Have you ever wondered which have been the most memorable ad campaigns of all time? Over the years, some brands and companies have managed to get stuck in our minds one way or another, whether through a witty slogan, a catchy tune, an interesting message, or an honest campaign. There’s no clear recipe for success in the advertising world. Nevertheless some ads have proven to be very effective and unforgettable. Whatever it is that makes an ad special, triumphant, and powerful, all of the greatest advertising campaigns in history share a common feature: they are utterly memorable.
However, the world of advertising is not everything Mad Men makes us think it is. Sometimes audiences don’t get the message, aren’t drawn to the product, or the strategy chosen turns out to be the wrong one. Other times, marketing experts simply miss the mark and mess things up. Just check out our list on the Top 10 Worst Marketing Campaigns Ever Produced and see just how bad some ads can be.
Let’s take a look at the current countdown now and find out which are the most memorable ad campaigns of all time.
7. Get a Mac
Apple’s ad campaign “Get a Mac” was more than just memorable; it was incredibly helpful to the company. Apple managed to reverse its downward sales trend and their market share grew to 42% a year after the commercial aired. The concept was simple: two people, one representing a PC and the other representing Mac. Needless to say everybody wanted to be, to own, to live Mac.
The six most memorable ad campaigns of all time or coming up. Don’t block them.
6. Got Milk?
In 1993 the California Milk Processor Board released its renowned “got milk?” ad campaign, one of the most influential campaigns in the country. The aim was to encourage and increase the consumption of cow’s milk, and it definitely worked; milk sales in California rose 7% just a year after “got milk?” was in everyone’s mind.
5. Great Taste, Less Filling
Miller Lite found its proper place on the market with the “Great Taste… Less Filling!” campaign. No one thought that light beer could succeed, at least not in the male market. However, Miller Lite proved everyone wrong, becoming the number two beer in the US on the strength of being a light beer that tastes awesome.
4. Marlboro Man
For 45 years Marlboro resorted to a successful and memorable ad campaign that sold a lifestyle rather than cigarettes. We all had a particular Marlboro Man that defined our generation, but regardless of the specific man we felt drawn to, the effect was the same: men wanted to be that cowboy and women wanted to have him. A campaign that went on for nearly half a century was certainly effective, but also memorable, or rather unforgettable.
3. A Diamond is Forever
The De Beers ad campaign is probably one of the most renowned in the history of advertising. In fact, by the turn of the century their slogan was declared the most memorable of the 20th century. The company basically created the concept of the diamond engagement ring, a must in every marriage proposal; a gemstone as everlasting as true love is supposed to be.
2. Just Do It
Nike’s celebrated trademark slogan and campaign was first conceived and released in 1988. Believe it or not, there once was a time when Reebok did way better than Nike, but after their successful and decisive campaign, things were never quite the same in the sports footwear business. In 1998, a decade after “Just Do It” hit us all, Nike had increased its worldwide sales to $9.2 billion, and its share of the domestic market to 43%.
1. Think Small
The legendary ad campaign for the Volkswagen Beetle was created in 1959 by the Doyle Dan Bernbach advertising agency (DDB). Their challenging task was to boost the sales of a small, simple, compact automobile that was manufactured in a Nazi-built plant. Moreover, baby-booming America demanded powerful and spacious muscle cars, so the strange little Beetle was at a real disadvantage. DDB’s campaign was so successful that it was able to subvert the stereotypes and preconceptions of the public, making Volkswagen Beetle one of the best-selling automobiles in the world.
