GOAT ADS LIBRARY
But first...
What make them great?
Be authentic, tell a captivating story, and entertain or educate your audience. Aim for emotional impact and dare to be different.Â
Tesla sent car to space
On February 6, 2018, SpaceX launched a Tesla Roadster into space aboard its Falcon Heavy rocket. The car, owned by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, served as a test payload for the rocket’s maiden flight. The Roadster, with a mannequin named “Starman” dressed in a SpaceX spacesuit in the driver’s seat, was launched into an elliptical orbit around the Sun. This demonstration showcased the Falcon Heavy’s capabilities and aimed to inspire public interest in space exploration and innovation. The Tesla continues to orbit the Sun, symbolizing SpaceX’s ambitious goals and achievements in space technology.
Apple 1984
The Apple 1984 ad, directed by Ridley Scott, premiered during Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984. This iconic commercial introduced the Apple Macintosh personal computer and portrayed a dystopian future inspired by George Orwell’s novel “1984.” The ad depicted a heroine, symbolizing Apple, shattering the control of a Big Brother figure, representing IBM and conformity in the computer industry. The message was clear: Apple’s Macintosh would challenge the status quo and revolutionize personal computing. The ad is celebrated for its bold, cinematic approach and remains one of the most memorable advertisements in history.
The Tank and crushed Coca-Cola cans
In 1994, Richard Branson executed a bold marketing stunt to promote Virgin Cola by crushing a wall of Coca-Cola cans with a tank in Times Square, New York City. This dramatic event was designed to symbolize Virgin Cola’s intent to take on the giant Coca-Cola in the beverage market. Branson, known for his flair for publicity, used this stunt to generate significant media attention and position Virgin Cola as a formidable competitor. Despite the initial buzz and attention, Virgin Cola struggled to maintain its market presence against established giants like Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
Felix Baumgartner's Historic Jump from the Edge of Space
On October 14, 2012, Red Bull sponsored Felix Baumgartner’s historic jump from the edge of space as part of the Red Bull Stratos project. Baumgartner ascended to an altitude of approximately 39 kilometers (24 miles) in a specially designed helium balloon. From this height, he performed a free fall, breaking the sound barrier and reaching speeds of over 1,300 kilometers per hour (800 mph). Baumgartner safely parachuted to Earth, setting records for the highest manned balloon flight, highest parachute jump, and fastest free fall. The event showcased Red Bull’s commitment to extreme sports and human endurance, gaining global attention and acclaim.
Domino's: Paving for Pizza
In 2018, Domino’s Pizza launched a unique marketing campaign called “Paving for Pizza,” where the company repaired potholes in roads across the United States. The campaign aimed to highlight the importance of a smooth ride for delivering pizza safely and maintaining its quality. Domino’s partnered with local governments to fix potholes, emblazoning the repaired spots with the company’s logo and the message “Oh yes we did.” This creative approach not only garnered positive media attention and community goodwill but also reinforced Domino’s commitment to ensuring a great pizza delivery experience for its customers.
NIKE: Find Your Greatness
The “Find Your Greatness” ad by Nike, launched during the 2012 London Olympics, celebrated the potential for greatness in everyday athletes, not just elite Olympians. The campaign featured ordinary people from various locations named “London” around the world, emphasizing that greatness is not reserved for the few but is achievable by anyone, anywhere. The message was empowering and inclusive, aligning with Nike’s brand ethos of inspiration and motivation for all athletes. The ad resonated widely, reinforcing the idea that everyone has the capacity to achieve their own version of greatness.
Apple Think Different
The “Think Different” campaign, launched by Apple in 1997, was a powerful advertising initiative that marked a significant shift in the company’s branding strategy. Created by the advertising agency TBWA\Chiat\Day, the campaign featured a series of iconic advertisements that celebrated visionary individuals who changed the world, such as Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi. The tagline “Think Different” became synonymous with Apple’s innovative and rebellious spirit, encouraging creativity and challenging the status quo. This campaign played a crucial role in revitalizing Apple’s image and solidifying its identity as a leader in innovation and design.
