In this post, we take a look at the brand activation ideas behind engaging events that continue to make an impact today.
If you are familiar with Gold Otter Media, then you’ll know that we usually work with brands to come up with some crazy experiential marketing photo and video ideas that help generate reach on social media.
And since more than 51% of brands plan to increase their experiential marketing investment from 2024 to 2026, it’s clear that more companies are realizing the power of engaging, interactive experiences.
Imagine hosting an activation that grabs people’s attention and gets them involved. That’s what makes brand activations so powerful – they make your audience care about your brand, helping you stand out, especially in a competitive market where creative experiences can make a big difference.
Photo Booths: A Tried and True Way to Drive Engagement
Photo booths aren’t just for fun anymore – they’re powerful marketing tools that really get people involved. Here’s why photo booths are a brand activation idea that still works:
Encourage Social Sharing: Photo booths create moments that people want to share. When guests use branded overlays and post their photos on social media, your brand’s reach grows fast.
Increase Brand Visibility: Custom options like branded backdrops and photo filters make sure your brand is front and center in every picture. This kind of visual branding keeps your message alive long after the event.
Gather Valuable Data: Photo booths can also collect information from guests. When people choose to share their photos, you get valuable data for future marketing.
Our AI-powered photo booths take it a step further by turning guests into fun, AI-generated characters, creating interactive and dynamic content. For example, during a product launch, guests can instantly become branded avatars, making exciting moments they’ll want to share. These custom activations make your brand unforgettable and help you collect important data in a fun way.
Photo booths are perfect for taking high-quality photos and videos that guests can share on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, spreading the word about your event. You can also use surveys or forms to collect contact information from attendees who want to stay in touch for future events.
Brand Activation Ideas That Still Make an Impact
If you need some ideas to get started, here are some brand activation ideas that are proven to still make an impact:
Immersive Backdrops: Set up a stunning backdrop that people can’t resist. Whether it’s a floral wall, neon LED wall, or a faux grass backdrop, these make great photo opportunities that people will share on Instagram.
Themed Photo Booths: Custom photo booths to match the theme of your event. Think about holiday-themed, retro, or even futuristic AI booths that add something special.
Branded Giveaways on the Spot: Hand out on-the-spot giveaways like selfie cookies or branded prints. Our edible photo booth prints selfies onto cookies, which is a fun combination that attendees won’t forget.
Interactive Art Installations: Get people involved with live art or virtual reality installations that tell your brand’s story. It’s memorable and gives attendees a unique way to connect with your brand.
360 Video Booth: A 360-degree video booth lets people have fun together and makes videos that are great for sharing online, building buzz after the event.
Brand Activation Ideas That are a waste of money
Hosting an Instagram Contest with a Hashtag Printer: Hashtag printing is was a great way to boost brand awareness. Asking attendees to post photos using a branded hashtag, and giving them free branded prints as a reward. It drove engagement and helped your event reach many more people. But that was 5 years ago! Do not waste your budget on things like this, speak to us if you want to really push USC.
Why Brand Activation Events are Worth Considering
In a world where consumers are bombarded with up to 10,000 ads every day, it can be hard to cut through the noise. That’s where brand activation events come in.
Brand Awareness: Brand activations remind people that your business exists and keep it top of mind.
Memorable Experiences: They create special moments that people will always associate with your brand.
Increased Sales: Activations can boost sales by getting people more interested in your products.
Reach New Audiences: They can help you attract new customers and grow your brand’s reach.
Emotional Connection: Creating a personal connection with people makes your brand more trustworthy.
Cost-Effective Marketing: Brand activations can provide great returns without a big investment.
Pro Tip: Always include a clear call to action at the end of your event so attendees know what to do next to stay connected with your brand.
43% of brands aim to grow and deepen brand loyalty through experiential marketing, which is why focusing on customer activation and brand loyalty is more important than ever. Experiential marketing is one of the best ways to build these strong, emotional connections.
Why Some Brand Activation Ideas Don’t Work
Many brand activation ideas fail because they aren’t authentic. People can easily tell if an activation doesn’t fit with a brand’s values, which makes the experience less effective.
