The PAPER CAPER: Revamped and Revived! by TDBrown

FIREFLY AND SERENITY GUERILLA MARKETING

The PAPER CAPER: Revamped and Revived!

POSTED BY: TDBROWN
UPDATED: Thursday, December 7, 2006 00:12
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VIEWED: 6453
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Saturday, November 18, 2006 8:09 AM

The Paper Caper

This project has a three-fold goal:

1) Draw Attention to Serenity and Firefly

2) Recruit New Browncoats to the SereniFly 'Verse, and

3) Generate possible sales of the Film and Series.

As with most of my Hare-Brained Schemes, the extent to which one wants to get involved, and the methods used, are Entirely up to the Individuals and/or Browncoat Groups that decide to participate. This is wholly voluntary, wholly in the hands of those who want to Do it. The suggestions below are just that: Suggestions. I do not own a Chisel, so nothing is carved in Stone.

THE CAPER

Over the next few weeks, starting on a Monday and ending right before or right after the Seasonal Holidays, I would like to encourage Browncoats across the Country and around the World to post small Ads in their local Newspapers, Bulletins or Sales Sheets. Two to Four-Line Ads in the Classifieds should be extremely inexpensive, and the cost is totally up to the people placing the Ads. If your budget is tight, run a two-line for a week, say, and run another the next week, etc. If you've got Folks to share the expense, or if you can get your local BC Group involved, it could be possible to run several 3-4 line Ads each week. It's all up to You, and what you feel you're capable of.

The Content of the Ads should be simple, both to keep the costs down and to make the Ads intriguing. Below are some examples, with side notes.

Aim To Misbehave! <<-Start with a "catch-phrase"
serenitymovie.com <<-I used ".com" so they'll go where they can Order the BDM
Join the Browncoats! <<- This is a catch-phrase and a link on the website
browncoats4ever@mail.com <<-Optional; a local contact address

You can find Serenity, <<-Short and sweet!
and Firefly too, on DVD
browncoats4ever@mail.com <<-Optional

-You'll look good in Brown!
www.fireflyfans.net <<-The website you want folks to go to is up to You
Join the Browncoats
browncoats4ever@mail.com

Ever sail on a Firefly? Wanna?
Serenity and Firefly are on DVD

-I think you get the idea..... Clever phrases that make folks want to know more.
Three Great categories to post your Ads in are: The Personals; Announcements; Audio-Video; and Miscellaneous for sale.

Please Note: There has been concern that Guerilla Marketing in stores and such may not be such a great idea right now. So I've not included it at this time as part of the 'Caper. However, each of you is on his/her own as to how you want to promote the 'verse. Just remember the most important parts of this:

Do it out of Love for the 'verse, and Have Fun!

TD/Tim Brown,
Captain of the Jade and
The Slightly Irregular Browncoats

"Done the Impossible"? -Heck, we're still Doing it!

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Saturday, November 18, 2006 8:36 AM

PIRATECAT

Could I just write on bathroom walls like a normal truck driver.

Oh I got plenty of heathens right here.

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Saturday, November 18, 2006 8:39 AM

TDBROWN

You COULD post on real-live Bulletin Boards at Truck Stops...

Just wash your hands first

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Sunday, November 19, 2006 2:50 PM

KANEMAN

"This is wholly voluntary, wholly in the hands of those who want to Do it."

Shit, thanks for clearing that up. I was getting worried there for a minute. I thought you had some kind of diabolical plan to make me do that stupid shit.

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Sunday, November 19, 2006 3:35 PM

TDBROWN

No... if you think spreading the word about Firefly and Serenity is "Stupid Shit".... who am I to force you into such a horrible thing?

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Sunday, November 19, 2006 3:59 PM

KANEMAN

Don't be so touchy...jeez, with that attitude you'd think I shit on your feet or something..

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Sunday, November 19, 2006 4:05 PM

TDBROWN

Well, I've been trying to get this project off the ground for a while now. With the Universal Copyright thing and all, it's been kind of touch and go about getting the 'Caper started. The Motive is to rekindle enthusiasm about the 'verse. So, yeah... I guess your "turn of phrase" kind of got to me. I'd Like to be amused, but... nah.

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Sunday, November 19, 2006 4:48 PM

KANEMAN

Oops my bad. Hope things work out for ya.

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Sunday, November 19, 2006 11:24 PM

TDBROWN

Thank you. I figured you were trying to be funny, but I guess I'm taking the situation a little too seriously. If anyone else has been watching Attendance #s at the various BC websites, you'll have noticed that both attendance and enthusiasm are kind of... Low. I know this makes me sound like some sort of gorram Cheerleader, but we've got to generate some "Spirit" around here!

