Greatest Ads of All Times

Advertisements promote products, services, or campaigns through written or visual messages. Businesses can pay the owner of a channel or platform that reaches a similar audience to broadcast these messages. The ultimate goal is to inform and persuade customers or potential customers to take action, such as making a purchase. Two of the biggest challenges in advertising are measuring the value of the advertisement and ensuring it resonates with the right people. Reaching and engaging with everyone in your target audience can be tough since they are dispersed across so many different channels. Plus, the vast volume of competing ads can make it hard to stand out and make an impact on your audience. As the nature of advertising evolves, it’s important that you do too. People can advertise anywhere, and today’s best type of ad might not be the best type tomorrow. Types of Advertisements As you can imagine, there are many types of advertisements — all of which run in different mediums, on different channels, and have different goals in mind for their business. Here are eight examples of advertising from the past few centuries. 1. Print Advertising The first print ad ran in England in 1472, according to Infolinks. Since then, this type of advertising has become available in newspapers, magazines, brochures, billboards, flyers, and similarly portable methods of carrying a brand's message to its ideal end user. In this ad method, the advertiser pays the publisher to place their ad in the publication. 2. Direct Mail Advertising Direct mail involves creating and distributing printed materials to a targeted mailing list. These materials can include post cards, catalogs, brochures, letters, and promotional offers. This method first came about in 1835 when the American Anti-Slavery Society (AAS) mailed print materials to southern religious and civic leaders. Soon after, direct mail became a common advertising method used by businesses to raise awareness for their brand. Although it’s easy to write off direct mail as just “junk mail,” it’s actually quite effective, even in the digital age. Not only do consumers enjoy receiving physical mail, but there’s also much less competition compared to the tons of email marketing ads that people receive each day. 3. Radio Advertising United States radio stations launched their first commercial broadcasts in 1920. And while we might all drive around with our iPhones plugged in for music these days, don't let that fool you. Radio is still a viable marketing and advertising platform today for expanding the reach of sponsored events and new products. In this ad method, the advertiser pays the radio station to play their ad during designated breaks between music or a radio show. 4. Television Advertising Television ads originated in the 1940s with the promotion of practical items and political campaigns. Advertisers can now use television to promote food, toys, stores, business services, and more—both to local TV channels and to national broadcast networks. In this ad method, the advertiser pays the TV network to show their ad during designated breaks in the network's regular programming. 5. Internet Advertising Internet advertising took root in the mid-1990s with the launch of “banner” advertisements for various telecommunications companies. Marketers place these ads in interstitial spots on a webpage. Basically, advertisers pay the website owner to place their ads in exposed spaces peripheral to the website's own content. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Internet advertising has gone on to include video, search engine marketing, and more. 6. Social Media Advertising Social media advertising is a form of internet advertising that emerged with the introduction of social media in the 2000s. In this ad method, advertisers promote products, services, or content through paid ads on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok. There are also many different ad formats to choose from when advertising on social media, such as image ads, video ads, carousel ads, sponsored posts, and more. 7. Mobile Advertising Since the early 2000s, mobile advertising has been a popular method due to the widespread use of cell phones and the amount of time people spend on them. It involves delivering promotional messages or advertisements through text messages, mobile apps, mobile websites, and push notifications. With this method, advertisers can leverage data and create highly personalized ads based on location, behavior, and user interests. 8. Podcast Advertising Podcast advertising gained popularity in the mid 2000s with the introduction of MP3 players, such as iPods, which made it easier for users to download and listen to podcasts on the go. Similar to radio advertising, podcast advertising is where advertisers pay podcast owners to promote their product or service through sponsorship or ad spots in podcasts. These ads can be inserted before, during, or after a podcast episode. In essence, the advertising types listed above have evolved dramatically since their inception. What were once quite one-dimensional messages now carry clever, funny, or profound undertones that make the ads memorable years after they first ran. What makes a good advertisement? No matter which method of advertising you use, one thing remains true: the best advertisements capture the attention of consumers right from the start. Here are some key qualities of an effective and impactful ad. It has a clear message. Clear messaging ensures that your audience understands what you’re trying to communicate with them. Without clarity, consumers may misinterpret or fail to grasp the main point of your ad, leading to confusion and a loss of impact. As