In marketing these days, it’s getting more and more difficult to connect with consumers using traditional advertising methods. People have begun to tune out billboards, commercials and print ads.

That’s why it’s refreshing to see new ideas that help bring an interactive, memorable element to the advertising message. (ht: TheCoolHunter.net)

Nikon D700 Paparazzi Billboard

At a busy Seoul subway station, Nikon mounted a huge interactive, light-box billboard displaying life-like images of paparazzi that appear to be jostling and competing for the best celebrity snap. The celebrities in this case are the passersby, who automatically triggered a deluge of flashing camera lights as they walked past the billboard. The accidental superstars then followed the red carpet all the way out of the station and into a mall – directly into the store where they could purchase the new D700.

Fitness First Wait Watching

No more living in denial about the size of your waist line, thanks to this fantastic albeit terrifying guerrilla marketing initiative from the health club chain, Fitness First. Unsuspecting commuters in the Netherlands are faced with viewing their body weight in bright lights – quite literally – when they take a seat at this Rotterdam bus stop. Scary to say the very least, but extraordinarily clever. I’m curious, what would you think about this advertisement? Does it go too far or would it accomplish the goal of getting you into the gym?

Get Them Off Your Dog (People As Fleas)

A mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, has taken interactivity and creepy-crawliness to a new, flat level with the creation of this massive ‘floor sticker’ in an Jakarta shopping center. The ad, for Jakarta’s pet emporium JAKPETZ, promotes Frontline Flea & Tick Spray with the slogan ‘Get them off your dog.’ Viewed from the upper levels, the people walking on the ad look disgustingly flea-like which serve to help reinforce the ad message and probably lead to quite a few camera-phone pics.

Interactive Sharpie E-Cast

Most have a fascination with graffiti art. How many of you have ever looked over your shoulders to make sure no one’s watching when you scratch your initials in a freshly laid slab of cement? Yeah, me neither. The creative minds working for Sharpie, the ultimate in permanent markers, have discovered a way to satiate our desires to deface public domain.  Interactive e-cast billboards have been scattered around cities, which allow people to experience the rush of creating their own graffiti.  Choose some colours, write a message and Sharpie makes it possible for anyone to leave his permanent mark on the side of the bus stop or the public phone or anywhere else billboard adverting may be experienced. I’d be curious if, since it’s in a public place, the messages remain appropriate. Either way, it’s a great concept – a billboard that interacts with the customer.

Koleston HairCare Billboard

To promote the line of Procter & Gamble’s Wella Koleston HairCare Naturals hair colourant, H & C – Leo Burnett Beirut did this creative piece of outdoor where the woman’s hair, die cut out of the billboard, allows the colour variations of day and night shine through. While the message may be too subtle for most I think it’s an ingenious new take on a traditional ad medium that’s been around for years.

What ads have you seen lately that have really stood out in your mind?