21 Crazy Publicity Stunts That Actually Worked

There are a lot of people who have tried to grab the public’s attention, but few truly achieve it. People will tune into these stunts because they’re funny or shocking enough to be memorable. Here is a list of 21 unforgettable publicity stunts that actually worked and made waves across the world.,

“Celebrity publicity stunts” is a term that has been used to describe several different things. Some of these “stunts” have actually worked, while others have not.

Publicity stunts are carefully orchestrated activities designed to raise public awareness and earn free media publicity. While PR stunts are famously risky, the possibility for thousands, if not millions, of dollars in free publicity makes the risk worthwhile. We’ve compiled the top instances of the twenty-first century for your inspiration in order to assist you build an efficient PR stunt that will likely enhance favorable brand recognition.

Here are 21 of the most insanely successful PR stunts:

1. Fast Food Aid Provides Proper Nutrients to Fast Food Addicts

Dohtonbori, a health-conscious restaurant in Tokyo, created Fast Food Aid in response to a fast food issue in an increasingly impoverished population. It’s a free pop-up that gives people the nutrients they need depending on how much fast food they’ve eaten. So all you have to do is bring your fast food receipt and you’ll be able to provide your body what it lacks from your meal.

Why did it work? Fast Food Aid, as bizarre as the notion may seem, has proven to be a powerful tool for educating the public about nutrition and health. As a result, it indirectly contributes to the restaurant’s increased patronage.

2. The New Moon Event at RedBull

RedBull is renowned for its outrageous stunts and parties, but on March 20, 2018, it threw the most outrageous New Moon Party ever, with individuals dressed in wingsuits jumping out of helicopters over Los Angeles’ tallest skyscraper. By RedBull standards, this wasn’t all that insane. The event, however, created a stir since the sparkler-equipped jumpers fell around sunset, prompting onlookers to assume comets or UFOs were descending on the city.

Why it worked: RedBull has long been regarded as the caffeinated beverage industry’s “extreme child,” but even die-hard fans didn’t see this coming. Fire-branded wingmen jumping off of helicopters at sunset atop LA’s tallest skyscraper pushed the brand’s radicalism to new heights. It not only made headlines, but it also solidified its reputation as dangerously thrilling.

3. Massages Go Mobile With Visible Mobile

At first sight, Visible Mobile’s advertising seemed to be similar to any other cellphone advertisement scattered throughout a metropolis. However, following closer study, this ad claimed limitless massages, despite the fact that most other suppliers give unlimited texts with their services. This might have easily been misinterpreted as a mistake, but Visible enlisted the help of masseuses and gave free massages to passers-by.

Why it worked: It admitted its fault and started providing a pop-up massage station, enabling the general public to enjoy the company’s grammatical goof. But, more crucially, it contributed to the creation of a pleasant, fuzzy feeling toward the brand, which is something that mobile service providers aren’t renowned for and seldom achieve.

4. Virgin Galactic Plans to Launch Space Flights

While the airline sector struggles to differentiate itself and develop a strong brand, Virgin succeeds to the point of venturing into space. It is now in the midst of launching commercial space missions in May 2021.

The program’s announcement, as well as the thought that the general population may go to space, has gotten a lot of attention. In fact, the revelation that some celebrities had already signed up to fly to space heightened the enthusiasm.

Why it worked: While this public relations gimmick may not immediately improve Virgin Company’s financial line, it does serve to raise brand awareness and create the airline’s image as the airline that can transport you beyond your wildest fantasies.

5. Dozens of Dopes on Tinder

Tinder staged a public relations stunt in New York City’s Union Square in the summer of 2018, in which one lady invited hundreds of guys on the same date. The guys had no idea the date would include so many people, so they were taken aback when they arrived to see a gathering of men and their date standing on a platform.

Why it worked: The hoax went viral on social media, resulting in a flood of free publicity for Tinder. Although it was a cheap and amusing trick, it did function as a talking point. Although it’s questionable if the prank was in keeping with the dating app’s marketing image, others say that it was a demonstration of female empowerment. After all, the app has a reputation for being a male-dominated hookup app.

