Who's Watching These Ads?
In the ever-evolving world of marketing, it takes a truly extraordinary marketing campaign to capture our attention and leave a lasting impact. Over the past two decades, several ad campaigns have achieved just that, pushing boundaries and becoming cultural phenomena. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the five most creative marketing campaigns since 2000 that have astounded audiences around the globe. Get ready to be amazed as we explore these iconic campaigns that have made waves in the industry.
5. Old Spice - The Man Your Man Could Smell Like
Old Spice successfully reinvented its brand image with “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” campaign. Starring the charismatic Isaiah Mustafa, these commercials showcased the brand’s products in a humorous and larger-than-life manner. The rapid-fire editing, surreal transitions, and Mustafa’s confident delivery captivated audiences and made Old Spice an unexpected cultural phenomenon. This campaign proved that even seemingly mundane products like deodorant could become exciting and desirable when marketed with creativity and a touch of absurdity.
4. Dos Equis - Most Interesting Man in the World
Let’s take a detour from the conventional and venture into the realm of intrigue and mystique with Dos Equis’ unforgettable campaign featuring “The Most Interesting Man in the World.” This iconic series of ads introduced us to a charismatic and enigmatic character whose exploits and remarkable qualities were legendary. With his suave demeanor, witty one-liners, and a touch of the extraordinary, the Most Interesting Man in the World instantly captured our imaginations and sparked our curiosity. Each commercial painted a picture of a life lived to the fullest, all while subtly associating it with Dos Equis beer. This campaign achieved the remarkable feat of transforming a beer brand into an aspirational lifestyle, where consumers could aspire to be as captivating and adventurous as the legendary character himself. Stay thirsty my friends.
3. IHOP - IHOB
In a surprising move, the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) temporarily transformed into IHOB, causing a social media frenzy. This audacious campaign generated widespread buzz and speculation about the mysterious “b” in IHOb. This goes to show just how strongly customer’s associate branding with their favorite companies. It turned out to be a clever stunt to promote their new burger menu. The controversy sparked conversations, garnered media coverage, and ultimately reminded everyone of IHOP’s core offerings: pancakes.
2. Budweiser - Wazzup
Ah, the early 2000s, when answering the phone with a casual “Wazzup” became a cultural phenomenon. Budweiser cleverly capitalized on this trend with their iconic “Wazzup” ad campaign. The commercials featured friends enthusiastically greeting each other with the catchphrase, creating an instant connection with viewers. This marketing campaign can truly be called a campaign as the initial success launched a string of other ads following the same style of dramatic plays on “wazzup”. The simplicity, relatability, and humor of the concept turned it into a pop culture reference that still resonates today.
1. Dollar Shave Club - Our Blades are F***ing Great
Topping our list is a marketing campaign that dared to be bold and unapologetically hilarious! Dollar Shave Club’s viral video, titled “Our Blades are F***ing Great,” took the world by storm. This unconventional approach, coupled with their charismatic CEO, showcased the benefits of their affordable and high-quality razors. The campaign not only showcased the power of thinking outside the box but also highlighted how a small startup could disrupt an industry dominated by giants.
While these are the top 5 that made this list, there are thousands of ads that have aired since 2000 that could make a “top 5” list. If you feel like we missed your favorite, let us know down in the comments below!