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Guerrilla Marketing Ideas: 20 Bold, Low-Cost Tactics for Creative Visibility
- Erin MacNab
- May 16
- 4 min read
When you're building a brand with passion but not a massive budget, you need ideas that punch above their weight. That’s where guerrilla marketing shines. It's scrappy, surprising, and unforgettable—perfect for creative entrepreneurs looking to spark attention, build buzz, and show up in unique ways.
Below are 20 guerrilla marketing ideas that blend creativity, storytelling, and low-cost execution to help you get seen, shared, and remembered.
Key Takeaways - Guerrilla Marketing Ideas
🧠 Guerrilla marketing is about bold, memorable creativity—not big budgets
📍 Local tactics still work—especially when they’re surprising and human
🛠️ Use low-cost tools like chalk, stickers, QR codes, and printable flyers
💬 Give people something worth talking (or posting) about
✨ When your brand is playful, visible, and authentic—you become unforgettable
1. Leave Handwritten Notes in Public Spaces
Write inspiring quotes or funny messages about your brand and leave them in library books, community boards, or on café tables—with a QR code or URL.
2. Design and Hang Unexpected Posters
Print quirky, on-brand posters with bold messaging. Include a QR code that links to your site, freebie, or shop. Think: park benches, laundromats, local shops (with permission!).
3. Surprise & Delight Packaging
Include a freebie, handwritten note, or unexpected trinket in every order. People love sharing these on social media—built-in word of mouth.
4. Host a Street Pop-Up or Photo Moment
Set up a cute, interactive setup in a high-foot-traffic area (like a couch, backdrop, or tea stand). Invite photos, offer a sample, and display your branding clearly.
5. Chalk It Up
Sidewalk chalk messages outside your pop-up, studio, or near relevant businesses can create intrigue—especially with a clear call to action like "Scan me" or "Turn the corner."
6. Guerrilla Book Drops
If you’re in the book or creative biz, leave books or zines with a message inside: “Found this? It’s yours. Here’s what it’s about.” Include your link and story.
7. Wear Your Brand Loudly
Turn your best tagline or offering into wearable merch. Even better: stage “random” meetups where your friends wear it too. Instant street-level presence.
Here are a few print-on-demand sites to consider:
8. Audio Guerrilla
Record short audio promos and sneak them into QR codes or tiny NFC stickers—place them in surprising places. It’s weird. It’s memorable.
9. Leave Mini Zines or Flyers in Mailboxes or Coffee Shops
Design tiny, creative leave-behinds that explain your mission or give value. Even better if they’re fun or collectible!
10. Start a Postcard Campaign
Send beautiful or funny postcards to local businesses or community members introducing yourself. It’s old-school and it stands out.
Check out my post Planning for Success in Business: Creative, Low-Cost Marketing Tactics That Work...
11. Sticker Bomb (Ethically!)
Design unique stickers that include your URL or handle. Place them strategically (and legally!) where your audience already is.
Here are a few custom sticker sites to check out:
12. Bundle With a Local Brand
Team up with a local biz and include your product in their bags, boxes, or giveaways—everyone wins, and it costs almost nothing.
13. QR Code Scavenger Hunt
Create a mini trail using QR codes leading to clues, freebies, or a surprise. Great for local visibility or building social buzz.
Here are a few sites for creating QR codes:
14. Host a Guerrilla Workshop
Pop up with a blanket, chalkboard, or sign and host a tiny skill-share workshop in a public park or plaza. Add your site or IG handle.
15. Create a Free Local Resource
Design a free printable or hyperlocal guide (like “Best Creative Spots in Charlotte”) and distribute it through cafés, libraries, or bulletin boards.
I love Canva for creating flyers!
16. Art Swap or Street Gallery
Host a sidewalk “take a piece, leave a piece” art swap or display. Add a sign explaining your brand’s mission and link it online.
17. Free Samples with a Twist
Offer mini samples or free trials—but only when someone completes a fun challenge (tagging you, finding a sticker, solving a riddle, etc.).
18. Flash Interviews or Vox Pops
Set up a mic and ask strangers one question related to your niche (“What’s your favorite tea memory?” or “What book changed your life?”). Post it with your brand.
19. Magnetic Business Cards
Print magnetic or reusable business cards and stick them in laundromats, co-working kitchens, or on your community fridge board.
Here are a few sites for creating magnetic business cards:
20. Pet Costume Marketing
Have a cute dog or cat? Let them rep your brand with a tee, bandana, or sign—and take them for a walk where your audience hangs out. It's weirdly effective.
Final Thoughts
Guerrilla marketing isn’t just about standing out—it’s about showing up with soul. These unconventional, low-cost tactics prove that creativity is your greatest business asset. Whether you’re chalking the sidewalk, leaving tiny surprises around town, or turning your brand into a street-level experience, you’re doing more than promoting—you’re creating connection. So go ahead: take up space, break a few rules, and make your mark in a way only you can.