Stickers might seem like a recent marketing fad. Or maybe you’ve never considered using them in your marketing strategy. But surprisingly, stickers are a marketing tool that date back to the 1800’s. They’re almost as old as print marketing itself! Marketing tools and strategies have come a long way since then and much of it is now done online. However, online marketing is so saturated that consumers are becoming ad-blind. To remain competitive in a changing market, you may want to revisit some old offline classics.

With a wide range of styles and uses, stickers are an effective addition to any advertising strategy. Here are some reasons you should consider adding this powerful marketing tool to your offline campaign.

People Like Stickers

Stickers are fun! It doesn’t matter if you’re 5 or 50. A brightly colored or creatively designed sticker is eye catching. Whether they instill a bit of nostalgia or represent something you currently enjoy, stickers are hard to pass up. As a kid they were a fun way to decorate your belongings. As an adult they can show people what you like and what causes you support. Regardless of why, people enjoy stickers and put them on just about anything they own.

A Fresh Take on Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Because people like to use stickers to decorate their belongings, a sticker can act as word-of-mouth marketing (WOMM). Anyone seeing your sticker will see it as a personal endorsement of your brand. WOMM is an invaluable asset in an effective marketing strategy.

Consumers are more likely to try a brand they know is popular among their peers. According to Nielsen, ‘nintey-two percent of consumers around the world say they trust earned media, such as word-of-mouth and recommendations from friends and family, above all other forms of advertising’.

While loyal customers are happy to talk about your brand if someone asks, most don’t go out of their way to promote it. Let your stickers do the talking! All your customers have to do is what people always do with stickers. Put them on anything and everything! Now everyone who uses your sticker is effectively a brand embassador, endorsing your product wherever they go. And they do it without ever having to say a word.

Stickers Are Versatile

Any marketing firm will tell you that placement is key when trying to reach your target audience. One well placed advertisement can have a tremendous impact on sales. The same is true of sticker marketing.

The great thing is that stickers can stick to just about anything. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are easy to customize to fit your advertising needs. You can get stickers made for anything from large wall spaces, windows, floors, the sides of buses, phones, and even laptops!

Laptop stickers are particularly interesting and all the rage these days. They are a recent phenomenon that many brands have leveraged with great success. Laptop stickers are especially popular among school-aged kids and college students. I even have one on my computer for our own brand (pictured in this post).

Stickers Have a High ROI

It’s no secret that advertising can be expensive. When compared to other forms of marketing, stickers are highly cost effective. Not only are they less expensive than other tools, but due to their high perceived value among consumers, stickers also have a higher return on investment.

People respond best to low pressure marketing tactics. If your approach is too aggressive, it can really turn consumers off to your product or services. Because people generally like stickers, they are more likely to view them as a gift. As opposed to yet another irritating advertisement. They will immediately begin thinking about where they can put the sticker or who they could give it to. They’ll do this even if they aren’t necessarily interested in your brand yet.

A low pressure, multi-touch marketing strategy helps change the psychology of your ad campaign. It encourages consumers to share your marketing material. The more often people see your marketing materials, the more likely they are to engage with your brand in the future.

Stickers Have Longevity

Stickers also have greater longevity than other print marketing tools. Print marketing like brochures, postcards, or newspapers have a relatively short lifespan compared to stickers. Just look at the stickers you put on your binders in middle school. While the edges might be peeling and worn down, the original image is probably still easy to see. How many newspaper ads or pamphlets do you have that are that old? Probably not very many. A sticker, once placed, will stay put for weeks, months, even years.

If you have ever talked to someone in marketing, you probably are familiar with the Rule of 7. It is a marketing rule based on research that shows it takes an average of seven ‘touches’ to convert a prospect into a sale. Some print materials can achieve this with a handful of prospects. But with greater longevity, stickers can create more touches with more prospects, and over a much longer period of time.

Stickers Improve the Effectiveness of Other Marketing Tools

When included in your marketing strategy, stickers can increase the effectiveness of your other marketing tools. For example, stickers can include a web address, contact information, or a QR code. Including these on your stickers can help drive traffic to your website and social media platforms.

A QR code can direct consumers straight to the app store, increasing the chances they’ll download your app. You can also use a QR code to increase conversion rates in your online store or to offer discounts for in-store purchases. If you are trying to build a subscriber list, you could offer free stickers if they sign up for your mailing list. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

If you are interested in designing or printing stickers, contact us today to find out more!!