What's the go with the Stick Figures?

What’s the go with the Stick Figures?

3 new marketing routes can clearly be seen on our roads

If your a driver or passenger, it’s getting that way that probably 1 in 10 cars you pass have a ‘my family tribe’ (or whatever they’re called) sticker plastered on the drivers rear windscreen. Seeing them daily now, I am beginning to wonder why is it that these are becoming so popular and a social phenomena.

I think I may have come up with some interesting answers touching on, branding, social media and viral marketing. I trust you agree, and hopefully you can take some of these ideas and mix them into your own product or brand…

Let us know your thoughts in our comments section.

1. Personal Branding

Probably the most obvious is personal branding.
Family orientated people love their families, or at least these people want other people to think that they love their families, are shouting it out to the world that they either have a family, they are part of a family or they just ‘like’ families.

They are branding themselves with the message of ‘hey, I am not alone, i’m part of something bigger’. It’s a personal brand in that it communicates the values of the driver to the world, just like Coca-Cola communicates it’s values to the world on our TV screens at night. (all though not too much lately) NB. Isn’t is funny how Coke are branding your name on their cans!

2. Social Media

Social media is breaking down the barriers and fear of sharing information. Some-time, not too long ago, it would have been unheard of to let a stranger know who is in your family; or at least that you had a family; or you are part of a family; or that you just ‘liked’ families.  We are getting used to sharing our lives on-line and this naturally blurring the boundaries when sharing off-line, even if the participants are not entirely aware of what they are sharing.

3. Viral Marketing

Probably the most clever element of why these stick creatures are taking off… is because the marketing is built into the product itself. We don’t even really know what these stickers are called or where to get them, but if you really want a tribe of characters I bet you will find a way to get a hold of them.

The actual sticker is it’s own advertisement, it has no name the marketing is in the product. Heck if you really wanted some you could probably make one yourself… there only stick figures! The product is simple and straight forward, uncomplicated and too the point easy to communicate. So much so that it does not even need an explicit name. The product is customisable and therefore flexible, so anyone can pick and choose a family that resonates with ones own brand. It opens up the purchasers imagination and hooks them.

I think these three elements, although highlighted in this particular product, is really the future of product design and marketing. These tools are becoming the new ammunition in the war of capitalism. We are already seeing these elements used individually in the marketing of products and services but not so elegant and complete as our stick figure counterparts.

To celebrate these new trends we thought we would create our own range.

I really do enjoy getting feedback so please let me know your thoughts on this or any of my articles in the comments field or on social media below.

Cheers Daniel