6. Advertisement for KFC that can be seen from space

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) came up with the brilliant concept of creating the first advertising that could be viewed from space in 2016. While most people would never see the ad in person, much alone from an aircraft, it generated a lot of discussion once Google Maps and the Google Sightseeing Blog placed it on the map.

Why it worked: This crazy marketing gimmick received widespread media attention, reinforcing KFC’s status as a colossal fast-food staple. Consumer weariness is common among long-standing firms, such as KFC, and they must work hard to keep top of mind. KFC did so with this clever promotional gimmick, demonstrating that their fried chicken is superior no matter where you are in the cosmos.

7. WestJet’s Holiday Miracle

In 2013, WestJet used a feel-good approach to a PR campaign. Children were encouraged to exchange their Christmas wish lists with a virtual Santa Claus on displays at both the Toronto and Hamilton airports in Ontario. WestJet’s employees took notes behind the scenes, and the wish-sharing passengers were surprised with their dream presents when they arrived at their destination.

Why did it work? The touching video from the live-streamed occasion went viral, resulting in more than just huge headlines for WestJet. It also contributed to the spread of Christmas happiness and elicited positive attitudes for the airline. Of course, this is no simple task for an industry that is often seen as dysfunctional and outdated in the views of customers. Despite this, WestJet pulled it done and received a lot of free publicity.

8. The Daytona 500 will be held in New York City.

A NASCAR Sprint Cup Series truck appeared in one of New York City’s busiest areas only days before the Daytona 500. It stayed for three days, accumulating tickets and finally a boot (which had to be specially constructed to suit the racing car’s tire).

Why it worked: Despite the hustle and bustle of New York City streets, the racing vehicle drew attention. It seemed out of place, and the automobile’s ever-increasing number of fines made it almost hilarious, as if it were a racing car with speeding tickets. It successfully caught the curiosity of residents while also promoting the impending Daytona 500 event—all at a very low cost when compared to other kinds of advertising in downtown NYC.

Uber’s Helicopter Rides are number nine.

When Uber began giving promotional helicopter trips to Uber passengers, it lifted its ridesharing services to new heights. It launched the service in 2012, offering elite weekenders a chance to go to the beach in style by chartering Uber helicopter trips from New York City to the Hamptons. While the idea was short-lived, it was innovative and reasonable for a transportation corporation.

Why it worked: This prank was successful because it highlighted Uber’s foresight in terms of transportation services. It’s an excellent example of how a company can produce a positive PR stunt that’s both tied to its regular product offers and distinctive and interesting enough to get the attention of the media.

The Liberty Bell is ‘purchased’ by Taco Bell.

Taco Bell became a national joke in 1996 when it sent press releases to various news agencies, including The New York Times and USA Today, announcing that it was buying the Liberty Bell. The prospect of a Mexican-themed fast food business purchasing America’s main emblem of freedom sparked nationwide uproar.

Why it worked: Taco Bell spent upwards of $300,000 on this renowned public relations effort. That may seem like a lot, but Taco Bell came out on top. According to Priceconomics, the campaign netted them roughly $25 million in free exposure. It wasn’t a ploy that helped with branding or even the taco giant’s public image, but it did get the taco behemoth in the press.

11. GoldenPalace.com pays $28,000 for a ten-year-old sandwich

When the online casino Golden Palace Casino chose to buy a slice of 10-year-old “Virgin Mary” toast for $28,000 in 2004, they were cashing in on a wild marketing notion. This would have seemed strange and frivolous to many firms. Golden Palace, on the other hand, had a plan: they’d take the toast on a globe tour to promote their casino while also collecting money for charity.

Because it was such an outrageous notion, Golden Palace was able to carry off the absurd act and get a lot of headlines. The almost $30,000 toast brought up ideas of lottery-winning shopping sprees, precisely what Golden Palace desired. Furthermore, the bizarreness was well-received by local and international media, including the BBC.

