A good marketing strategy is key to bringing success to the movie aside from the good story line. It’s a way to maximize target audience attendance, especially during the early release cycle. There are a number promotional techniques being used to promote new movies and strengthen sales. Below is a quick summary of each technique with some examples.

As a start there would be a teaser poster attempting to tease the audience with the movie’s plot and advertise when the movie is starting. Next comes the theatrical poster. There are also paid advertisements in newspaper, magazines, and inserts in books. Here are some awesome posters from the latest releases.

In the area of television and radio, this includes paid trailer on television and/or radio, product placement (paid active or passive insertion of film brand in drama or sitcom shows or passing mentions in dialogue), extended placement (full episodes of television talk shows like Oprah or The Views), production and paid broadcast of behind-the-scenes documentary-style shows, and there will also be advance trailers, longer previews, or behind-the-scenes footage on rental videos and DVDs.

Extended Placement: The Secret Life of Bees on Oprah

With the power of the internet, of course for every movie there will be standalone studio sponsored website such as www.twilightthemovie.com. There’s also viral marketing where free distribution of trailers on movie-oriented websites and video user-generated-content websites, and rapid dissemination of links to this content by email and blogs (like KiwiPusle.com).

Merchandising tie ins will often include promotional giveaways  such as branded drinking mugs, toys, or TV-shirts and paid co-branding or co-advertising (Juno soundtrack featuring Music From Juno) of a product with the film.

Co-adverting: Juno Movie Soundtrack

Everyone who goes to watch movies in the theater will notice slide shows  and trailers of new releases shown prior to the main attraction. In the lobbies, there will likely see standups or 3D cardoard display of the characters from a film (animal characters from Madagascar: Escape2)