In this article, we shall discuss the 10 best marketing campaigns of all time. To read our detailed analysis of some of the trends affecting the global marketing industry in 2023, go directly and see 20 Best Marketing Campaigns of All Time.
10. “Share A Coke”
Average Ranking: 18
In 2011, The Coca Cola Company (NASDAQ:COKE) launched its campaign “Share A Coke”, in which each Coca Cola bottle was personalized with the 150 most popular names in the country. The campaign started in Australia and was soon adopted globally. It was very successful as it was personalized and resonated with the consumers.
9. “The Marlboro Man”
Average Ranking: 15.5
“The Marlboro Man” was a character that was rugged, masculine, and a cowboy. Through this character, Marlboro (NYSE:PM) tried to associate its product with the masculinity of its male consumers. The campaign was incredibly successful, highlighting the power of brand personalities and visual storytelling.
8. “The Man Your Man Can Smell Like”
Average Ranking: 14
Through its campaign “The Man Your Man Can Smell Like”, Old Spice (NYSE:PG) created videos that responded to comments from fans. By the end of the campaign, Old Spice (NYSE:PG) was able to create 186 personalized videos. The campaign engaged with consumers in a fun yet personalized way, making them feel heard.
7. “Wassup?”
Average Ranking: 13.5
Budweiser is one of the world’s largest beer companies and it’s campaign “Wassup?” is thought to be one of the most iconic marketing campaigns in history. The campaign included ads featuring a group of friends drinking Budweiser and greeting each other with “Wassup?”. This simple yet iconic ad resonated with customers as they could easily relate to the situations in the ads. The campaign ran for two years and was adopted globally.
6. “Real Beauty”
Average Ranking: 10
Through its campaign “Real Beauty”, Dove (NYSE:UL) attempted to boost women’s self-confidence by challenging the unrealistic beauty standards set by the media and the beauty industry. The campaign was launched in 2004 and featured real women showing their faces without makeup. The campaign was extremely influential and successful because it was relevant to the consumers, used real women which created a sense of authenticity, and was adapted by many countries around the world.
5. “Startos”
Average Ranking: 9
RedBull’s campaign “Stratos” is thought to be one of the most groundbreaking and revolutionary marketing campaigns of all time. The campaign featured a skydiver jumping from a helium balloon 24 miles above the Earth’s surface. The act was live-streamed on social media platforms and is known to be one of the most-watched live events in history. The campaign was successful as it was watched by over 8 million people online, appealing to a variety of consumers.
4. “The Most Interesting Man in the World”
Average Ranking: 8
Dos Equis’ campaign “The Most Interesting Man in the World” features a character, who is confident, sophisticated, and uses the slogan “I don’t always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis. Stay thirsty, my friends”. This slogan and campaign resonated with consumers since it put forward the idea that you can also be interesting and fun after drinking the beer. The campaign is still known to be very popular and effective.
3. “Just Do It”
Average Ranking: 6
In the 1980s, Nike (NYSE:NKE) realized that its competitors were selling more shoes than them, so it decided to launch the “Just Do It” campaign. Even though the campaign was short-lived, the slogan caught public attention since it personified the very spirit of sport. The campaign became incredibly successful and Nike’s (NYSE:NKE) sales skyrocketed from $800 million in 1988 to more than $9.2 billion in 1998. Thus, Nike decided to retain “Just Do It” as its company’s slogan.
2. “Is Pepsi OK?”
Average Ranking: 4.5
In 1988, Pepsi (NYSE:PEP) launched its campaign “Is Pepsi OK?”, which attempted to challenge the idea that Coca Cola ((NASDAQ:COKE)) was the only acceptable cola beverage. The campaign positioned Pepsi (NYSE:PEP) as an affordable alternative by creating ads that asked people “Is Pepsi OK?”. The ad included humorous and captivating responses from the consumers. The campaign was successful because it featured the consumers and demonstrated the power of catchy campaigns.
1. “Get a Mac”
Average Ranking: 3
One of the most iconic and the best marketing campaign of all time is “Get a Mac” launched by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), in which they illustrated the differences between the Mac and personal computers in unique ways. The campaign often featured two characters: a young and suave character advertising the Mac and a weak and unappealing character advocating the PC. The campaign made Mac look more accessible and attractive to consumers and increased its sales substantially.
Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our daily free newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below. You can also take a peek at 14 Best Consumer Staples Stocks To Buy Now and 12 Cheap Biotech Stocks Smart Investors Are Piling Into.
