When it comes to ads for products, we’ve all seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. We know what works and what doesn’t, but creating an effective ad campaign can still be a challenge. If you’re looking to create ads for products, here are some top tips to make your campaigns more effective!

Ads for Products

Advertisements are designed to promote a product to potential customers. They are usually created by the company marketing the product and may be distributed through various channels, including television, radio, print, and online.

The goal of an ad is to persuade customers to purchase the product, and they often include information about the product’s features, benefits, and price.

What is a Persuasive Advertising?

Remember those persuasive writing exercises from high school? Well, they’re similar to advertising, where the goal is to convince people to purchase a product or service.

In persuasive advertising, you’re trying to convince customers to buy the product.

This persuasion technique can be used across almost any marketing channel, including TV, radio, digital advertising, direct mail, and even paid search.

What are the best examples of persuasive ads? We looked across all mediums and found 13 exceptional ads that use persuasion techniques. Learn what these ads are doing well and how you can use these same techniques in your own advertising campaigns.

Has there ever been a time when you came home from a long day of work and were pleasantly surprised by a pile of boxes waiting for you at the front door?

One of my favorite things to do is to buy myself a gift. I also like to think that my present self is buying something for my future self.

Most of the time, I don’t remember why I bought that item because most of the time I buy things on a whim. Darn those persuasive ads.

Not all ads are created equally. Some are more effective than others at persuasion, and not all of them will lead to delightful surprises.

Here are 13 of the most effective, best-loved, and most memorable advertisements of all time.

13 Best Persuasive Ads

We hope these ad examples give you an idea of what a great ad looks like and help you come up with ideas for your own ads.

1. Absolut: The Absolut Bottle

The 1980s were an incredible time for advertising. The Absolut Vodka campaign was one of the most successful campaigns of all time.

This 25-year-long campaign featured over 1,500 images and was one of the longest continuous advertising campaigns in history. This dramatically increased Absolut Vodka’s market share in the US.

Despite how ordinary the bottle of Absolut Vodka looks, this clever marketing ploy involves using everyday items to create the shape of a different object, creating a memorable story that resonates with consumers.

Even boring products can be made more interesting with a little bit of ingenuity.

2. California Milk Processor Board: Got Milk?

The famous “Got Milk?” ad campaign by California’s Milk Processor Board was so successful that it’s now a meme and parody.

The “Got Milk?” campaign from Goodby, Silverstein, and Partners, is brilliant because it targets people who are already drinking milk and reminds them that they need it.

The advertisement ran in newspapers, magazines, and on television and radio for over ten years.

It’s often better to focus on your existing customers than to seek out new ones.

3. Clairol: Does She or Doesn’t She?

This 1957 advertisement is from a time when using unnatural hair colors was frowned upon.

The ad campaign was based on a conversation between copywriter, Shirley Polykoff and her mother-in-law. It capitalized on the thought among women that they could dye their hair in secret.

When Clairol first introduced its hair dye, only 1 in 15 American women admitted to using hair color. Eleven years later at the end of the campaign, this increased to 1 in 2!

The takeaway here is that it’s better to show than tell.

4. BBC: Dracula Billboard

The BBC’s 2019 advertising campaign for its new TV series, “Dracula,” was unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

This poster was for a show that was about vampires, so the white design made sense with the blood-red background.

The steak’s strategic positioning and unique design made it appear that the famous Count Dracula was lurking in the background at night. One of the most unique and creative advertisements we’ve seen.

Think outside of the box when it comes to using traditional advertising methods.

5. Nike: Just Do It

Before the 1980s, the sportswear company only catered to professional runners and athletes.

Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign was one of the most successful rebranding campaigns of all time. The company managed to change its image from a niche athletic apparel store to a mainstream fashion retailer by tapping into America’s latest fitness craze.

The ad, which has appeared in various formats, speaks to the company’s mission. It has also been translated into braille.

Rebranding to something more approachable can open up new audiences.

6. Coca-Cola: Share a Coke

By now, most people are familiar with the “Share a Coke” campaign of Coca-Cola, where each bottle, can, and advertisement features a wide variety of first names.

What started as a fun Australian campaign in 2011 turned into a worldwide phenomenon, and now even brands like Coca-Cola are taking advantage of personalized bottles.

The temporary nature of these bottles led to other creative Coca-Cola marketing campaigns, such as ones with personalized bottle labels that were related to popular songs, vacation destinations, and more.

In addition to personalizing their bottles, Coca-Cola also used its “Share a Coke” marketing campaign on giant billboard ads around the world. You could even submit your own name to appear on a global scale.

Of course, the competitor didn’t take this lying down with Pepsi poking fun at the campaign. But that didn’t hurt the success of this marketing campaign!

No matter how impersonal or mass-produced an item is, it can still inspire a connection.

7. DeBeers: A Diamond Is Forever

One of the most successful advertising campaigns of all time, the “A Diamond is Forever” campaign by De Beers totally changed the diamond industry.

Before this marketing campaign, engagement rings were nowhere near as common as they are now, so De Beers basically created the industry from scratch.