consumers are constantly bombarded with advertisements, simple and straightforward messaging can also help your brand cut through the noise and grasp their attention. It tells a story. Storytelling is essential in advertising because it allows you to connect with your audience on a deeper level. A well-told story has the potential to hold your audience’s interest for longer, increasing the chances of delivering your message more effectively. Decline all Manage cookies Skip to content English : Select a language High Contrast Log in Start free or get a demo Blogs Newsletters Videos Podcasts Resources Search... Start free or get a demo The 18 Most Creative Ad Campaigns in History Download Now: Free Advertising Kit Lindsay Kolowich Cox Lindsay Kolowich Cox Published: September 21, 2023 I've always been a little leery of proclaiming anything “the best.” I never declared anyone my best friend as a kid because I was afraid my other friends might assume I thought less of them. Person starting at a blank billboard picturing on of the best advertisements So it was a little difficult for me to come up with just one “best” advertisement of all time—which is why there are 18 in this post instead. But why are these some of the best ads of all time? Because of the impact they had on brand growth and because they hit on some universal truth that makes them memorable years after they first began. In fact, some of us might not have even been alive when these campaigns first aired. Download Now: Free Ad Campaign Planning Kit To know what makes an advertisement great, you must first understand what an advertisement is. In this post, we’ll discuss: Advertisements Types of Advertisements What makes a good advertisement? What is an advertising campaign? The Best Advertising Campaigns of All Time Advertisements Advertisements promote products, services, or campaigns through written or visual messages. Businesses can pay the owner of a channel or platform that reaches a similar audience to broadcast these messages. The ultimate goal is to inform and persuade customers or potential customers to take action, such as making a purchase. Two of the biggest challenges in advertising are measuring the value of the advertisement and ensuring it resonates with the right people. Reaching and engaging with everyone in your target audience can be tough since they are dispersed across so many different channels. Plus, the vast volume of competing ads can make it hard to stand out and make an impact on your audience. As the nature of advertising evolves, it’s important that you do too. People can advertise anywhere, and today’s best type of ad might not be the best type tomorrow. Free Advertising Planning Kit Plan and launch an effective and profitable advertising campaign with this guide and set of templates. An Overview of Popular Advertising Methods The Pros, Cons, and Costs of Advertising Types A Planning Template to Outline Timeline, Budget, and Goals A Project Pitch Presentation Deck to Share With Stakeholders Get Your Free Kit Learn more Types of Advertisements As you can imagine, there are many types of advertisements — all of which run in different mediums, on different channels, and have different goals in mind for their business. Here are eight examples of advertising from the past few centuries. 1. Print Advertising The first print ad ran in England in 1472, according to Infolinks. Since then, this type of advertising has become available in newspapers, magazines, brochures, billboards, flyers, and similarly portable methods of carrying a brand's message to its ideal end user. In this ad method, the advertiser pays the publisher to place their ad in the publication. 2. Direct Mail Advertising Direct mail involves creating and distributing printed materials to a targeted mailing list. These materials can include post cards, catalogs, brochures, letters, and promotional offers. This method first came about in 1835 when the American Anti-Slavery Society (AAS) mailed print materials to southern religious and civic leaders. Soon after, direct mail became a common advertising method used by businesses to raise awareness for their brand. Although it’s easy to write off direct mail as just “junk mail,” it’s actually quite effective, even in the digital age. Not only do consumers enjoy receiving physical mail, but there’s also much less competition compared to the tons of email marketing ads that people receive each day. 3. Radio Advertising United States radio stations launched their first commercial broadcasts in 1920. And while we might all drive around with our iPhones plugged in for music these days, don't let that fool you. Radio is still a viable marketing and advertising platform today for expanding the reach of sponsored events and new products. In this ad method, the advertiser pays the radio station to play their ad during designated breaks between music or a radio show. 4. Television Advertising Television ads originated in the 1940s with the promotion of practical items and political campaigns. Advertisers can now use television to promote food, toys, stores, business services, and more—both to local TV channels and to national broadcast networks. In this ad method, the advertiser pays the TV network to show their ad during designated breaks in the network's regular programming. 5. Internet Advertising Internet advertising took root in the mid-1990s with the launch of “banner” advertisements for various telecommunications companies. Marketers place these ads in interstitial spots on a webpage. Basically, advertisers pay the website owner to place their ads in exposed spaces peripheral to the website's own content. