Have you ever seen a commercial and thought to yourself, “What were they thinking?” Sometimes, advertising campaigns can be head-scratchers. However, sometimes those same campaigns can be surprisingly successful. Check out these examples of great ad campaigns that had surprising results. Who knows? You might just get some inspiration for your own marketing efforts!
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Examples of Great Ad Campaigns
What does it take to make a great ad? We looked at campaigns from the biggest brands on the planet to learn what they did right. These examples of great ad campaigns can inspire your business to create advertising that drives more business.
1. Volkswagen’s “The Force” campaign
Volkswagen’s “The Force” commercial aired during the 2011 Super Bowl and starred a pint-sized Darth Vader. The ad was an instant hit, becoming one of the most popular commercials of all time. It was also successful in terms of sales, helping to boost Volkswagen’s US market share by 2%.
2. Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign
Nike’s iconic “Just Do It” slogan has been around since 1988, but it didn’t become truly famous until the company ran a series of ads featuring controversial figures like O.J. Simpson and Charles Barkley in the early 1990s. The ads were polarizing, but they also helped to make Nike one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
3. Pepsi’s “The Choice Is Yours” campaign
Pepsi’s “The Choice Is Yours” campaign, which ran in the early 1990s, was notable for its use of hip hop artists like Snoop Dogg and Coolio in its commercials. The ads were considered controversial at the time, but they helped to make Pepsi a more youthful and hip brand.
4. Apple’s “Think Different” campaign
Apple’s “Think Different” campaign, which ran from 1997 to 2002, featured a series of ads featuring famous people who had challenged the status quo, like Mahatma Gandhi and John Lennon. The ads were meant to inspire people to be innovative and think outside the box, and they helped to make Apple one of the most successful companies in the world.
5. Burger King’s “Whopper Freakout” prank
Burger King’s “Whopper Freakout” campaign was a series of ads that featured people having meltdowns when they were unable to get their hands on a Whopper burger. The ads were meant to be funny, but they also showed how much people love Burger King’s signature sandwich.
6. Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” campaign
Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” campaign, which ran from 2010 to 2011, featured a series of humorous commercials starring former NFL player Terry Crews. The ads were a big hit, helping to make Old Spice one of the most popular men’s grooming brands in the world.
7. Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign
Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign, which ran from 2014 to 2015, featured bottles and cans of Coke with people’s names on them. The idea was that people would share Cokes with their friends, family, and loved ones. The campaign was successful in terms of both sales and brand awareness.
8. KFC’s “I Ate the Bones” campaign
KFC’s “I Ate the Bones” campaign, which ran in Australia in 2009, featured an ad in which a woman boasted about how she had eaten the bones of a KFC chicken. The ad was meant to be shocking, and it generated a lot of buzz for the brand.
9. Hershey’s “Goodnight, Kisses” campaign
Hershey’s “Goodnight, Kisses” campaign, which ran in the early 2000s, featured a series of ads in which people gave each other Hershey’s kisses before going to bed. The ads were meant to be romantic, and they helped to make Hershey’s one of the most popular chocolate brands in the world.
10. Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign
Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign, which launched in 2004, featured ads that celebrated women of all shapes and sizes. The ads were a huge hit, and they helped to make Dove one of the most popular beauty brands in the world.
11. Nike’s “Find Your Greatness” campaign
Nike’s “Find Your Greatness” campaign, which ran in 2012, featured a series of ads that celebrated ordinary people who were doing extraordinary things. The ads were meant to inspire people to pursue their dreams, and they helped to make Nike one of the most popular sports brands in the world.
12. Adidas’ “All In or Nothing” campaign
Adidas’ “All In or Nothing” campaign, which ran in 2014, featured a series of ads that showcased the company’s commitment to helping athletes reach their potential. The ads were a big hit, and they helped to make Adidas one of the most popular sports brands in the world.
