign Revolves Around Eager Children
<
16
Surreally Mouthed Fish Ads
Surreally Mouthed Fish Ads
The Saila Breath Mint Campaign Centers Around Hilarious Hybrids
<
15
Personifed Canine Campaigns
Personifed Canine Campaigns
The Acne Studios Spring/Summer 2013 Advert Stars Fashionable Animals
<
14
Clumsy Animal Branding
Clumsy Animal Branding
Pekabesko Pate Packaging Features Cartoon Creatures in Dangerous Situations
<
13
City-Garbed Couple Ads
City-Garbed Couple Ads
The Thalys Fast Train Campaign Focuses on Long Distance Relationships
<
12
Creepily Illustrated Toothpaste Ads
Creepily Illustrated Toothpaste Ads
The Colgate Pro Sensitive Toothpaste Campaign is Disturbing
<
11
Geektastic Love Songs
Geektastic Love Songs
‘Canon Boy Meets Nikon Girl: the Rap Video' is Hilariously Aweso
<
10
Fast Food Diorama Ads
Fast Food Diorama Ads
The McDonald’s Happy Meal 2013 Campaign Promotes Children's Creativity
<
9
Transforming Candy Campaigns
Transforming Candy Campaigns
Enjoy Strawberry and Pear with these Starburst Flavour Morphs Ads
<
8
Choco-Bar Juice Boxes
Choco-Bar Juice Boxes
The Cocoa Metro Campaign is Crafty, Creative and Clever
<
7
Dueling Brother Campaigns
Dueling Brother Campaigns
The 'Claude vs Pierre' Stella Artois Commercial is Cute
<
6
Tooth-Shaped Plate Ads
Tooth-Shaped Plate Ads
The Even Mouthwash Campaign Encourages Removing All the Dirt
<
5
Car Key Landscape Ads
Car Key Landscape Ads
The Volkswagen Amarok Campaign is Imaginatively Adventurous
<
4
Illustrated Avian Supplement Packaging
Illustrated Avian Supplement Packaging
Pearlfisher's Avian Packaging is Beautifully Minimalist
<
3
Animal Print Branding
Animal Print Branding
Saloio Cheese Packaging Wears the Skin of its Livestock Source
<
2
Butchered Snack Branding
Butchered Snack Branding
Real Meat Jerky Packaging Presents Itself Simply But Successfully
<
1
Pictorial Popsicle Packaging
Pictorial Popsicle Packaging
Freeze Ice Lollies Branding Features Iconic Images of Colorful Treats
<