A well-thought-out marketing strategy, with effective words and images, can have a major impact on a target audience.

Since 1948, every single DeBeers advertisement featured the words “A diamond is forever” and AdAge awarded the campaign the “Number 1 Slogan of the Century” in 1999.

Advertising is one of the most powerful tools for creating the perception of luxury and value.

8. Budweiser: Whassup?

The best campaigns stick with you long after they’ve ended. And one of the best examples of that is how Budweiser has tapped into the creativity of their audience with hilarious, memorable ad campaigns.

The “Whassup?” TV ad first aired in 1999 and lasted until 2002. It showed a group of guys watching a game, drinking beer, and gave us all a catchphrase that we still say today.

In 2020, Budweiser brought back their “Whassup” ad with a “Quarantine Edition” where “Checking Up on Mates” is what’s up.

Don’t feel pressured to be edgy or controversial in your advertising. Just be yourself, and don’t be afraid to be a little silly.

9. Procter & Gamble: Thank You, Mom

This touching ad, which aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the 2011 Special Olympics, and the 2012 London Olympics, tugs at the viewers’ hearts.

By putting the spotlight on mothers of famous athletes, this P&G ad shows how their products have touched so many people’s lives.

In 2013, Procter & Gamble’s “Thank You, Mom” campaign became the most successful ad in P&G’s entire 175-year history. This inspired people everywhere to creatively share their own stories of appreciation.

It generated over 370 million in social shares and boosted Procter & Gamble’s revenue by over $500 million.

If you want your ads to stand out, it’s important to connect with your audience on an emotional level. Tapping into a bigger story can help you do that.

10. Always: #LikeAGirl

The #LikeAGirl campaign from 2015 was an excellent example of the power of videos on social media.

The #LikeAGirl campaign challenged the stereotype that girls can’t play sports and showed that it’s OK to be yourself. The campaign was so successful that 44 emojis were created to represent the message.

94% of respondents agreed that #LikeAGirl has empowered women to feel confident, and 3 times as many now associated “like a girl” with positive feelings.

A great way to connect with customers is to acknowledge their struggles and show them that you’re there to help them.

11. Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

This ad is the epitome of class and sophistication. The creators of the ad campaign wanted to convey the idea that your guy may not be quite as classy as “The Old Spice Man,” but with this fragrance, he could come close!

This marketing campaign became viral, and the video has over 59 million YouTube views!

This campaign was successful in part due to the agency’s responsive social media presence. Mustafa (the “Old Spice Man”) even recorded personalized video responses to fans online!

The mini ads are a great way to keep the content in your emails personal and relevant.

If you want your content to really stand out, start thinking about ways to make it more creative and personal. Social media is a great way to connect with customers and keep them engaged. Keep the conversation going by responding to comments and questions.

12. Google: Year in Search

This online content creation isn’t as well-known as others, but it’s a great example of using your customers’ ideas for new and creative ideas. Since 2016, Google has put out “Year in Search” every year.

This video shows how much people rely on Google search in their everyday lives.

Your customers can be your best content creators. By reposting or resharing their content, you can show your audience that you care about them. You can also highlight how you’ve helped others, which can help build credibility.

13. Metro Trains: Dumb Ways to Die

A clever and attention-grabbing song can grab people’s attention and stick in their heads all day long.

The Melbourne Metro Trains provide a great example of thinking outside the box and coming up with unique, engaging content that will get your messages heard.

The catchy song “Dumb Ways To Die” went viral, being played on radio stations, and made into a popular mobile video game.

The ad’s message was pretty simple: messing with trains is as stupid as poking a grizzly, taking off your helmet in outer space, or consuming rotten foods.

If you’re looking for a way to get your message across without sounding like a lecture, Metro Trains is the perfect example. By using funny content, they’re able to communicate the dangers of messing around near trains in a light-hearted way that’s easy for people to understand.

Even if your subject matter is dark or depressing, you can still use creative content and design to reach and connect with your audience. You just have to be smart about it.

Top Tips for Making Creative Ads

Now that you’re familiar with the basic components of an ad, it’s time to think about what kind of ads you want to create. Before you do, though, there are a few questions you should ask yourself:

• Who is your target audience? Make as detailed a profile for your ideal customer as you can. Think about their age, their sex, their interests, and whatever else you can come up with.
• What is the purpose of your ads?
• Where does your target audience spend their time? Do your market research to determine where your audience spends their time. Do they constantly use social media? Do they read magazines? Do they watch TV?
• When should you publish your ads? It’s not just about the time of day, but you should also think about factors like holidays (Christmas) or current events (COVID) that may influence how buyers behave.

Once you’ve got the who, what, where, and when of your advertising down, you’ll be well on your way to creating an effective and eye-catching ad that’ll help you stand out from your competition.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to create ads that sell products, following these tips will help make your ads for products more effective! From making sure your ads are relevant to using strong visuals, these tips will help you create ads that actually work. So don’t wait any longer, put these tips into action and see the results for yourself!