To make sure your brand activation works, start by understanding your brand’s identity and your audience. Authentic activations align with your values and genuinely connect with your audience. When people have an authentic experience with your brand, they form a stronger connection not only with your product but with your brand’s story and values.
Measuring the Impact of Your Brand Activation
Proving the return on investment (ROI) for brand activations is important, especially when you need to justify costs to stakeholders. Here are some ways to measure the success of your event:
Social Media Metrics: Track social shares, likes, comments, and user-generated content. Photo booths are great for encouraging posts, making it easy to measure engagement.
Lead Captures: Use interactive experiences like photo booths to collect attendee data. These leads can be followed up with after the event to measure long-term results.
Audience Feedback: Get feedback from attendees to learn what they liked about the event. Did it leave a lasting impression? This feedback helps make future activations even better.
Our photo booths are more than just fun – they’re also powerful tools for collecting data. Each interaction provides insights into what your audience cares about, making it easier to improve future marketing efforts.
Planning and Executing a Successful Brand Activation with Ease
With 60% of marketers citing lack of team resources as their biggest challenge, partnering with experts is often the smartest way to ensure a successful brand activation. Working with experienced vendors like us means you don’t have to worry about technical details. We handle booth setup, logistics, and on-site support, so you can focus on connecting with your audience.
Keep It Simple but Impactful: Not every activation needs to be complicated. Sometimes the simplest ideas – like a statement backdrop or a themed photo booth – make the biggest impact.
If you’re considering adding a photo booth to your event, let us help make it easy. From planning to setup, we make sure everything runs smoothly so you can focus on what matters most – connecting with your guests.
Conclusion: Turn Your Brand Activation Ideas into Action
The main goal of brand activation is to leave a lasting impression so people remember your brand long after the event. Whether through a takeaway item or a shareable experience, give attendees something to remember you by.
If you need help creating unforgettable brand activation moments, we’re here to help. From photo booths to immersive backdrops, we offer full-service solutions that help your brand shine.
Imagine hosting an activation that grabs people’s attention and gets them involved. That’s what makes brand activations so powerful – they make your audience care about your brand, helping you stand out, especially in a competitive market where creative experiences can make a big difference.
Photo Booths: A Tried and True Way to Drive Engagement
Photo booths aren’t just for fun anymore – they’re powerful marketing tools that really get people involved. Here’s why photo booths are a brand activation idea that still works:
- Encourage Social Sharing: Photo booths create moments that people want to share. When guests use branded overlays and post their photos on social media, your brand’s reach grows fast.
- Increase Brand Visibility: Custom options like branded backdrops and photo filters make sure your brand is front and center in every picture. This kind of visual branding keeps your message alive long after the event.
- Gather Valuable Data: Photo booths can also collect information from guests. When people choose to share their photos, you get valuable data for future marketing.
Our AI-powered photo booths take it a step further by turning guests into fun, AI-generated characters, creating interactive and dynamic content. For example, during a product launch, guests can instantly become branded avatars, making exciting moments they’ll want to share. These custom activations make your brand unforgettable and help you collect important data in a fun way.
Photo booths are perfect for taking high-quality photos and videos that guests can share on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, spreading the word about your event. You can also use surveys or forms to collect contact information from attendees who want to stay in touch for future events.
Brand Activation Ideas That Still Make an Impact
If you need some ideas to get started, here are some brand activation ideas that are proven to still make an impact:
- Immersive Backdrops: Set up a stunning backdrop that people can’t resist. Whether it’s a floral wall, neon LED wall, or a faux grass backdrop, these make great photo opportunities that people will share on Instagram.
- Themed Photo Booths: Customize photo booths to match the theme of your event. Think about holiday-themed, retro, or even futuristic AI booths that add something special.
- Branded Giveaways on the Spot: Hand out on-the-spot giveaways like selfie cookies or branded prints. Our edible photo booth prints selfies onto cookies, which is a fun combination that attendees won’t forget.
