CASE STUDY: Red Bull's "Stratos" Campaign: A Leap Beyond Traditional Advertising

In the world of marketing, few campaigns have captured the imagination and attention of the public like Red Bull's "Stratos" campaign did in 2012. This ambitious venture, featuring Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner's record-breaking freefall from the stratosphere, stands as a shining example of innovative marketing that goes beyond the ordinary.

After looking more into this incredible marketing play by Red Bull, I dove into the intricacies of the campaign, including its planning timeline, cost, performance, and its profound impact on Red Bull's target audience and the globe.

If you haven't seen the video, you can learn all about the jump, the diver, the crew, and everything else on redbull.com. You can also catch the 10-year recap from Felix in the video below (which on it's own has 12 million views).

PLANNING AND PREPARATION

The "Stratos" marketing campaign was no spur-of-the-moment decision.

It took years of meticulous planning and development to turn this audacious idea into reality. The campaign was first conceptualized in the mid-2000s, with Red Bull partnering with aerospace experts and engineers to develop the technology necessary for Baumgartner's epic jump. The actual planning phase, which involved rigorous testing and safety considerations, spanned approximately seven years, illustrating Red Bull's commitment to ensuring the success and safety of the endeavor.

COST ANALYSIS

While the exact cost of the "Stratos" campaign remains undisclosed, estimates suggest it was a substantial investment for Red Bull, going above and beyond $30mil in total. The expenses encompassed various aspects, including research and development, engineering, technology, equipment, personnel, logistics, marketing materials, and media production. Despite the high cost, Red Bull recognized the potential for massive returns through enhanced brand visibility, engagement, and connection with its target audience.

PERFORMANCE

The success of the "Stratos" campaign is quantifiable through an array of impressive performance statistics:

Views and Engagement:

The live stream of Felix Baumgartner's jump on YouTube attracted over 8 million concurrent viewers, setting a record for the most-watched live event on the platform at that time. The video has since eclipsed over 1 billion (yeah, with a B) views on the Platform, and even more on their website.

Social Media Reach

The campaign generated substantial buzz on social media platforms, with millions of shares, likes, and comments across various networks.

Media Coverage

The jump received extensive media coverage in 50 countries, with numerous news outlets reporting on the event and the records broken. This widespread exposure further amplified Red Bull's brand visibility.

Brand Awareness

The campaign helped solidify Red Bull's brand image as daring, adventurous, and innovative. It showcased the brand's commitment to pushing boundaries and capturing the essence of its target audience.

Online Presence

Red Bull's official YouTube channel, where the jump was live-streamed, experienced a significant boost in subscribers and views.

APPEALING TO THE TARGET AUDIENCE

The "Stratos" campaign's resonance with Red Bull's target audience is a key factor behind its success. Red Bull has always catered to a demographic that values adventure, extreme sports, and boundary-pushing experiences. By aligning the campaign with these core values, Red Bull effectively engaged its audience on a deeply emotional level.

The campaign's emphasis on overcoming challenges and pushing limits resonated strongly with individuals who seek excitement and innovation. The authenticity of the campaign, coupled with Baumgartner's courage and determination, inspired a sense of awe and admiration among Red Bull's audience.

LOOKING BEYOND THE ROI

Once in a while, we see large brands like this take a massive leap on the brand-building aspect of an adventure like this and almost forget about the ROI in terms of dollars and cents immediately afterward. While the fiscal kickback was very much on the minds of the team behind this project, they understood that (even ten years later) this story had a much bigger legacy behind it.

This is the greatest lesson behind the "Stratos" campaign. Focus on building your brand, not just increasing your sales, and in the long term, the sales and business will come straight to you.

The Red Bull "Stratos" campaign transcended traditional advertising by marrying audacity with innovation. With its meticulously planned execution, significant investment, and impressive performance metrics, the campaign showcased Red Bull's mastery of engaging its target audience. By tapping into the thirst for adventure and pushing boundaries, Red Bull succeeded in crafting a campaign that not only broke records but also solidified its brand's position as a pioneer in experiential marketing. The "Stratos" campaign will be remembered as a landmark moment that redefined the possibilities of advertising and left an indelible mark on both the industry and its audience.

Resources:

Red Bull. (n.d.). Red Bull Stratos. https://www.redbull.com/us-en/projects/red-bull-stratos

Campaign. (2012, October 15). Six marketing lessons from Red Bull Stratos. Campaign. https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/six-marketing-lessons-red-bull-stratos/1155718