Experimental Marketing With Outdoor Movie Events

Have you considered a strategic business marketing idea such as marketing your business at an outdoor movie event? During this time of economic decline it is more important than ever for small businesses to think outside the usual box and take advantage of the pre-start time of movie in the park events to promote their goods or services.

During the summer months, hosting an outdoor movie event is reminiscent to the hey day of drive-in movies. Movie events held under the stars are typically hosted at a large public venue such as a city's athletic fields. Movies are projected onto a large inflatable movie screen while guest watch from lawn chairs or blankets.

Now organizations can host not only an outdoor cinema event, but a mini-festival right before the movie begins. People waiting for the start of the anticipated flick can enjoy a variety of activities before the opening credits begin. Vendors or promoters setup booths for children to enjoy face painting, different games and balloons. Often food vendors or food trucks participate to offer food and beverage concessions during the event.

Many companies have participated in this concept, including at the Georgia Movies in the Park??series in Atlanta, Georgia which gives small businesses and non-profits an opportunity to advertise their business to a large family audience. Organizations such as preschools operate booths offering games, and balloons for the public attending the outdoor movie event. They use it as an opportunity to raise awareness about their business within the community. Non-profit organization often take advantage of large outdoor movie events by collect either direct donations in the form of ticket sales, a silent action, concession sales or selling small items. Choosing a theme related to the movie that appeals to families with young and older children can lead to great sales opportunities.

Most of the marketing products of non-profit organizations include their brochures sharing information about the mission of the non-profit and services they provide to the community. Offering freebies at the open air cinema events in exchange for the visitor's contact information is a great way to build up their mailing list for future donation requests and the chance to share the goals values of their organization on an on-going basis.

A business partnering with non-competing businesses to host outdoor film events is a great way to share the cost in promoting your service or businesses. It allows the business to introduce their product or service to a large number of people.