12. The Fastest Barrel Roll in a Car by Jaguar

When Jaguar unveiled its first midsize SUV, it intended to create a sensation in the media by partnering up with Guinness World Records. Jaguar devised a plan to break a world record in order to attract the public’s attention and demonstrate that it was capable of more than high-end sedans. It used its own SUV to execute the quickest barrel roll in a vehicle.

Why it worked: While breaking a world record is normally a wonderful way to garner attention, Jaguar utilized the prank to demonstrate the ruggedness of its new SUV. The awe-inspiring, perilous act drew the attention of the media while also helping to build a sportier, more tough brand image in the minds of customers. As a result, the scandal heightened interest in the company’s new SUV.

13. The T-Rex Autopsy from National Geographic is open to the public.

A T-Rex that seemed to be wounded and was fastened to the back of a flatbed truck was spotted wandering the streets of London in what turned out to be a weird National Geographic publicity gimmick. Naturally, the unusual sight drew a lot of attention.

Why it worked: You don’t see a life-size dinosaur model every day, much alone one being driven around the city. Not unexpectedly, this drew a lot of attention to National Geographic and earned it a lot of free publicity.

14. Tesla’s First Space Car

Tesla doesn’t advertise in conventional ways, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t extensively promoting in other ways, such as via public relations stunts. Tesla sent one of its Roadster vehicles into orbit in 2018 using a SpaceX rocket ship (both brands that Elon Musk owns). The space prank had a 50% chance of failing, but Musk decided to go ahead and do it anyway, earning them the title of first carmaker in space.

Why it worked: Tesla’s out-of-this-world stunt received a lot of attention. It also established Tesla as a high-end, contemporary, and “out of this world” carmaker in the eyes of customers, distinguishing it from other luxury automakers that are frequently seen as stuffy and dull.

15. Women’s Day Flip at McDonald’s

On International Women’s Day in 2019, McDonald’s turned their emblem upside-down to symbolize its support for women. The famous golden arches were turned on their heads, surprising customers all across the globe. Many people assumed it was a spoof, which helped the PR stunt receive a lot of attention.

Why it worked: This PR effort was a low-cost, creative method for McDonald’s to convey its support for women. Indeed, it sparked a number of discussions on gender-based workplace inequalities. The prank drew some criticism from some who felt it glossed over the true significance of Women’s Day, but it did allow McDonald’s the opportunity to express their position on gender equality.

16. Protest Against Fake Bitcoins

Protests don’t exactly seem like a publicity trick, but they’re really rather regular. Companies are conducting demonstrations at their own event and against their own firm, not only against a competitor brand (ahem, Salesforce). In addition to EA Games and its well-known fake demonstrations, Bitcoin organized an 8,500-person protest at the 2018 Consensus Blockchain Conference in New York City with the purpose of gaining headlines in a noisy market.

Why it worked: We can see that Bitcoin’s purpose was met years later. The purpose of the prank was to attract the attention of those who had not yet made a Bitcoin investment. While this is clearly a dangerous move that risks unfavorable headlines, it did manage to attract significant public attention—and notoriety.

The Attempt of Richard Branson to Fly Around the World in a Hot Air Balloon

Richard Branson, the famed CEO of Virgin Airlines, has proved himself to be a PR stunt genius over the years, engaging in a number of pranks that have garnered the airline media attention. One of his more daring feats, though, was a trip around the globe in a Virgin hot air balloon, rather than a Virgin airliner.

Why did it work? Many people were fascinated by the first effort to cross the Atlantic, if not the whole planet, in a hot air balloon; it wasn’t a journey most people considered conceivable. To add to the flames, the act ended in a crash, resulting in near-death headlines that the media (and the rest of the world) adores. This could seem to be a negative for Virgin, but it turned out to be the exact opposite, demonstrating that aircraft are a really secure method of transportation for globetrotters.

‘The Death of Superman’ is released by DC Comics on August 18th.