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Monday, November 20, 2006 11:56 AM

TDBROWN

Getting ready to launch...

So far, Indiana claims four towns that will have Ads in their Newspapers; We have at least one in England; Southwest Missouri says they're ready; might have Texas well-represented soon, and Oregon.

I plan for at least one of My local Ads during the week of Dec 4th to be about the Firefly Marathon on the 12th. If we get folks to watch... New BCs

TD/Tim

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Wednesday, November 22, 2006 5:19 PM

TDBROWN

Getting close to "launch date" Wanted to drop by and wish everyone a Happy Turkey Day!

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Thursday, November 23, 2006 4:24 AM

EVILBUNGLE

You can add Crawley, West Sussex, UK to your list, Advert going in next Wednesday!

================================================

Vote Day 1st December 2006 http://richlabonte.net/tvvote/index.html
Together we will triumph.

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Thursday, November 23, 2006 4:45 PM

TDBROWN

Thank you, Evilbungle. Glad to have you onboard

! TD/Tim

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Thursday, November 23, 2006 5:38 PM

FOLLOWMAL

You know, the 'Verse has been a mite quiet after the troubles that 11th Hour had. It was good for me to see this evening that she'd updated her thread re: Viral Newspaper Ads allowing folks the opportunity to incorporate her ideas with the ones that TDBrown has put forward here.

Here's that thread for those ideas:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=20&t=23830#414907

I'll be doing this endeavor in my local ad and sale magazine that goes out every Thursday afternoon and is viewed for free by most folks in the Four State Area ( Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas). We're a hub county... touching on three of those states actually physically and being bumped right close otherwise. I hope to reach literally thousands of people. I plan to run several ads over several weeks leading up to the holidays. I plan to use some of 11th's ideas and some of TD's. It should cost me around $5.00 each time. Small price to pay to maybe reach some folks thru the holidays.

If all I do is intrigue someone to rent Firefly or Serenity, or buy Firefly or Serenity and even quietly bring in a new person to the 'Verse, then it's a very good thing.

I know it's been hard to think about what to do since the horrors that confronted 11th Hour, but we can do tiny, quiet things. Sharing the movie and the show with others is always a good thing.
We must get back to doing it. The Paper Caper and Viral Ads are a good way to do something concrete, costing very little and that just might have a lot of influence.

Go to http://www.serenitymovie.org/browncoats/forums/index.php?showtopic=114
30 to find out more about this Caper...

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Friday, November 24, 2006 2:09 PM

TDBROWN

Thank you, FollowMal. Very well put.

Two of my Ads have been pre-paid, with one ready to roll on the 27th, and the other running the following week, on the 4th of december. that 2nd one will be reminding folks about the FF Marathon on Sci/Fi Channel.

As I write this we've got Six States participating at least, and two, maybe three locations in England

Xie-Xie to all of you who are participating in this Caper. You're the Best...

TD/Tim

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Sunday, November 26, 2006 6:01 AM

TDBROWN

For those of you who are hesitating due to cost....

I'm placing an Ad in "The Trader Paper", an Ad Sheet that circulates over a two State area. If you place a three-week Ad in their paper that is an Announcement, or for an item retailing for under $100.... IT'S FREE!!!

"Ad Sheets" are a great way to pass the word about Serenifly, without spending a lot of $$$. Well worth considering....

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Monday, November 27, 2006 6:27 AM

FOLLOWMAL

That's a great idea, Tim! I wish my trade paper had that option, but as it is I'll not be spending much.

Anyone who is going to do this, let us know.. we're keeping track on a map how many folks all across the US and all over the world are doing this.

I have had someone on another board tell me that they are gonna use some of the "personals" that 11th suggested in her Viral Ads post. Wicked fun way to advertise Firefly/Serenity. This is gonna be fun!!

Go to www.goodworkspresents.org to find out how to honor the Captain!

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Friday, December 1, 2006 5:12 AM

FOLLOWMAL

I received an email from my trade paper this morning telling me that the paper didn't make it to some locations yesterday due to the ice and snow storm, so they were offering an additional ad to my package for 1/2 price. Woot!

So now I've got 4 ads running, for less than the cost of 1 DVD of Serenity after shipping.

Great idea, TD. I hope we see lots of conversions!

Go to http://www.serenitymovie.org/browncoats/forums/index.php?showtopic=114
30 to find out more about the Paper Caper!

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Friday, December 1, 2006 5:24 AM

TDBROWN

Who would've thunk it? Bad weather has helped our cause! That's good news, FM

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Thursday, December 7, 2006 12:12 AM

TDBROWN

I've got an Ad running in the local paper this week. It's for the Firefly Marathon on the 12th. My mom and my brother both called me to tell me that there was an Ad in the paper for "That show you like so much"!

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