It can be difficult to stand out in the crowded world of marketing. There are so many brands out there, and the Internet and social media mean that consumers have a lot of choices.
That’s why it’s important to go beyond simply creating ads it’s important to create campaigns that make an impact on customers. Luckily, some brands have done just that! Here are 12 of my favorite marketing campaigns of all time:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Gain inspiration from innovative marketing campaigns. |
| 2. Learn about successful strategies that make an impact. |
| 3. Explore creative approaches to captivate your audience. |
| 4. Understand the elements of memorable marketing efforts. |
| 5. Consider how unique campaigns can drive brand awareness. |
| 6. Take notes on the effectiveness of various marketing tactics. |
| 7. Discover the power of storytelling in marketing. |
| 8. Find ideas to differentiate your brand in the market. |
| 9. Reflect on the importance of audience engagement. |
| 10. Implement lessons learned into your marketing strategies. |
1. Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches Campaign
Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches campaign is often considered one of the most successful marketing campaigns in history.
It was created by Ogilvy & Mather, who partnered with police sketch artist Gil Zamora and psychologist Dr. Nancy Etcoff to create a video that would challenge our perceptions about beauty.
The video shows a woman being approached by two strangers on the street and asked to describe herself physically in a few words. Then, they ask her to draw herself while they take notes on what she says and how she looks as she talks.
Afterward, they have her meet a professional police sketch artist who draws her based only on what he saw when he was listening to her describe herself without seeing any drawings until after he finished his work.
The results were surprising: The images that came out were far more beautiful than those drawn by the women themselves or even those imagined by others (in one case an art student).
This led Dove to consider why this was true and why we tend not only not to see ourselves as beautiful but also why our perception of others can be so skewed away from reality.
As part of its research into these questions, Dove worked with Dr Etcoff again; together they developed something called “The Body Project.”
This project aimed at helping women realize just how common many body issues are among all ages; participants were invited online where they could share their stories about body image struggles through written submissions or personal photos uploaded onto Instagram using #loveyourselfie hashtags.”
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2. Airbnb’s Global Love Campaign
This campaign is an example of one that resonates with its audience. The global love campaign was created to show how Airbnb is a platform for people to connect with the world, and it does just that.
It’s a series of short films and photos that depict love in various forms across many different countries, reminding us all to share kindness, compassion, and appreciation for those around us.
This type of message connects with many people and it should! We live in an age where we are constantly being bombarded by messages about how we need more stuff or how we should buy products that will make our lives easier (or sexier).
This campaign reminds us why sharing what we have can be so important.
3. Nordstrom’s Bridal Dressing Room Hack
Nordstrom’s Bridal Dressing Room Hack is a video that was posted to YouTube on May 15, 2016. The video shows a bride-to-be trying on wedding dresses.
Nordstrom’s Bridal Dressing Room Hack shows a bride trying on wedding gowns with her friends and family. The video has received over 2 million views on YouTube, making it one of the most popular wedding videos of all time.
4. Google Home Of The Whopper Ad
If you’re a fan of the internet, then you likely remember this ad. In it, a young girl asks Google Home if McDonald’s has fish. She is then transported to a remote island where she finds herself amid a Whopper-eating frenzy.
The ad was created by TBWA\Chiat\Day and won a Clio award for Best Use of Film & Video in 2017 (alongside 15 other awards). It was shown on TV, online, and in movie theaters around the world.
The reason this campaign works so well is because it’s silly but also relevant to current customers which makes sense when you consider that McDonald’s sells over 40 burgers every second worldwide!
This campaign is perfect because it simultaneously celebrates existing customers while also enticing new ones who may be interested in trying out one of their delicious burgers after seeing how much fun people are having at their restaurants.
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5. Taco Bell’s Live Mas Scholarship
Taco Bell’s Live Mas Scholarship is a scholarship program for college students that is funded by Taco Bell’s Live Mas Scholarship program. The scholarship program awards $5,000 each year to up to 15 winners.
Taco Bell has been around since 1962, but the brand didn’t launch its first national advertising campaign until 1989 and only began rolling out TV ads in 1995.
Since then, Taco Bell has become one of the most recognized fast-food chains in America thanks to its clever use of marketing campaigns including this cleverly named one:
“Live Mas!”
6. IMDB’s Will You Be My Mom? Email Campaign
This campaign is one of the most memorable I’ve seen in a while. IMDB wanted to promote it’s new “Will you be my mom?” feature, which pairs up people who don’t have moms with celebrity moms who will help them out.
The video opens with an adorable child asking a series of questions about the world and then proceeds to ask for someone to be his mom or dad.
It then shows him going through his day alone until he gets an email from IMDB saying that there’s a match for him and that it’s none other than Ellen DeGeneres! She even mentions her cat, so all signs point to yes: She is indeed this little boy’s new mom.
7. Amazon’s Send A Box Of Hugs Campaign
Amazon’s “Send a Box of Hugs” campaign was created to help people who were going through a difficult time.
The idea was inspired by a customer who wanted to send a box of hugs to her friend, who had lost her mom and was going through a difficult time. When Amazon heard about this story, it decided that the company would send the customer its box of hugs.
