Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
50 Times Ads Were So Clever, They Deserved A Place On The Internet
If you pause for a moment and take in your environment, chances are you’ll notice the ocean of logos, slogans, and visuals all battling for your attention. In all the clutter, many people might feel like they are becoming ad-blind, but every once in a while, a very clever marketing team will put together something creative enough to cut through the noise.
We’ve collected a series of interesting, cool, and downright brilliant advertisements from around the world, so scroll through and upvote your personal favorites. Be sure to write your thoughts below and share your favorite marketing strategies in the comments section.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Very Direct Ads From The City Of Toronto Against Littering
RELATED:
#2
Effective Advertising
ThéveNinja (she/her) 3 years ago
Brilliant. Now if we could just add this to some kind of curriculum for young people…
Despite the internet being around for decades, 2017 was the first year that online advertising surpassed non-digital ads. While this might seem surprising, given the absolute dominance of online content, marketing, and shopping, it’s more a reflection of just how cheap digital ads are, compared to physical advertisements.
After all, once you have the design and copy, you can copy-paste images until your hard drive gives out. A physical ad, for example, a billboard, has to be printed, installed, and then you generally pay a monthly rent on it. A lot more costly and not guaranteed to get as many eyes on it as a banner on the side of a well-trafficked site.
#3
Best Pet Adoption Ad Ever
#4
Really Great Minimalist Billboard Ad
#5
Italian Pasta Brand Advertisement In Honor Of Simpsons' 30th Season
Since the targets of a digital ad tend to be at their computers or on other, interactive devices, clever marketers can do a lot more than just showing an image and some text. While the worst examples include flashing lights, scammy texts, or, God forbid, playing sounds, good marketing teams use the versatility of the internet to sell and raise awareness.
#6
This "Seatbelts Save Lives" Campaign
#7
Organ Donation Ad
Ansi 3 years ago
(Info before the comment: Where I from, people at evening/night has a reflecting badge on a string from their pocket so cars can see pedestrians.) At my doctors office there was a sign: "Don't wear reflectors, there is always a need for organ donors." 😲 I thought that was really clever.
#8
Bus Stop Bench Ad. These People Know How To Advertise
For example, Volkswagen’s “The New Golf” ad was basically a puzzle game that could be played directly from your browser. In it, the “player” would be given a random assortment of tiles with roads on them, which they needed to rearrange. Not only would it draw someone's attention, it represented the car’s ability to navigate through anything.
#9
Child Safety Awareness Ad
#10
Advertisement, You Are Doing It Right
#11
An Advertisement For Keloptic.com - A French Website That Sells Glasses
Unfortunately, many banner ads are cheap, annoying, and often quite useless. As any functional site doesn't want to scare away users, these ads will be positioned at the margins of the screen so the main content is more visible. Think about it this way, an ad on the side might be a bit irritating, but it doesn’t stop you from reading this article, a cookie recipe, or a watch-review. Compare that to how an unskippable ad on YouTube makes you feel.
#12
Great Advertising For A Bar
#13
The Best Tampon Ad I've Ever Seen
GoGoPDX 3 years ago (edited)
This! When I was in Belize when I was about 13, we went out snorkeling one day. We were told that there were more than likely be nurse sharks, and possibly some other species. I had gotten my period the day before, and didn't really think about it until we were on the boat going out to the place. All. Of a sudden I remembered that sharks can smell a drop of blood up to 500 meters away. I was terrified! I was convinced all the sharks of all kinds were all going to swarm around trying to find the source and attack. When we goy there I refused to get off the boat, which isn't like me, as I am quite adventurous. My mom asked what was up, and I told her. She tried to tell me I would be fine, but I was convinced. Then the guides got involved, thinking I was just genuinely scared,but I still would not get in and they didn't understand why I was convinced I would be attacked. My mom then informed the 3 guides and a random elderly woman and her hard of hearing husband who stayed in the boat "she is in her period and thinks the blood will attract the sharks". Well, one guide acted like he was suddenly busy, another guide looked uncomfortable and was trying to awkwardly come up with what to say, but the third guide was very nice and explained I would be fine. He went into how his wife and daughters (come to find out he had 5) snorkeled and dove and swam all the time, even on their periods, and have never been attacked or swarmed by sharks. The elderly lady then was explaining very loudly what was happening to her hard of hearing husband, who kept asking her "what!?say again?!" Well, 13 year old me was so mortified that even if I still was convinced I would be attacked, I got in that water just to save the embarrassment. Well, the sharks did not swarm or attack me, and I ended up enjoying the snorkeling very much, but then did not want to get back in the boat due to the fact that everyone has now heard the story and it was the topic of conversation the boat ride home.
