17 Clever Print Ad Examples To Complement Your Digital Campaign

<p></p><p><p>You would think print advertising is void of innovation today, but that's actually not the case.</p> <p>In fact, many brands are finding new ways to merge the digital and physical world through magazine and newspaper ads.</p> <p></p> <p>To give you a sense of how businesses today are incorporating print ads into their digital strategy, we've collected 17 print ads that'll make you rethink the word "traditional."</p> <h3><a href="https://offers.hubspot.com/best-marketing-and-advertising-campaigns">Click here to download more examples of exceptional advertising campaigns. </a></h3> <h2>17 Interactive Print Advertisements That Are Still Innovative Today</h2> <h3>1. Glacial</h3> <p>If you've ever wanted to speed up the beer-cooling process, you'll understand the allure of this print ad from Glacial. You soak the ad in water, wrap it around the bottle, and put it in the freezer. The print ad was made with salt particles, which reduce the freezing point of water.</p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2571690556-jpg/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/glacial-beer-interactive.jpg?width=600&name=glacial-beer-interactive.jpg" alt="Example of Glacial print ad in a magazine." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <h3>2. Nivea</h3> <p>This print ad won the Mobile Grand Prix at Cannes in 2014. The ad includes a wristband you could attach to your children as they run around the beach. The app lets you set a distance and receive alerts if your children wander beyond the limit.</p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2581558242-png/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/nivea-wristband-print.png?width=600&name=nivea-wristband-print.png" alt="Interactive print ad by Nivea including wristband to track your child via smartphone." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <div class="video-container-responsive"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="margin: 0px auto;width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 640px;max-height: 360px;min-width: 256px"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> </div> <h3>3. UTEC</h3> <p>UTEC, an engineering and technology university, wanted to recruit more students. Instead of placing the smiling faces of young graduates on a billboard, it created an ad that pulled moisture out of the air in Lima, Peru, which sees very little rain each year.</p> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="margin: 0px auto;width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 640px;max-height: 360px;min-width: 256px"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> <h3>4. Motorola</h3> <p>The brand teamed up with Wired to promote the Moto X's customization. People could change the color of the phone by pushing buttons.</p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2580033473-png/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/motox-interactive-print.png?width=600&name=motox-interactive-print.png" alt="Interactive print ad by Motorola and Wired Magazine that changes the smartphone's color on the page." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2592601920-png/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/motorola-print-ad.png?width=600&name=motorola-print-ad.png" alt="The print ad was designed to include buttons that readers could push to change the color." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <h3>5. Kontor Records</h3> <p>Kontor Records wanted to get the attention of creative advertising professionals. Instead of mailing out the latest CD, it sent a vinyl record via email to its mailing list with a paper turntable that could be played with an iPhone.</p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2582815887-png/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/kontor-recrods-ad.png?width=600&name=kontor-recrods-ad.png" alt="Interactive print ad by Kontor Records including vinyl record playable with a smartphone." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <div class="video-container-responsive"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="margin: 0px auto;width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 640px;max-height: 360px;min-width: 256px"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> </div> <h3>6. Peugot</h3> <p>This print ad for the car brand features a one-page interactive print ad with a front view of the car that asked people to hit the ad. The spread following it included a mini air bag that inflated when hit.</p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2582760407-jpg/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/Peugeot-print-interactive.jpg?width=600&name=Peugeot-print-interactive.jpg" width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto" alt="Peugot's print ad would inflate an airbag if hit."></p> <div class="video-container-responsive"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="margin: 0px auto;width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 640px;max-height: 360px;min-width: 256px"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> </div> <h3>7. Lexus</h3> <p>In 2013, Lexus released an ad that, when placed over an iPad, revealed the car in action with different backgrounds and music.</p> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="margin: 0px auto;width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 640px;max-height: 360px;min-width: 256px"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> <h3>8. Lladro Lighting</h3> <p>Why advertise lamps when you can give people an ad that<em> transforms into a lamp?</em> Lladro print ads act like a pop-up book, allowing people to create their own lamp shape by mounting the paper in a corner.</p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2592596710-jpeg/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/lladro-interactive-print.jpeg?width=600&name=lladro-interactive-print.jpeg" alt="Interactive print ad by Lladro Lighting with lamp shade included in pop-up book." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2593921825-jpeg/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/lamp-interactive-ad.jpeg?width=600&name=lamp-interactive-ad.jpeg" alt="Lladro's print ad included several different types of pop up lamps." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <h3>9. Reporters Without Borders</h3> <p>While freedom of the press is guaranteed in countries like Norway, Sweden, and the United States, not all countries make the same promise to its reporters.</p> <p>That's why Reporters Without Borders, a non-profit organization, created an interactive print ad to discuss the importance of the freedom of the press.