The customer received the box and took pictures of herself with it, which she posted on Facebook. The photos went viral because they were so endearing and because people wanted to send their boxes of hugs after seeing them!
As you can see from this example, creativity is key when marketing your brand online; unique approaches will get noticed far more easily than traditional ones will!
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8. IKEA’s The Other Side Campaign
This campaign is a series of short films that IKEA created to show you “the other side” of life. The films are about people who have overcome challenges or have a story to tell, and they make the world a better place in their own way.
Here are some examples:
A homeless man named Joe has been living in New York City for over 20 years. He’s watched the city change around him but Joe hasn’t let it get him down.
Instead, he goes out every day to do good deeds for strangers on the streets, and even though he doesn’t have much himself, he never hesitates to share his generosity with others (no matter what).
Another film shows us how one young Lebanese woman overcame great odds just so she could attend school every day without being harassed by her classmates who would often call her ugly or fat because they didn’t see any value in education at all!
This girl was determined not only survive through this difficult time but also to succeed despite these obstacles so she worked hard at school until she graduated high school with honors!
9. Lego Boost’s Not Just A Box Commercial
To give you a better sense of how the kit works, watch this commercial:
In the commercial, kids are using LEGO Boost to build a robot. As they build their robots, they can use different parts and accessories to program it to do things like follow an object or play music.
The commercial also shows how easy it is for kids (or anyone) to get started by simply snapping together bricks that have been pre-programmed with instructions.
There’s no coding required! It’s so simple that even your grandparents could assemble one in less than 30 minutes so you’ll want one for Christmas!
10. Domino’s Pizza Hero Campaign
The Domino’s Pizza Hero campaign is an example of a great storytelling campaign. The idea of the campaign was to tell the story of a fictional superhero who can only be summoned by ordering pizza. The hero then saves others from danger and rewards them with free pizza.
The ad was made into a video game where you can play as the Domino’s Pizza Hero and save people from dangers such as fires, car accidents, and burglaries all while delivering pizzas to them in exchange for tips or money which helps fund his mission.
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11. Hilton Hotels #Travelwithpurpose Campaign On Facebook
The #TravelWithPurpose campaign on Facebook was a huge success for Hilton Hotels. The campaign ran for just one week and resulted in more than 2 million views, 1 million engagements, and 100,000 shares.
It encouraged people to travel with a purpose, showing the positive impact that travel can have on people’s lives.
And it did so in an authentic way by focusing on real stories from travelers who were able to use their travels as a vehicle to achieve their goals or help others achieve theirs.
This campaign was effective because it was targeted at the right audience for Hilton Hotels: people who might want to travel but haven’t yet found their reason for doing so yet (or rather, haven’t found someone else’s reason).
12. These Companies Created Some Truly Innovative, Inspiring, And Fun Campaigns That We Can All Learn From
These companies created some truly innovative, inspiring, and fun campaigns that we can all learn from.
“Tag a friend who’s been to the world’s tallest mountain,” said Breitling Navitimer. The brand was able to shift the focus away from their product and connect with consumers in a social way.
Nordstrom tapped into its customers’ nostalgia for childhood with its #NordstromComes2You campaign on Twitter, which allowed fans of the brand to shop for clothes without having to leave their homes or wait for delivery services.
Anheuser-Busch released an ad showing how beer is made; the ad went viral because it was novel and relatable (i.e., people love watching videos about other people doing hard work).
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Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of some of the most innovative and inspiring marketing campaigns. We were thrilled to see how so many companies are using their resources to create positive change and fun experiences for their customers.
Thinking outside the box is a great way to succeed in any industry and it also happens to be one of the best ways to get noticed by your audience, who will likely remember your brand fondly.
Whatever you do next with your marketing strategy, we hope these examples will inspire you and give you an idea or two that might just blow your audience away.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to explore for more insights into marketing campaigns and strategies:
WordStream Blog:
WordStream’s Best Marketing Campaigns Examples
Discover a collection of successful marketing campaign examples that can inspire your own creative efforts.
AdAge Article:
Top 15 Ad Campaigns of the 21st Century
Explore a list of the top ad campaigns that have made a significant impact in the 21st century, showcasing effective marketing strategies.
Bluleadz Blog:
10 of the Biggest Marketing Fails of 2017
Learn from past marketing failures to understand what went wrong and how to avoid common pitfalls.
FAQs
What are some examples of successful marketing campaigns?
Successful marketing campaigns include those like Apple’s “Get a Mac” ads and Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign, which effectively communicated their brand messages to audiences.
What makes an ad campaign impactful in the 21st century?
An impactful ad campaign in the 21st century often leverages digital channels, resonates with the target audience, and tells a compelling story that connects with the modern consumer.
How can I learn from marketing failures?
Studying marketing failures can provide valuable lessons in understanding audience preferences, avoiding missteps, and refining strategies for better results.
What are common marketing pitfalls to avoid?
Common marketing pitfalls include inadequate audience research, unclear messaging, lack of consistency across channels, and failing to adapt to changing trends and technologies.
How can I create a memorable brand message?
Creating a memorable brand message involves defining your unique value proposition, understanding your audience’s needs, and crafting a consistent narrative that resonates with them.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.