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Internet advertising has gone on to include video, search engine marketing, and more. 6. Social Media Advertising Social media advertising is a form of internet advertising that emerged with the introduction of social media in the 2000s. In this ad method, advertisers promote products, services, or content through paid ads on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok. There are also many different ad formats to choose from when advertising on social media, such as image ads, video ads, carousel ads, sponsored posts, and more. 7. Mobile Advertising Since the early 2000s, mobile advertising has been a popular method due to the widespread use of cell phones and the amount of time people spend on them. It involves delivering promotional messages or advertisements through text messages, mobile apps, mobile websites, and push notifications. With this method, advertisers can leverage data and create highly personalized ads based on location, behavior, and user interests. 8. Podcast Advertising Podcast advertising gained popularity in the mid 2000s with the introduction of MP3 players, such as iPods, which made it easier for users to download and listen to podcasts on the go. Similar to radio advertising, podcast advertising is where advertisers pay podcast owners to promote their product or service through sponsorship or ad spots in podcasts. These ads can be inserted before, during, or after a podcast episode. In essence, the advertising types listed above have evolved dramatically since their inception. What were once quite one-dimensional messages now carry clever, funny, or profound undertones that make the ads memorable years after they first ran. What makes a good advertisement? No matter which method of advertising you use, one thing remains true: the best advertisements capture the attention of consumers right from the start. Here are some key qualities of an effective and impactful ad. It has a clear message. Clear messaging ensures that your audience understands what you’re trying to communicate with them. Without clarity, consumers may misinterpret or fail to grasp the main point of your ad, leading to confusion and a loss of impact. As consumers are constantly bombarded with advertisements, simple and straightforward messaging can also help your brand cut through the noise and grasp their attention. It tells a story. Storytelling is essential in advertising because it allows you to connect with your audience on a deeper level. A well-told story has the potential to hold your audience’s interest for longer, increasing the chances of delivering your message more effectively. Telling a story can also help you differentiate your brand from competitors. By sharing unique stories that reflect your brand’s values or mission, you can establish a distinct brand identity and develop a loyal customer base. Free Advertising Planning Kit Plan and launch an effective and profitable advertising campaign with this guide and set of templates. An Overview of Popular Advertising Methods The Pros, Cons, and Costs of Advertising Types A Planning Template to Outline Timeline, Budget, and Goals A Project Pitch Presentation Deck to Share With Stakeholders Get Your Free Kit Learn more It uses emotional appeals. Emotions are a fundamental part of the human experience. When advertisements appeal to emotions, they tap into universal feelings, such as joy, sadness, or empathy. This creates a sense of relatability and empathy, allowing viewers to connect with the brand on a deeper level. Keep in mind that it‘s important to strike the right balance in emotional appeals and ensure authenticity and relevance to the brand and its target audience. Emotions should be used ethically, responsibly, and in alignment with the brand’s values and positioning. It’s memorable. Whether your ad has a catchy jingle or unique tagline, a uniquely creative approach has the power to stick with peoples’ minds and give you a competitive advantage in the crowded advertising landscape. When an advertisement leaves a strong impression, it continues to influence consumers' thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors even after the initial exposure. Memorable ads are also more likely to be shared and generate word-of-mouth, amplifying their reach and impact. It prompts action. A good ad creates a sense of urgency and prompts the audience to take action, whether it’s to make a purchase, visit a website, sign up for a newsletter, or engage with the brand in a meaningful way. A clear call to action guides your audience on what steps they should take next. Ultimately, prompting action ensures that advertisements are not just passive messages but active drivers of business outcomes. So how do you create an advertising strategy that resonates? Well, this post should help with that as we explore how we can learn from ads and campaigns. But, first, an important distinction: Telling a story can also help you differentiate your brand from competitors. By sharing unique stories that reflect your brand’s values or mission, you can establish a distinct brand identity and develop a loyal customer base. Nike: Just Do It. Coke: Share a Coke Absolut Vodka: The Absolut Bottle Anheuser-Busch: Whassup (1999) Miller Lite: Great Taste, Less Filling (1974) Always: #LikeaGirl (2015) Volkswagen: Think Small (1960) Google: Year in Search (2017) Dos Equis: The Most Interesting Man in the World (2006) California Milk Processor Board: Got Milk? (1993) Metro Trains: Dumb Ways to Die Apple: Get a Mac (2006) Clairol: Does She or Doesn’t She? (1957) De Beers: A Diamond is Forever (1999) Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like (2010) Wendy’s: Where’s the Beef? (1984) Procter & Gamble: Thank You, Mom (2012) KFC: “FCK” (2018)