</p> <p>The campaign featured large portraits of three controversial world leaders against the freedom of the press. To interact with it, readers could scan the QR codes placed at the bottom of the ad. Once activated, journalists began talking about the dangers of being a reporter.</p> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 560px;max-height: 315px;min-width: 256px;margin: 0px auto"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> <h3>10. Volkswagon</h3> <p>Volkswagon published a three-page spread so readers could take a test drive. You could download an app and can try out different features, including the "Lane Assist" mode that would cause the phone to vibrate when it got too close to one side of the road.</p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2579983143-png/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/volkswagon-interactive-print.png?width=600&name=volkswagon-interactive-print.png" alt="Interactive print ad by Volkswagon with three-page spread simulating a car test drive via smartphone." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="margin: 0px auto;width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 640px;max-height: 360px;min-width: 256px"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> <h3>11. Sonera</h3> <p>The telecommunications company highlighted its 4G wireless speed with a print ad that served as the game board for an iPhone game.</p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2580008273-png/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/sonera-speed-print.png?width=600&name=sonera-speed-print.png" alt="Interactive print ad by Sonera featuring smartphone board game." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <div class="video-container-responsive"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="margin: 0px auto;width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 640px;max-height: 360px;min-width: 256px"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> </div> <h3>12. C&A</h3> <p>Fashion retailer C&A published a print ad in customized magazine editions that were linked to a person's Facebook account. Readers could Like their favorite looks on Facebook by pressing the button in the ad. The data was then sent to a leaderboard in the store.</p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2581417882-jpeg/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/ca-interactive-print.jpeg?width=600&name=ca-interactive-print.jpeg" alt="Interactive print ad by C&A fashion featuring printed social media Like buttons." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <h3>13. Nivea</h3> <p>To promote its sunscreen products, Nivea created a print ad with a solar panel that could charge a cell phone.</p> <p><img class="alignCenter shadow" src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hub/53/file-2586408689-png/Agency_Post/Blog_Images/nivea-solar-ad.png?width=600&name=nivea-solar-ad.png" alt="Interactive print ad by Nivea with solar-powered smartphone charger on back page of magazine." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <div class="video-container-responsive"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="margin: 0px auto;width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 640px;max-height: 360px;min-width: 256px"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> </div> <div> <h3>14. Shikun & Binui Solaria</h3> <p>An Israeli energy company launched this print ad to promote green energy. The print ad just seems like a simple black-and-white drawing. However, when you hold it up to sunlight, vibrant colors appear.</p> <div class="video-container-responsive"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="margin: 0px auto;width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 640px;max-height: 360px;min-width: 256px"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> </div> <h3>15. CW Network</h3> <p>The CW published this print ad in Entertainment Weekly in 2012. The ad featured a LCD screen that is updated with videos from the network and a stream of live tweets.</p> <p><img src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cw-print-ad.jpg?width=600&name=cw-print-ad.jpg" alt="Interactive print ad by CW Network with LCD screen in issue of Entertainment Weekly." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <h3>16. Lipton</h3> <p>When tourists and locals are walking around in the heat of the summer, they probably want to cool down. Lipton took advantage of that in its interactive print ad at a bus stop.</p> <p>Lipton's ad, known as the "Cool Down Stop," had a button that passersby could press. Once pressed, users were lightly misted with cold water -- a nice break from the heat.</p> <p>This print ad cleverly associated a refreshing mist with Lipton drinks.</p> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed" style="width: 100%;height: auto;overflow: hidden;padding: 0;max-width: 560px;max-height: 315px;min-width: 256px;margin: 0px auto"> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;max-width: 100%;padding-bottom: 56.25%;margin: 0"> </div> </div> <h3>17. KFC</h3> <p>When Kentucky Fried Chicken ran out chicken to serve at its restaurants -- a PR nightmare -- the company had to apologize to the public.</p> <p>Instead of posting an apology on social media, its media and marketing agencies decided to focus on a print ad that worked in conjunction with a website page online where readers could get more information.</p> <p>The print ad was a genius move, using humor and humility to relate to its customers with its apology.</p> <p><img src="https://blog.hubspot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/kfc-fck.png?width=600&name=kfc-fck.png" alt="KFC print ad utilizes humor and humility to apologize to its customers." width="600" style="width: 600px;margin: 0px auto"></p> <p>Digital content has been the strategy of choice for marketers for more than a decade now, but that doesn't mean print ads are extinct. It just means brands must be much more creative with the stories they tell on paper.</p> <p>Ready to revamp your approach to advertising? Try HubSpot's ad product for free below.</p> <p><em>Editor's note: This post was originally published in March 2015 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.</em></p> </div> <p></p> <p></p> <img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=53&k=14&r=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.hubspot.com%2Fmarketing%2Finteractive-print-ads&bu=https%253A%252F%252Fblog.hubspot.com%252Fmarketing&bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important"></p><p>