50 Of The Best Ads Companies Have Ever Run

While we all know the importance of great advertising, it seems to be one of those things that is easier said than done. Many billboards are simply passed by without being noticed at all, and plenty of ads on YouTube are skipped as soon as possible. But when an ad does stand out, you might want to snap a photo and share it online with fellow ad-enthusiasts. This subreddit, dedicated to “high quality images of advertisements,” has amassed an impressive 465k members over the last 12 years through sharing simply static images of brilliant ads.

We’ve also taken a trip to this subreddit, which is a bit smaller but shares a similar goal. “Only the most creative and mind-blowing marketing ideas and concepts belong here,” the group’s About Community states. And as it turns out, anything can be marketed in a fabulous way, from McDonald’s burgers to job opportunities to luxury cars. So whether you need an IKEA pillow or a reminder not to smoke cigarettes, you’re sure to find something on this list that will catch your eye.   

While advertising may seem simple to those of us who have only ever come across ads, rather than created them ourselves, it can actually be quite complex. According to Indeed, there are three main types of advertising: above the line, below the line and through the line. Above the line ads are not specifically targeted towards any group of people, but rather large, wide audiences. These include TV, radio and magazine ads which are sure to reach a wide variety of people.

Below the line ads have a target audience. These can include mailing lists, in-store ads and commercials created for specific programs where they’ll know their audience. And finally, through the line advertisements use a combination of both above and below the line techniques, often for brand-building campaigns. These are typically widely distributed and use cookies or digital data to give customers a personalized experience. 

Indeed notes that it’s important for companies to focus on creating great advertising because it increases sales, informs customers, helps introduce new products, informs advertisers about their own competition, retains customers, increases employee morale, differentiates brands, increases customer trust, can help reach target customers, and explains company values. As crucial as it is to provide excellent service and products as well, advertising cannot be overlooked. And to keep your company from being overlooked, ads must be geared to attracting customers’ attention. It can be helpful to use “bright colors, jingles, sketches or clever taglines,” Indeed recommends, but anything out of the ordinary might be a great choice.

A great ad not only captivates audiences but also advocates for a product. It can be helpful to detail why exactly this brand is superior to competitors and what the advantages are of supporting this company. Advertisers should also focus on their target audience, and establish a consistent image. “Identify your target audience by reviewing sales history or demographic information about your customers or by distributing customer surveys,” Indeed explains. “Then design advertising that appeals to them using research and focus groups.” Consistent colors, fonts, logos, etc. can also help your brand become instantly recognizable by your customers.

While it’s important for companies to pump energy and resources into great, creative ads, advertising is so powerful that it can have positive or negative effects. So companies must be wary of running any ads that will hurt their businesses. According to Amped, bad advertising can alienate your customer base, ruin your brand image and sometimes even lead to lawsuits. In fact, one third of Americans say they refuse to purchase from brands who have previously released bad advertisements, even if the ads were later changed or removed.