Domino's: Pizza for Tattoo
In 2018, Domino’s Russia launched a marketing campaign offering free pizza for life to customers who got the Domino’s logo tattooed on their bodies. Participants had to share photos of their tattoos on social media to qualify. The campaign quickly went viral, with many eager fans getting inked to claim the prize. However, the overwhelming response led Domino’s to end the promotion early, as they had not anticipated such high participation. Despite the abrupt conclusion, the campaign generated significant buzz and highlighted the lengths some fans would go to for free pizza, showcasing the brand’s popularity and creating lasting impressions.
Nike: Make It Count
The “Make It Count” video by Nike, released in 2012, was an innovative and impactful advertisement that leveraged the power of YouTube before this kind of viral marketing became commonplace. Directed by and starring filmmaker Casey Neistat, the video starts with the premise of creating a traditional commercial but quickly shifts as Neistat uses the entire budget to travel the world with his friend Max Joseph. Over ten days, they visit numerous countries, capturing their adventures and embodying the video’s message to “make it count.” The spontaneous and authentic approach resonated widely, amassing millions of views and showcasing a new, effective way of engaging audiences through genuine storytelling and social media platforms.
Our Blades are F***ing Great
The “Our Blades are F***ing Great” campaign was launched by Dollar Shave Club in 2012. This viral marketing video featured CEO Michael Dubin delivering a humorous and irreverent pitch about the company’s affordable and high-quality razors. The video quickly gained widespread attention for its candid and entertaining approach, contrasting sharply with the more traditional, polished advertisements of established razor brands. The success of this campaign catapulted Dollar Shave Club into the spotlight, significantly boosting its customer base and establishing it as a disruptive force in the shaving industry.
Liquid Death
In 2021, Liquid Death, a canned water company known for its edgy and unconventional marketing, released an ad featuring children pretending to be intoxicated at a party. The ad, titled “Kids Hydrating at a Party,” showcased youngsters drinking Liquid Death from beer-like cans, engaging in typical party antics, but with the twist that they were consuming water, not alcohol. This provocative and humorous campaign played on the visual similarity of Liquid Death’s cans to alcoholic beverages, aiming to challenge traditional marketing norms and appeal to a younger, rebellious demographic. The ad quickly went viral, sparking conversations about marketing creativity and responsible advertising.
Point of View
The Guardian’s “Point of View” advertisement is a renowned campaign that exemplifies the power of perspective in journalism. The ad cleverly demonstrates how different angles and contexts can dramatically alter the interpretation of a news story. Through a well-crafted narrative, the advertisement underscores the importance of considering multiple viewpoints to gain a fuller understanding of events, reflecting The Guardian’s commitment to comprehensive and balanced reporting. This campaign is often celebrated for its innovative storytelling and its emphasis on the critical role of perspective in the media.
The Epic Split
The Volvo ad featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme performing an epic split between two reversing trucks became an instant sensation when it was released in 2013. Titled “The Epic Split,” the commercial showcased Volvo’s dynamic steering technology in a dramatic and visually stunning way, with Van Damme calmly holding the split as the trucks gradually moved apart. The ad quickly went viral, captivating audiences worldwide with its breathtaking simplicity and Van Damme’s iconic pose. It also became a popular meme, with countless parodies and references spreading across social media, cementing its place in pop culture.
Coinbase Super Bowl QR
Coinbase’s Super Bowl commercial in 2022 took a minimalist yet highly effective approach by featuring a floating QR code bouncing around the screen, reminiscent of an old DVD screensaver. The ad sparked immense curiosity among viewers, leading millions to scan the code with their smartphones. The unexpected surge in traffic caused Coinbase’s website to crash almost immediately. The simplicity of the ad, combined with the intrigue it generated, made it one of the most talked-about moments of the Super Bowl, demonstrating the power of curiosity-driven marketing.
Chicken Ad
The Mercedes-Benz “Magic Body Control” advertisement, featuring a chicken balancing to demonstrate its head stability, is a clever and memorable campaign. In the ad, a chicken’s head remains perfectly still while its body moves, symbolizing the stability and smoothness of Mercedes’ suspension technology, known as “Magic Body Control.” The ad uses the natural ability of a chicken to maintain head stability to humorously and effectively illustrate the car’s advanced suspension system, highlighting how it provides a seamless and comfortable ride. This ad is widely praised for its creativity and engaging approach to showcasing complex technology.