
Need help brainstorming advertising ideas?
Advertisement is undoubtedly the best way to let people know about you, but the most challenging part is designing an Ad that grabs your audience’s attention.
A person, on average, is bombarded with over 6000 advertisements per day. Given the staggering competition, can you imagine your traditional Ad catching your target market’s notice?
It’s time to get super creative!
I have complied snippets of 30 creative advertisement and commercials ideas with real-time examples for inspiration. Explore the concise list and start crafting effective Ads.
1. Produce Witty Ads
Humor makes your Ads highly memorable. It is a proven technique that has never didn’t bring out an unforgettable amusement.
Ever seen the “Never say no to panda!” Ad?
The Egyptian cheese commercial featured a Panda terrorizing people into trying out the product. The Panda Cheese advertisement series was launched in 2010, and to date, folks fondly chuckle at the video.
People who come across a funny advertisement are more likely to share it with their friends. Go for humor if you want to boost your brand’s reach.
2. Design A Playful Packaging
As you know, packaging is part of your brand identity. With a playful package design, you can outshine your competitors and attract your target market.
Sony is a classic example.
In 2014, Sony introduced its underwater MP3 player and wanted to let people know about it. The company literally went overboard and used water bottle packaging to highlight its feature.
Whether if Sony advertisement brought customers, it clearly garnered attention.
3. Try Something Bizarre
Some niches are too dry to gain your target market’s attention. If your business falls into such a category, let your imagination run wild and design memorable Ads—just as GEICO does.
The insurance company is well aware selling its product is challenging and uses weird commercials to charm the audience.
Its advertisements are borderline ridiculous with talking lizards instead of suits, but you’ve got to admit, they’re remarkably original.
4. Compose Jingles
Jingle has a way of ingraining itself into your memory with little effort. Decades will pass by, and you’d still recall that childhood candy song with perfect clarity.
Do you remember McDonald’s “I am loving it!” iconic jingle? The tune has gained such popularity, 54% now immediately associate it with the burger.
Catchy jingles create a distinct connection to your brand. Even if your target market is not ready to buy, they will recognize your brand.
5. Play with Puns
Puns are silly, corny, and exceedingly entertaining. They catch your attention and captivate you with hilarious wordplay. Many even use visual puns to hook their audience.
Kekemelodi, a Turkish Art Therapy class, in 2014, published a series of static ads to promote stuttering therapy classes. While some might find the post offending, it was astonishingly creative. Orbit is another brand that abundantly employs puns in its posts.
Play with puns to stand out.
6. Appeal to Your Audience’s Emotions
People respond well to an advertisement that portrays strong emotions. When they see an Ad that resonates with their values, they feel more connected to the brand.
Study the #like a girl campaign by Always.
The brand targeted general stereotyping to trigger anger emotion. As a result, Always received a powerful reaction and immense recognition.
Discover your target audience’s pain points and use them as a key element in your advertisements.
7. Feature Celebrities in Your Ads
Celebrities expand your market reach, build trust in your company, and increase brand visibility.
Nike is the model case.
Nike has a track record of sponsoring and featuring athletes in its Ads. By collaborating with celebrities, Nike has successfully carved out its space in the sports industry. Its sister company Air Jordan is the proof of it.
Reach out to influential celebrities and tap into the new market to generate leads.
8. Collaborate Creative Efforts
Co-branding is an efficient method of extending your reach. You break into each other’s customer base and draw them through collaborative offers.
Take Forever21 and Cheetos.
The American fashion retailer teamed up with the corn puff company and released their flaming hot Cheetos themed limited edition clothing line.
Both brands are opposites, yet their combined efforts have brought stunning results.
9. Participate in A Social Cause
70% of the audience prefer brands that engage in social issues. Social issue advertisements not only create public awareness but build trust in your company.
Nike, once again, is the perfect example.
Besides sponsorship, Nike often merges social issues with its product features.
In 2019, following the More Than an Athlete campaign, Nike launched a footwear product line and encouraged users to write their stories on the shoes.
Take inspiration from popular brands and publish social ads.
10. Share Posts that Relate to Your Audience
Moonpie, an American company famous for its marshmallow confections, wears a solitary persona to connect with its fans. Its posts typically revolve around a guy sharing his woes with the audience.
