{{Short description|Marketing tactic of putting up advertising posters}} {{Infobox advertising | name = Flyposting | image = A disused building on Bell Street in 1976 almost opposite Bell Street Motors - geograph.org.uk - 1403865.jpg | image_size = | thumbtime = | upright = | caption = Fly posters advertising [[Strawbs]], [[Budgie (band)|Budgie]], [[George Melly]], and other acts in [[Henley-on-Thames]], 1976 | agency = | market = | media = Poster | preceded_by = [[Guerrilla marketing]] | followed_by = [[Street marketing]] }}

[[File:Flypost.jpg|thumb|Flyposted posters in [[Manchester]], [[England]], 2007]] [[File:LostTreefort2013MascotMonsterNotice.jpg|thumb|A fake lost-person poster advertising the second annual [[Treefort Music Fest]] in [[Boise, Idaho]], 2013]]

'''Flyposting''' (also known as '''bill posting''') is a [[guerrilla marketing]] tactic where advertising [[poster]]s (also known as flyers) are put up in public view. In the [[United States]], the technique is commonly referred to as '''wheatpasting''', because [[wheatpaste]] is often used to adhere the posters. Posters are often adhered to construction site [[barricades]], building [[façades]] and in alleyways.

==Advertisement posters== The posters used are typically made of a lightweight paper and printed using [[flexography]], digital printing and [[screen printing]]. Modern printing techniques enable the posters to feature full-colour designs, halftones, and photographs, making them popular for advertising concerts, political messages, commercial advertisements and special events. An increasing number of posters do not advertise anything at all and instead feature artwork, inspirational or positive messages, and religious messages.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

It is an advertising tactic mostly used by small businesses promoting concerts and [[political activist]] groups, but there have been occasions where international companies [[subcontract]]ed local advertising agencies for flyposting jobs in order not to get caught in illegal behavior, as a form of [[guerrilla marketing]]. In 2004, [[Sony Music]] and [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] were threatened with [[anti-social behaviour order]]s by [[Camden Borough Council]] for illegal flyposting.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3805171.stm | publisher= BBC | title= Top music chiefs are spared ASBOs | date= 14 June 2004 | access-date=2008-10-21}}</ref>

==Legislation== In many countries, it is illegal to place such posters on [[private property]] without the consent of the property owner, or to post on [[public property]] without a sign permit from the local government. Some areas, however, have public [[bulletin board]]s where notices may be posted.<ref>{{Cite web |title= The Control of Fly-posting: a Good Practice Guide |url= https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7788/156909.pdf |page= 11 |location= London |publisher= [[Department for Communities and Local Government]] }}</ref>

In an effort to discourage illegal flyposting, surfaces at risk of it are sometimes permanently signed ''Post No Bills'' (US), ''No Flyposting'' (UK), or ''Défense d'afficher - loi du 29 juillet 1881'' (France), a reference to a law [[Law on the Freedom of the Press of 29 July 1881|passed in 1881]] that regulates the display of advertisements in public spaces.

While flyposting is commonplace, it is often viewed as a nuisance by [[landlord]]s and they can take [[civil action]] to protect their [[property right]]s. A particularly noteworthy incident of this type occurred in [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. In the case of the [[2007 Boston Mooninite panic]], advertisers had placed electronic signboards without notifying local authorities, prompting a costly reaction by the [[Boston Police Department]] bomb squad when the signs were mistaken for bombs.<ref name="BG">{{cite web|author=Smalley, Suzanne |author2=Mishra, Raja |title=Froth, fear, and fury |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/01/froth_fear_and_fury/ |work=The Boston Globe |publisher=The New York Times Company |date= 1 February 2007 }}</ref>

==Web banner== With the rise of the [[World Wide Web]], much of advertising has been shifted online. Some [[advertising agencies]] have drawn similarities between flyposting and certain types of [[adware]], which are more invasive to [[consumers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Flyposting|url=http://wildposting.com/blog/flyposting/|publisher=Wild Posting| access-date= 24 April 2016}}</ref>

==See also== * [[Election litter]] * [[Publicity]] * [[Subvertising]]

==References== {{reflist}}

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[[Category:Graffiti and unauthorised signage]] [[Category:Spamming]] [[Category:Marketing techniques]]