11 Creative Marketing Campaigns You Should Bookmark

Alright, let’s talk creative marketing. In a world where we’re bombarded with ads every hot second, it takes something special to make us stop scrolling and pay attention.

Because people want to be entertained! A survey by Celtra with Dynata found that having an entertaining story or message is the top element that catches a consumer’s eye in brand creatives. So if your marketing isn’t making people sit up and take notice, it’s time to switch things up.

In this post, we’re diving into some creative marketing campaigns that are giving everything they’re supposed to give. These are the ones that’ll have you bookmarking for inspiration, so grab your notebook (or open that Pinterest board), because you’re gonna want to remember these.

What Makes a Great Ad?

The advertising industry is filled with hits and misses — some campaigns that have won awards aren’t a part of regular pop culture. And the ones we always remember don’t always win industry accolades, but that don’t make them any less amazing.

That being said, the hallmark of a great ad isn’t always whether it wins awards or is liked by a lot of people. If it can do both and skyrocket success for a business, great! But there’s more to it.

According to 10 marketing pros that Hubspot interviewed, here’s what makes an ad pop off:

1. Clear, consistent messaging — which helps your audience get what you’re trying to say to them, and helps with brand recall
2. Storytelling — which makes sense since the human brain craves a good story and it’s good for conversion rates, too
3. Emotional appeal — by tapping into universal feelings like sadness, anger, joy and empathy, people can have a more heartfelt connection with brands
4. A surprising twist — whether it’s something funny, shocking, or that it’s never been done before you can’t help but remember it
5. Music (because life needs a soundtrack) — it’s catchy, helps with brand recall, and sparks emotion really easily
6. Eye-catching visuals — people are visual creatures. Photos and videos can spark a visceral reaction in us, and make an ad a lot more memorable
7. Strong call to action — it gives people something to do and guides them to the action you want them to take

5 of Some of the Greatest Campaigns of All Time

I’d have to make a separate blog post to catalogue all of the stellar ads that have ever existed — so here are 5 to wet your beak.

1. David Ogilvy’s Masterpieces: Considered the Father of Advertising, Ogilvy has created some of the world’s most successful and iconic marketing campaigns — like the Hathaway Shirt Ad and the Rolls Royce Ad— that persuade and influence readers people, and create memorable, evergreen content. You’ll find his name in countless books about marketing and advertising, and his lessons are valuable to this day
2. Nike’s “Just Do It”: Fun fact: this iconic tagline was inspired by a death row inmate’s last words “Let’s Do It”. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade!
3. Anheuser-Busch’s “Whassup”: This 1999 gem didn’t just sell beer; it became a whole cultural moment. Now that’s what I call impact!
4. Apple’s “Here’s to the Crazy Ones”: Apple said “We see you” to every misfit, rebel, and troublemaker out there with this brand manifesto, and we all felt that. (I also love that this came out the year I was born)
5. P&G’s “Behind Every Olympian”: This Mother’s Day tearjerker proves that sometimes, the best creative marketing is just straight-up emotional manipulation (in the best way possible, of course).

Want more ad inspiration? Check out these gems here, here, and here.

Now onto some of the latest creative marketing campaigns I’m obsessed with right now.

11 Creative Marketing Campaigns That Are Giving Everything They’re Supposed to Give

1. Pizza Hut “ResZAmes”

Helping job seekers stand out by printing out and delivering resumes to prospective employers on pizza boxes? Now that’s thinking outside the box (pun absolutely intended).

Image Source: Food and Wine

2. E.l.f. Beauty “So Many Dicks”

566 men named Richard, Rick or Dick on the boards of directors of U.S. based companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, compared to only 806 Black women, 774 Asian women and 283 Hispanic women amid nearly 37,000 board members. So I LOVE to see E.l.f. Beauty call out the lack of diversity in corporate America.

Image Source: Women in Retail

3. The Woolmark Company “Wear Wool, Not Waste”

Using zombies to promote sustainable fashion? It’s a yes from me! The average polyester product is likely to survive in landfills for more than 200 years. Built on this uneasy idea, the campaign centres around a 60-second film showing people rushing to escape a zombie invasion of the old synthetic clothes that still haunt our planet to this day.

Image Source: Art Vibes

4. Asics “The Desk Break”

When Succession’s Brian Cox tells you to prioritize your mental health, you listen. Asics brought the star into their latest ad calling out corporate wellness culture, and urging 9-5ers to reject superficial perks like free fruit or ‘Wellness Wednesdays’ and instead prioritize their mental well-being through movement.

Image Source: The News Market

5. TUI x Hello Fresh “Meals Against Jet Lag”

TUI x Hello Fresh team up to help travellers beat jet lag before it happens with meal boxes that suits your destination + instructions on timings to help get your biological clock into the holiday zone ahead of your trip.

Image Source: Ads of the World

6. Squarespace “Change Your World”

A trifecta of special effects-filled films show how people can start and grow their own business with Squarespace — from purchasing a domain to taking classes on e-commerce and more.

7. Olay “Movies Should Be Scary, Skincare Shouldn’t Be”

Sarah Michelle Gellar slaying skincare fears like she slayed vampires? Iconic. In a playful nod to her horror roots, Buffy’s Sarah Michelle Gellar helps consumers banish their fears, proving that retinol isn’t the bogeyman of skincare.

8. Honda “Unstoppable Dreams”

John Cena + reverse poetry = marketing gold. The wrestler-actor narrates a reverse poem format to speak to veteran and newbie F1 fans about the failures that bog us down, then hitting REWIND to tell tale a of triumph.

9. Johnnie Walker x Squid Game “Choose Your Player”

Mixing high-class whisky with Netflix’s hottest show? That’s a cocktail I want to try. To kick-off the highly-anticipated 2nd season of Squid Game, Johnnie Walker collaborated with the hit show to create an interactive “pick your player” experience that pairs deliciously with the limited-edition bottle design of Black Label that’s equal parts Johnnie Walker class and Squid Game trendiness.

Image Source: Passion Spirits

10. Roku “Less Screaming, More Streaming”

An ad that feels my streaming frustration on a spiritual level. This ad tap dances on every last nerve we’ve ever lost when it comes to streaming and watching TV at home. Brilliantly showcasing the simple solution that involves a lot less screaming in frustration. (spoiler alert: it’s Roku)

11. Capital One “No Nasty Surprises”

We’ve all dealt with nasty surprises… albeit not as wild as the messy chaos of getting a batsh*t crazy badger, but regardless — CapitalOne promises us that when it comes to their credit cards, you know what you’re getting.

Wrapping It Up

These campaigns are proof that creative marketing isn’t just about selling a product. It’s about creating a moment, sparking a conversation, or making people feel something. Whether it’s using humour, emotion, or just plain shock value, these brands found a way to cut through the noise and make us pay attention.

Ready to level up your own creative marketing game? Don’t miss out on the weekly tea! Subscribe to my newsletter where I share cool creative marketing campaigns, drop copywriting tips hotter than your morning cup of tea, serve brand voice advice, and keep you in the loop with all the industry goss.

Remember, in the world of creative marketing, be the campaign that makes people go “damn, I wish I thought of that!” Now go forth and create some marketing magic!