Posted by Tired of playing it safe with the same old ads, posts, and email funnels?
Guerrilla marketing is your license to get scrappy, weird, and wildly effective. These 12 moves are bold, cheap, and engineered for attention in 2025 — no big ad budgets, just smart psychology, pattern interruption, and a sense of humor. Whether you’re pushing a SaaS, course, or community, here’s how to stand out when everyone else is blending in.
- Hijack AI Prompts in the Wild
Create branded swipe files, prompt templates, or mini-guides for ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity users — then share them in Reddit threads, Notion marketplaces, or Gumroad freebies.
Why it works: You’re embedding your product in workflows that already exist — zero friction, high visibility.
- Share Your Failures Loudly (and Use Them to Sell)
Turn your mistakes into content. Share your worst ad, a cringey subject line, or a tool nobody wanted — and explain why it flopped. Bonus points for contrast with the thing that worked.
Why it works: People trust transparency. You position yourself as battle-tested, not just lucky.
- Launch a Ridiculous Fake Product (Then Pivot)
Create buzz around something absurd — like a “productivity candle that smells like deadlines” — then reveal your real product with a wink.
Why it works: It grabs attention through humor, then redirects it toward a real solution with momentum.
- Sponsor the Tiny, Mighty Newsletter
Forget massive lists. Sponsor a 500-subscriber niche newsletter, but make your offer weirdly specific. “Free landing page roast,” or “$1 for your worst-performing email.”
Why it works: These micro-communities are high-trust, low-noise — perfect for personal, viral engagement.
- Cold DM as a Persona, Not a Brand
Send DMs from a quirky persona like “Janice, the AI intern” or “Brad, your future self.” Keep it brief, funny, and human.
Why it works: Pattern-breaking outreach like this makes people smile — and reply.
- Drop an “Obvious Plant” in Real Life
Print a weird flyer or sticker and leave it in cafés, coworking spaces, or bathroom stalls. “Hate your job? Scan this cat.” Link goes to your offer.
Why it works: Offline surprise in a digital world gets people talking (and scanning).
- Run a “Haters Welcome” Challenge
Invite people to roast your landing page, logo, or offer. Give a prize for the funniest critique — and implement the best fix live.
Why it works: It builds community, encourages engagement, and makes people invested in your evolution.
- Build a Live “Failure Log” in Public
Create a Notion page where you track every ad, email, and launch that didn’t work — complete with screenshots, metrics, and lessons learned.
Why it works: It earns massive credibility and turns “mistakes” into magnetic, binge-worthy content.
- List Your Offer on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace
Pretend you’re selling your digital product like it’s a used lawnmower: “One lightly-used funnel template. Helped me quit my job. $29, firm.”
Why it works: It’s completely unexpected — and on platforms with zero competition for what you’re offering.
- Snipe Comments on Viral YouTube Videos
Find 5–10 viral videos in your niche and leave valuable, funny, or clever comments. Include a soft CTA or link only if it fits.
Why it works: The comment section is prime real estate, and great comments drive traffic for months.
- Parody a Trend with Actual Value
Use TikTok, Reels, or Shorts trends but flip them into quick lessons. Use humor to hook, then drop a real insight.
Why it works: Entertainment grabs attention — education earns the follow.
- Pay People to Not Use Your Tool
Run a challenge: “Find a better way to do what my tool does. Winner gets $100.” Then show how your tool compares.
Why it works: It reframes your pitch as an open challenge — and forces people to understand your value in the process.
Go Rogue, Get Results
Guerrilla marketing isn’t about being reckless; it’s about being unexpected, unforgettable, and impossible to ignore. Whether you launch a fake product, build in public, or send DMs from your imaginary AI intern, the goal is the same: make people stop scrolling and start talking.
Pro tip: Stack two tactics together. Example? Share your “failure log” (idea #8) in a viral YouTube comment thread (idea #10). The compound attention effect is real.
Now pick one, get weird, and launch loud.