In the beginning,the high-school teachers who were against the product were at least as important as the students who were for it,said Mateschitz.Newspapers asked,Is it a drug? Is it dangerous? That ambivalence is so important. The most dangerous thing for a branded product is low interest.
Bit by bit, Red Bull's portfolio of promotional weapons grew. At times,the company dabbled in TV and print advertising. But Red Bull's primary tactics have steered clear of such mainstream techniques.Instead,it was Mateschitz's plan to promote the brand in a way that would go way beyond reach and frequency of coverage. He wanted the brand to hit young people right in the face in a way that they experienced Red Bull to the fullest. He wanted to engage customers through activities so meaningful to them that deep relationships would form quickly.
With that philosophy,Red Bull's promotional mix evolved into what it is today.The following descriptions are just a sample of Red Bull's promotional techniques.
Athletes and Teams. With the claim that Red Bull improves athletic performance at the center of its promotional message,the brand took a page right out of the book used by Nike and Gatorade and began signing up athlete endorsers early on. Today,Red Bull sponsors more than 500 athletes-100 in the United States-in 97 sports,mostly extreme sports. And sticking with its unconventional ways,Red Bull brings these athletes into the family with nothing more than a verbal agreement to support them in achieving their dreams. Today,Red Bull's family includes such top-tier athletes as courier-style bike racer Austin Horse and wind surfer Levisiver. Whenever these athletes make official public appearances,the Red Bull name or logo is visible some where on their person.