- Interactive Art Installations: Get people involved with live art or virtual reality installations that tell your brand’s story. It’s memorable and gives attendees a unique way to connect with your brand.
- 360 Camera Booth: A 360-degree camera booth lets people have fun together and makes videos that are great for sharing online, building buzz after the event.
- Run a Prize Mode with Photo Booth Activation: Running a prize mode using our photo booth is an excellent way to boost brand engagement and awareness. Ask attendees to participate by taking photos at the booth using a branded backdrop or overlay. Reward participants with free branded prints and branded merchandise that align with the campaign. This not only provides attendees with a tangible keepsake but also helps promote your brand on social media, generating buzz and ensuring your event leaves a lasting impression.
Take inspiration from what other brands have done successfully – for example, at our recent activation for CPUT University, to create a buzz that went far beyond the event itself.
Why Brand Activation Events are Worth Considering
With people seeing so many ads every day, brand activation events can help you stand out. Here are some reasons to consider brand activation for your next campaign:
- Brand Awareness: Brand activations remind people that your business exists and keep it top of mind.
- Memorable Experiences: They create special moments that people will always associate with your brand.
- Increased Sales: Activations can boost sales by getting people more interested in your products.
- Reach New Audiences: They can help you attract new customers and grow your brand’s reach.
- Emotional Connection: Creating a personal connection with people makes your brand more trustworthy.
- Cost-Effective Marketing: Brand activations can provide great returns without a big investment.
Pro Tip: Always include a clear call to action at the end of your event so attendees know what to do next to stay connected with your brand.
43% of brands aim to grow and deepen brand loyalty through experiential marketing, which is why focusing on customer activation and brand loyalty is more important than ever. Experiential marketing is one of the best ways to build these strong, emotional connections.
Are you looking for a professional photo booth Company with Amazing customer service?
Why Some Brand Activation Ideas Don’t Work
Many brand activation ideas fail because they aren’t authentic. People can easily tell if an activation doesn’t fit with a brand’s values, which makes the experience less effective.
To make sure your brand activation works, start by understanding your brand’s identity and your audience. Authentic activations align with your values and genuinely connect with your audience. When people have an authentic experience with your brand, they form a stronger connection not only with your product but with your brand’s story and values.
Measuring the Impact of Your Brand Activation
Proving the return on investment (ROI) for brand activations is important, especially when you need to justify costs to stakeholders. Here are some ways to measure the success of your event:
- Social Media Metrics: Track social shares, likes, comments, and user-generated content. Photo booths are great for encouraging posts, making it easy to measure engagement.
- Lead Captures: Use interactive experiences like photo booths to collect attendee data. These leads can be followed up with after the event to measure long-term results.
- Audience Feedback: Get feedback from attendees to learn what they liked about the event. Did it leave a lasting impression? This feedback helps make future activations even better.
Our photo booths are more than just fun – they’re also powerful tools for collecting data. Each interaction provides insights into what your audience cares about, making it easier to improve future marketing efforts.
32,000 Reached
400 Selfie Cookies
180 GIFs Shared
Planning and Executing a Successful Brand Activation with Ease
With 60% of marketers citing lack of team resources as their biggest challenge, partnering with experts is often the smartest way to ensure a successful brand activation. Working with experienced vendors like us means you don’t have to worry about technical details. We handle booth setup, logistics, and on-site support, so you can focus on connecting with your audience.
- Keep It Simple but Impactful: Not every activation needs to be complicated. Sometimes the simplest ideas – like a statement backdrop or a themed photo booth – make the biggest impact.
If you’re considering adding a photo booth to your event, let us help make it easy. From planning to setup, we make sure everything runs smoothly so you can focus on what matters most – connecting with your guests.
Conclusion: Turn Your Brand Activation Ideas into Action
The main goal of brand activation is to leave a lasting impression so people remember your brand long after the event. Whether through a takeaway item or a shareable experience, give attendees something to remember you by.
If you need help creating unforgettable brand activation moments, we’re here to help. From photo booths to immersive backdrops, we offer full-service solutions that help your brand shine.