#14
Creative Advertising For Copenhagen Zoo
Researchers have found that regular internet users have developed what they called “banner blindness.” Because digital ads are often in the same places, people’s brains start to shut out these images and just ignore them automatically. While this phenomenon was first observed in 1998, we’ve gotten even better at limiting “unnecessary” information, a vital skill when nearly all the knowledge in the universe is available at the tip of our fingers.
#15
This Ad Is Just Beautiful
PeepPeep the duck 3 years ago
I don’t think I’ve ever had yet urge to steal a billboard except for now
#16
This Coffee Advertisement
#17
LEGO Advertisement
A 2015 study even found that perhaps 93% of all internet ads go unviewed. People skip banners, do something else while unskippable video ads play, and just do their best to not notice a marketing team's work. However, advertisers have gotten better at targeting, as the click ratio has been on the rise since the early 2000s, although 1998 was one of the “best” years, with a 2% click-through rate (CTR).
#18
Surfrider Foundation Sushi Ad
#19
Local Advertising Done Right
PeepPeep the duck 3 years ago
I remember quitting for a bit and then had a cone and omg I had to have a shower and just sit and eat like a teenage stoner. It was amazing
#20
About Autism
Of course, bigger brands understand that their image is enough to sell a product, not a description of the product itself. There are many, many energy drinks on the market, but only one is closely associated with extreme actions and literal wings. Without even saying the name, there is a solid chance you already thought about Red Bull, even if you don’t ever drink their products.
#22
Utah Ski Resort Gets A 1-Star Review From A Guy In Los Angeles Because The Mountain Was Too Difficult. They Used The Review To Advertise
#23
I Would Hesitate Before Jumping On Board
While Red Bull commonly sponsors all sorts of extreme sports, that doesn’t necessarily make them special, as they are one of the many logos that snowboarders, rally drivers, and paragliders adorn themselves with. But what sets them apart from the rest is the willingness to sponsor truly extreme events, like Felix Baumgartner’s jump from space, which they organized, and then live-streamed for the world.
#24
If He Can’t Fix It, No Juan Can
#25
You Know The Weather Is Bad Where You Live, When Advertisers Have To Be This Clever
#26
The Kind Of Advertisement Which Works For Me
The result is that almost no one else can even try to claim “extreme” credentials, as they inevitably have to now compete with a company that helped a guy fall from the stratosphere. Clothing and shoe brand Nike (as if I needed to clarify that) is also hard at work building a reputation as the company for athletes and people interested in fitness. Their Nike+ app and devices, while not at all connected to clothing, are a good example of using a product to sell the brand.
#27
The Picture Of The Japanese Movie Advertisement Is Printed On Two Sides Of The Newspaper, So The Full Picture Could Be Seen Under Light
#28
This Beer Ad
PlatinumThe8-BitCat 3 years ago
This reminds me so much of the episode of Futurama where they make beer inside Bender
#29
Forensic Science Ad
So while marketing might be getting a bit of a dirty name, with bombastic slogans, intrusive, targeted ads, and just overwhelming sensory attacks, this list shows that clever ideas will still actually win in the fight over our attention. If this list wasn’t enough, fear not, Bored Panda has got you covered. Check out our other list that gathers posts from the “Best Ads Of All Time” Twitter account.
#30
Points If You Can Relate?
Sergy Yeltsen 3 years ago
Harsh. But not as harsh as a new employee (around 18-20 y.o.) saying "What is this, a 3D print of a save icon?" when looking at a floppy.
#31
Honest Advertising
#32
Erdal Shoe Polish Ad
#33
Los Tacos Ad In Norway
#34
My Wife Asked Me To Make Some Ads For Our Garage Sale On Facebook. I Think I Found The Perfect Hook
#35
This Ad For The British Shoe Maker Clarks
Caroline Kimber 3 years ago
Omg, amazing memories of Clarks....always got my school shoes from there.