Moonpie disguises its promotion so expertly that its posts appear almost genuine.
Sometimes ordinary drives extraordinary results. Advertise your product through content that relates to your target market.
11. Opt for Bandwagon Advertising
Ever heard the term “Jump on the bandwagon?”
In advertising, Bandwagon follows a similar concept where brands promote their product as a trending item.
You’ll often notice it on SaaS companies’ websites and advertisements.
The above screenshot is of the Shopify homepage. By mentioning its customer Shopify implies, “Millions of brands are using our platform, so why don’t you?”
Try this technique to develop a desire for your brand.
12. Aim for Rational Advertising
Rational advertising is a sure way to attract an audience.
Yesterday, while scrolling, I noticed a post describing the correct use of eyeliner. The image consists of two images with the captions “Do like this. Not like this”. Instantly I clicked on the post, thinking the author was a makeup guru.
That, in a nutshell, is rational advertising. You present yourself as genuine, transparent, and an expert in your field.
Share stats, publish tutorial clips, or merely mention a fact, as Burger King did in the above Ad.
13. Go Green
Being at the top of global issues is how many brands have built their customer base, today. Find out what features you can switch with eco-friendly items, and highlight it in your advertisements.
Use Starbucks for inspiration.
The coffee house is one of the well-known brands that has found ingenious ways to recycle its products.
Starbucks has introduced reusable cups, designed strawless lids, and even constructed tables from the coffee grounds! The company has an entire section dedicated to the environment.
14. Add Testimonials to Commercial
A testimonial advertisement is a brilliant marketing technique to endorse your product.
As many buy an item after checking out reviews, using testimonials in your Ad will increase your brand credibility.
Sensodyne typically employs such tactics to boost its reputation.
The toothpaste company often features doctors in commercials to present itself as a recommended brand.
15. Post Instagram Stories
Instagram stories are a budget-friendly advertising option that drives insanely large traffic. The platform hosts more than 500 million active users, and it’s one of the top marketing channels to advertise your product.
Check out The Beard Brand’s Instagram stories. The men’s grooming company regularly posts stories and has successfully generated over 190k followers.
Turn this feature to your advantage and share Instagram stories.
16. Boost Facebook Carousel Ads
Facebook Carousel Ads offers a creative approach to advertising your product. It is fun, effective, and extremely affordable.
If done perfectly, you’d be surprised how much traffic you can generate from it.
You can use multiple images and arrange them in any way to create visually appealing posts. There’s also an option to add several site links to the Ad. For instance, this carousel post leads you to the meal ideas blog.
Explore the feature, study its structure, and use it to your advantage.
17. Share Snapchat Stories
Snapchat has some interesting interactive features that allow you to engage with your audience.
It is a popular marketing channel many have been using to create brand awareness.
Sour Patch Kids, a candy brand, made the most of the Snapchat story feature and earned 120,000 new followers. Sour Patch Kids’ story was such a success it turned into a case study for marketers.
Post Snapchat stories to promote your products.
18. Choose Quora to Advertise Your Services
Promotion on Quora requires a subtle approach that you’d otherwise not need on any other social network for advertising. Ironically, it is the very reason Quora is the best platform for advertising.
Here’s one example.
This post is in response to queries about the pressure cooker.
Instant Pot uses the Off-Page SEO technique to promote its product. The company follows relative queries and suggests its cooker as a possible solution.
Give this touchpoint a try.
19. Publish Twitter Polls
Polls not only entertain your audience but help you advertise your product without appearing aggressive.
Check out this Pizza Hut tweet.
With a few playful words, Pizza Hut grabbed 51% of interested buyers while promoting the brand. The polls also provided data on how lucrative the product would turn out.
Use clever Twitter polls to grab eyeballs for your products and services.
20. Start An Instagram Contest
Regardless of how much anyone denies it, most individuals are inherently competitive. Contests create anticipation in your audience. The chance of winning a gift drives people to take part and share it with friends.
When Hallmark U.K. published a short contest, it received over 100 comments on a mere birthday card offer.
Capitalize on your buyer’s behavior and start a contest now. Trust me. Instagram contests can drive rapid growth in your following.
