#skinvertising

However, huge brands are taking the perks of body art to the extreme and handing out free permanent tattoos in order to get their names out there. Sounds bizarre, right? Who in their right mind would get a brand name tattooed on them purely because it’s free?

It seems that some people thought that this was the best idea ever. At the 2013 SXSW event, retail giant Reebok set up camp in a tattoo trailer and offered free brand tattoos to the crazy individuals who wanted them. To make matters worse, the whole session was filmed and used to promote Reebok products online.

Tattoos are very quickly becoming a popular branding tool, as Red Bull and Asos have jumped on the bandwagon and inked their loyal followers. Now is it us, or is this an impulse action that people may regret a few years down the line. 

America’s popular rum supplier Sailor Jerry used this tactic to promote themselves at SXSW, but the range of tattoos were slightly more subtle. Attendees were offered a choice of anchors and other nautical designs in order to showcase the brand. Have a look at some of their designs here.

This technique may be less ‘in-your-face’, but it is still a huge commitment to the cause, and people may not be as enthusiastic about their body art in ten years time.

Other companies have gone down the less painful and less permanent route, and have paid individuals to advertise their brand through the use of temporary tattoos. It seems that more and more people are offering their skin as a canvas for advertising, and this money-making method is fast becoming a trend.

A company called Skinvertise claims that this method of advertising is "one of the best ways for companies, large and small alike to get their name out in the view of the public eye”

This idea is original and probably quite effective, and it is certainly a lot more convenient than a permanent tattoo. What do you guys think? Would you be willing to offer your skin as a marketing tool?