#36
Found This Ad For Pressure Washing
#37
Sugar-Free Chupa Chup Lollipop Ad
#38
Advertisement For Light Dog Food
#39
To Advertise Beer From A Van
#40
Creative Baggage Carousel Advertisement
#41
Gods Of Marketing
#42
These Ads By IKEA Recreating Living Rooms From "The Simpsons", "Stranger Things" And "Friends"
#43
New Marmite Billboard Ad, UK
#44
Haha, Good Advertising KFC
#45
IKEA Reminding Us The Importance Of Sleep
#46
How Mercedes Benz Advertised Their Strong Headlights
#47
This Inflatable Lock Advertisement On A Storage Building
#48
Great Ad Placement
#49
The Photoshop Artist For This Digital Ad For Toothpaste Needs A Raise
afia kooma 3 years ago
I didnt want to brush my teeth as a kid because I loved the caracters "Karius and Bactus" who supposedly lived in our teeth. They seemed like fun, and I didnt want to send them out into the ocean on a raft. This would have made me refuse point blanck, because they are obviously also very gifted and valuable and who am I to kill them? 🤷♀️
#50
A+ Advertisement
#51
This Reddit Billboard Advertisement For Their Voting Initiative
afia kooma 3 years ago
This gave me a whole new and more positive view on reddit to. And its the best kind of self promotion, the one where you just work to the betterment of the world around you, because that is what is right and good to do.
#52
One Of The Best Ads I've Ever Seen
Firstname Lastname 3 years ago
I personally would love it as a series of shorts, with the mime being a sassy hubby who always has the best nonverbal responses.
#53
An Advertisement On The Back Of A Bus
#54
LEGO Campaign Developed By Asawin Tejasakulsin, Senior Art Director At Ogilvy & Mather, Bangkok
#55
This Alzheimer's Awareness Ad
#56
Noodle Restaurant Ads. Ingenious
Donkeywheel 3 years ago
Because people walking on the yacht docks are the target audiences who buy noodles.
#57
McDonald's Valentine's Day Ad
#58
Ad For Bubble Tea In Sydney
#59
Czech Advertisement For Budweiser
#60
Well, That's One Way To Market To Millennials
#61
Ad On London Underground
#62
A Court Mop That Advertises Cup Noodles
#63
This Stranger Things Ad In Warsaw, Poland
#64
A Neat Ad For A Ski Company
#65
This Ad Popped Up In Oslo, Norway, Where Over 4.000 American Sailors From The USS Gerald R. Ford Are Set To Enjoy Their Shore Leave This Weekend
#67
Very Creative Idea For Advertisement
General Anaesthesia 3 years ago
It blocks half the sidewalk. Marketing doesn't care about people.
#69
This IKEA Crib Ad That Is Also A Pregnancy Test. A Positive Test Also Reveals A Discounted Price
Donkeywheel 3 years ago
So if pregnant you’re supposed to go to the store with a piece of paper soaked in pee?
#70
Nescafe Wakes You Up
#71
"Carry Heavy Attachments" Yahoo Mail, 2012
#72
Nature + Advertising = This Gem
#73
Next Level Advertising
#75
Interesting Ad For Jeep
#76
This LinkedIn Ad
WindySwede 3 years ago
And write a true story about the dog you saved on the street, who turned out to be the ceo of the place you where going to. And the dog offered you the jobb on the spot when you came in through the doors! 🙃
#77
Advertising Done Right
#78
This McDonald's Ad I Came Across
#79
This Ad For The New Dodge Demon Is Simply The Letter From The NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Telling Them It’s Too Fast To Be Allowed
Daniela Lavanza 3 years ago
Yeah, because over speeding is cool...go tell that to the people in hospitals because of road accidents, please.
#80
I Love Clever Advertising. This One Is For Wide-Angle Lenses
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Superb Owl 3 years ago
There is a billboard of a cruise ship company at the Helsinki airport that says something along the lines of "In a ship, you wouldn't have arrived yet – and wouldn't even want to".
Superb Owl 3 years ago
There is a billboard of a cruise ship company at the Helsinki airport that says something along the lines of "In a ship, you wouldn't have arrived yet – and wouldn't even want to".
Related on Bored Panda
