Flyposting

Flyposting (also known as bill posting) is a guerrilla marketing tactic where advertising posters are put up. In the United States, these posters are also commonly referred to as wheatpaste posters because wheatpaste is often used to adhere the posters. Posters are adhered to construction site barricades, building façades and in alleyways.

Fly posters advertising Strawbs, Budgie, George Melly, and other acts in Maidenhead, 1976.
Flyposted posters in Manchester, England, 2007
A fake lost-person poster advertising the second annual Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Idaho, 2013

The posters used are typically made of a lightweight paper and printed using flexography, digital printing and screen printing. Modern printing techniques enable the posters to feature full-colour designs, halftones, and photographs, making them popular for advertising concerts, political messages, commercial advertisements and special events. An increasing number of posters do not advertise anything at all and instead feature artwork, inspirational or positive messages, and religious messages.

It is an advertising tactic mostly used by small businesses promoting concerts and political activist groups, but there have been occasions where international companies subcontracted local advertising agencies for flyposting jobs in order not to get caught in illegal behavior, as a form of guerrilla marketing. In 2004, Sony Music and BMG were threatened with anti-social behaviour orders by Camden Borough Council for illegal flyposting.[1]

Legislation

In many countries, it is illegal to place such posters on private property without the consent of the property owner, or to post on public property without a sign permit from the local government. Some areas, however, have public bulletin boards where notices may be posted.[2]

In an effort to discourage illegal flyposting, surfaces at risk of it are sometimes permanently signed Post No Bills (US), No Flyposting (UK), or in France Défense d'afficher - loi du 29 juillet 1881, referring to a law.

While flyposting is commonplace, it is often viewed as a nuisance by landlords and they can take civil action to protect their property rights. A particularly noteworthy incident of this type occurred in Boston, Massachusetts. In the case of the 2007 Boston Mooninite Scare, advertisers had placed electronic signboards without notifying local authorities, prompting a costly reaction by the Boston Police Bomb Squad when the signs were mistaken for bombs.[3]

Web banner

With the rise of the World Wide Web, much of advertising has been shifted online. Some advertising agencies have drawn similarities between flyposting and certain types of adware, which are more invasive to consumers.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Top music chiefs are spared ASBOs". BBC. 14 June 2004. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  2. "The Control of Fly-posting: a Good Practice Guide" (PDF). London: Department for Communities and Local Government. p. 11.
  3. Smalley, Suzanne; Mishra, Raja (1 February 2007). "Froth, fear, and fury". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company.
  4. "Flyposting". Wild Posting. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
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