Word-of-mouth is often hailed as the holy grail of marketing. It’s organic, authentic, and incredibly effective. But let’s be honest—getting people to actually talk about your brand doesn’t just happen by luck. So, how do you get people buzzing about your business? The answer: Be outrageous.
Let’s take a cue from pop culture. Ever seen Lady Gaga on TV and thought, “Wow, that’s… different”? Whether she’s wearing a dress made of meat or towering in a sci-fi headpiece, Lady Gaga knows exactly what she’s doing—she’s owning the conversation. And when people talk, brands grow.
Another great example is Sia, the singer-songwriter who hides her face with oversized wigs and often lets a young dancer or actor take center stage in her videos and performances. By maintaining an air of mystery, Sia turned anonymity into her brand signature. The media buzzed, fans speculated, and her choice to remain faceless became instantly recognizable. It’s a powerful reminder that you don’t always need to be loud to be outrageous—sometimes, subtle rebellion against norms can generate just as much attention.
This isn’t about being weird for the sake of weirdness. It’s about standing out so much that people can’t help but notice—and share.
Take Justin Bieber, Vladimir Putin, and Mike Tyson. Whatever your opinions are about them, chances are your first thoughts are tied to a bold headline or an unforgettable image. Their public personas are deliberately crafted to be talked about. Their outrageous moments? Often calculated moves by savvy public relations teams who know that attention equals power.
You might be thinking, But I’m not a pop star or a politician—how does this apply to my small business? The truth is, outrageous marketing isn’t limited to celebrities. Small businesses can tap into the same principles—just on a more strategic, targeted level.
Here’s how:
Host a jaw-dropping event. Think “flash mob” levels of surprise. If you own a bakery, throw a “dessert duel” where customers battle it out for the best cupcake. Make it fun, visual, and worth sharing on social.
Use unexpected visuals. Could your company van be wrapped to look like a giant dog or pizza slice? Think of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile—an iconic, ridiculous hot dog on wheels that has turned heads and sparked conversations for decades. Or the Mutt Cutts van from Dumb and Dumber—a shaggy dog-shaped vehicle that instantly turns heads and makes people smile.
Turn your origin story into a myth. Lean into your quirks. Did you start your company after a trip to the Himalayas? Tell that story in a way that sparks curiosity—and repeat telling it with flair.
The key here is to make people stop, laugh, or gasp—and remember you for it. Being outrageous doesn’t mean being offensive or inappropriate; it means being unapologetically different in a sea of sameness.
Want proof that this works? Look at brands like Dollar Shave Club, which exploded after launching a hilariously outrageous YouTube video that went viral. Or take the example of Liquid Death, a canned water company whose branding is so extreme that it looks more like an energy drink than bottled water. They’re selling water—but they’ve packaged it in rebellion.
Outrageous marketing is memorable marketing. And in today’s attention-starved world, being remembered is half the battle.