In 2018, D.C. Comics announced “The Death of Superman,” creating outrage among the company’s enormous fan base. Deaths in comic books are normal, but Superman’s death was an out-of-this-world idea. It’s still unclear if it was a marketing trick, but it’s highly probable that it was—controversial announcements are notorious for being such.

Why it worked: The news of Superman’s possible death spurred weeks of discussion, garnering a lot of attention for D.C. and reigniting interest in the popular comic book. It was an effective approach for a mature organization to get people talking about it without being too manufactured or going against its brand and personalities.

Tinder’s ‘Swipe Right to Adopt a Dog’ campaign has garnered a lot of attention.

Tinder utilized its dating platform in an unexpected new manner in 2014, connecting people with canines up for adoption. The experiment was carried out in collaboration with a U.S. animal rescue charity, with the goal of instilling a positive attitude about the dating app. This was unquestionably beneficial, given the app has a lengthy history of enabling risky relationships.

Why did it work? In its first week, the Tinder stunt attracted almost 2,000 matches—or adoptions. This demonstrated that the platform’s concept can be used to philanthropic endeavors with good results. Companies struggle to stand out in the crowded dating app industry, but Tinder was able to do so by positioning itself as a firm with a distinctively philanthropic, pet-loving mentality.

20. Flies at the Eichborn Book Fair

Eichborn Publishers employed an unusual method to get visitors to their display stand at the 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair. It put tags on flies that advertised its name and booth number. While no one enjoys having flies fall on them, no one has ever seen a fly with a letter attached to it. This piqued people’s attention in the oddball publisher.

Why it worked: Using flies as messengers felt like something out of a science fiction story, and it made perfect sense for a book publisher. The unusual concept drew a lot of attention and created a lot of interest in the publisher during the book show. It’s an excellent example of going outside the box to generate buzz with low resources.

The Israeli Food Bank is number 21.

The Israeli Food Book distributed dinner plates around the city, putting them on sewage grates like a dish rack with the slogan “too many people eat on the streets,” in an attempt to raise public awareness of hunger and poverty. The low-cost PR stunt demonstrates that inventiveness can outshine a limited budget when it comes to gaining exposure.

Why it worked: By taking the marketing campaign to the streets in a non-obtrusive manner, the organization was able to successfully attract the attention of residents, raising awareness of their message. As a result, public contributions to the cause increased.

Most Commonly Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the most effective PR strategies?

Getting publicity isn’t simple, but there are several things you can do to improve your chances. This encompasses everything from determining what is newsworthy and staging an event that people will not only speak about but also react to, to establishing a favorable brand image, networking with journalists, and determining the best ways to deliver your press release.

What is the definition of a press release?

A press release is a statement sent to the media that describes in full a piece of news or an event. It’s usually a one-page statement with between 300 and 800 words. Because press releases have a set structure, it’s normally recommended that you utilize a template to write yours. After you’ve produced your press release, you’ll need to disseminate it to get the attention of the media. In this essay on press releases, we show you how to write a press release.

What are the best ways to get a press release out there?

eReleases is one of a lot of excellent press release websites. The optimal press release distribution outlet will be determined by the frequency with which you issue press releases, the number of outlets that need to receive them, your budget, and your target media channels. Read our post on the Top 6 Press Release Services for more details.

Conclusion

When done correctly, public relations stunts can be a powerful tool for firms to sell themselves and reach new audiences. Create your own press-worthy PR stunts by coming up with a unique and original concept, devising a plan, and contacting media outlets through press releases and outreach. Submit a press release to a reputable distribution agency, such as eReleases, for a speedier, more inexpensive, and less dangerous option to get publicity rapidly.

You Might Also Enjoy…

The “best pr stunts 2021” is a list of 21 crazy publicity stunts that actually worked. The article also includes the “must have” text.

Related Tags

• marketing stunts 2021
• pr stunt 2021
• stunt marketing examples
• publicity stunts 2020
• publicity stunt meaning