21. Offer Giveaway Against Referrals
A referral system entails asking your customer for recommendations and offering rewards as an incentive. It is an incredibly efficient advertising tactic to bring in new leads.
What’s remarkable, you don’t always have to provide a cash reward.
For example, World of Warcraft has earned multiple users through its referral program. The online game company leverages its user’s love for the game by offering in-game rewards to any who recruits a friend.
Find out what you can award and start a referral system.
22. Share User Reviews
Feedback might be a company’s method of improving services, but you can cleverly embed them on your social media posts to inspire trust in your products.
GoPro is one brand that practically barreled into the market using such a customer-centric marketing approach. Browse its social network, and you’ll see plenty of user videos sharing their GoPro experience.
84% of people look up online reviews to learn about a brand. Use buyer content to boost your reach.
23. Test Facebook Check-in Feature
During one of our friend’s outings, the cafe manager approached me and offered a free cookie for posting a pin location on my timeline. As it was a trivial request, naturally, I accepted.
But while I was busily munching on my free cookie, the café generated ten leads from that insignificant post.
Facebook check-in feature is an amazing option for local businesses to advertise their brands. It costs little and earns paying customers in return.
Give it a shot to see for yourself.
24. Provide Excellent User Experience
This advice might seem ill-suited for the current topic, but trust me, user experience inevitably advertises your brand.
Amazon is the best example. While the giant naturally must have used aggressive marketing to reach the top, it’s well known for its exemplary customer service.
Companies providing a good user experience receive three times more leads through word of mouth. The happier your buyer is with your services; the more they will share their experience.
Provide excellent customer service and let your customers spread the word.
25. Offer Coupons
Free coupons often draw new customers to your site because most feel reluctant to waste a perfectly good offer. Regardless of their intention to buy, they would still check out your site just to quench their curiosity.
If you’re starting or have established a brick-and-mortar business, consider offering free coupons to your prospects.
26. Outsource Street Artist
In recent years, the purpose of street art has moved beyond broadcasting powerful messages to the masses. Now, companies are using street art to revamp their images.
Gucci, last year, hired an artist to paint a mural as a part of the #GucciManifesto campaign. The luxury brand is one among many that have fully embraced street art.
Others, like Fendi and Louboutin, have also dipped their fingers in street art advertising.
Try this creative method to increase your brand visibility.
27. Try Vehicle Advertising
Advertisement car stickers might look tacky to the observer, but when used creatively, they can turn heads wherever your vehicle goes.
Vehicle advertising generates between 30 to 70k views on average. It has freedom of mobility, allowing you to promote your brand throughout the city.
Almost one-third of viewers visited the store after noticing the truck. Ad. Pursue Pinterest images to get car advertising ideas.
28. Design Inventive Billboards
Despite digital media’s emergence, Billboard is still one of the dominant advertising channels. Why? Because its formidable presence is incredibly hard to miss.
Billboards target a versatile market, expand your exposure, and display your brand all hour round. Almost 75% of drivers give a fleeting glance at billboards as they pass by. Imagine how much attention you can garner through creative posters.
It is a good idea to invest in creative billboard advertising if you want to make your presence felt.
29. Set Up A Pop-Up Store
Some brands occasionally set up temporary shops in the selected location. These pop-up stores are particularly designed to attract attention.
I mean, check out this amazing liqueur brand teapot bar. Primm traveled to the tennis event in this giant teapot to share its berry-flavor beverages with the visitors.
Pop-up stores are cost-effective and generate high foot traffic. Scour the niche market and set up your pop-up store that’s hard to miss.
30. Sponsor An Event
Event sponsorship builds relationships and boosts your brand credibility. It lets people know you’re genuine and allows you to interact with your audience.
Over 85% of visitors who connect with a brand during an event consider it a legitimate business.
Sponsor an event to promote your product. It will help you gain visibility and get some deep insights into your target market.
Wrapping Up
Innovation always attracts attention. The more inventive your Ad is; the higher chances you’ve of winning a customer.
These are some of the tried and tested ideas to get advertisements to work in your favor. You can try them all or pick a select few best suited to your marketing strategy and business resources.
Get your creative juices flowing to generate impactful advertising ideas. The sky is the limit to how creative you can get.