13. Gillette’s “The Best a Man Can Get” campaign
Gillette’s “The Best a Man Can Get” campaign, which launched in 1989, is one of the most famous examples of great ad campaigns of all time. The ads featured men of different ages and backgrounds using Gillette products, and they helped to make Gillette one of the most popular men’s grooming brands in the world.
14. FedEx’s “There’s a Package for That” campaign
FedEx’s “There’s a Package for That” campaign, which ran from 2010 to 2012, featured a series of ads that showed how FedEx could help people with all sorts of different shipping needs. The ads were a big hit, and they helped to make FedEx one of the most popular shipping brands in the world.
15. BMW’s “The Ultimate Driving Machine” campaign
BMW’s “The Ultimate Driving Machine” campaign, which launched in 1975, is one of the most famous advertising campaigns of all time. The ads featured beautiful cars and celebrities like Steve McQueen, and they helped to make BMW one of the most popular luxury car brands in the world.
16. American Express’ “Do More” campaign
American Express’ “Do More” campaign, which launched in 2000, featured a series of ads that showed how American Express could help people get more out of life. The ads were a big hit, and they helped to make American Express one of the most popular credit card brands in the world.
17. Samsung’s “Next Big Thing” campaign
Samsung’s “Next Big Thing” campaign, which ran from 2011 to 2013, featured a series of ads that showcased the company’s commitment to innovation. The ads were a big hit, and they helped to make Samsung one of the most popular consumer electronics brands in the world.
18. Canon’s “Be Amazed” campaign
Canon’s “Be Amazed” campaign, which ran from 2007 to 2009, featured a series of ads that showed how Canon’s products could help people take better photos and videos. The ads were a big hit, and they helped to make Canon one of the most popular camera brands in the world.
19. Microsoft’s “Your Potential, Our Passion” campaign
Microsoft’s “Your Potential, Our Passion” campaign, which ran from 2003 to 2005, featured a series of ads that showcased the company’s commitment to helping people achieve their potential. The ads were a big hit, and they helped to make Microsoft one of the most popular software brands in the world.
20. Google’s “Don’t Be Evil” campaign
Google’s “Don’t Be Evil” campaign, which launched in 1998, is also one of the most famous examples of great ad campaigns of all time. The ads featured a simple message that was meant to reflect the company’s commitment to doing things the right way. The ads were a big hit, and they helped to make Google one of the most popular search engines in the world.
21. Intel’s “Sponsors of Tomorrow” campaign
Intel’s “Sponsors of Tomorrow” campaign, which ran from 2006 to 2008, featured a series of ads that showcased the company’s commitment to innovation. The ads were a big hit, and they helped to make Intel one of the most popular computer processors in the world.
22. Apple’s “Think Different” campaign
Apple’s “Think Different” campaign, which ran from 1997 to 2002, is one of the most famous advertising campaigns of all time. The ads featured a series of famous people who had changed the world, and they helped to make Apple one of the most popular consumer electronics brands in the world.
How To Run Your Own Surprisingly Effective TV Ad Campaign With Remnant TV Ads
TV advertising is expensive. Many small business marketing plans don’t even consider TV ads as a possibility for this reason. The average cost of a 30-second ad spot on network TV is $115,000, and the cost of a Super Bowl ad can be upwards of $5 million. But there are ways to run your own effective TV ad campaign without breaking the bank.
One way to do this is to buy remnant ad time. Remnant ad time is the unsold ad inventory that TV stations have left over at the end of the day. TV stations typically sell their ad inventory in advance, but sometimes they don’t sell all of it. When this happens, they offer the remaining inventory to advertisers at a deeply discounted rate. So think up your own TV ad campaign and work with a Remnant TV Advertising Agency to make it a success.
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These 22 advertising campaigns prove that a great ad can make a huge difference for a company. Whether you’re looking to increase brand awareness or drive sales, these ads provide some great inspiration. Which of these ads is your favorite?
