It seems like every commercial is trying to be funny these days, and it makes sense because humor is a way to sell your brand without outwardly selling something.

By appealing to a consumers’ funny bone, you’re able to engage with them and help them remember your brand.

Incorporating humor can work for almost any business or any product. Businesses with highly specialized or expensive products can take advantage by appealing to all audiences.

Businesses with small budgets can still take the time to make a clever joke.

The bonus is that someone who interacts with your marketing may not be your target customer, but they could very well share your information with someone who is. It’s all about brand awareness.

When it comes to humor, it’s important to be authentic. The brands that make humor work know their persona and their audience well enough to know what will make them laugh.

That being said, here are 55 funny commercials from the last five years and why we love them.

Pop Culture Commercials

Commercials Starring Comedians

Commercials Featuring Celebrities

Parodies

Commercials With Unexpected Twists

Iconic Campaigns

Hilarious Animation

Silly Commercials

Comedic Storytelling

Pop Culture Commercials

1. PopCorners

This commercial turned heads in 2023, with big-name actors like Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul renewing their titular roles from Breaking Bad. The serious nature of the show juxtaposed the humorous nature of the commercial.

Bryan Cranston, as Walter White, tells Jesse to “Say. Their. Name.” Paying homage to his infamous line in the show, “Say. My. Name.” Ultimately, this funny commercial stole the show at the 2023 Super Bowl.

Pro tip: If you’re using parody in your funny commercial, be sure to do your research and sprinkle in as many references to the original as you can.

2. Old Spice

Have you ever not laughed watching an Old Spice ad or interacting with them on social media? It seems like they can do no wrong when it comes to their marketing.

Most recently, Old Spice teamed up with the cast of The Witcher to make a commercial that pokes fun at how all those characters in old fantasy worlds really smell.

An indication of Old Spice’s success is how they’ve been able to make their marketing go viral. This is no easy task, especially when there is pressure on marketing departments to generate revenue.

But we can see that Old Spice’s decision to not be so focused on a hard sell is paying off.

What we like: Old Spice’s marketing may seem outlandish, but when you interact with their brand, they work hard to be worth remembering.

This brand awareness serves them well when you go shopping and think of their over-the-top funny marketing.

3. T-Mobile

Another favorite pop culture commercial is T-Mobile’s new ad featuring Zac Braff, Donald Faison, and bizarrely John Travolta, who sing a “Summer Nights” parody about how wonderful T-Mobile streaming is.

T-Mobile really covers their bases when it comes to nostalgic viewers, targeting lovers of the 1978 film Grease and the 2001 TV show Scrubs.

The trio of actors actually have quite a bit of chemistry together, helping sell the absurdity of a musical number about television streaming.

Pro tip: When it comes to picking who will star in your funny commercial, don’t forget about charisma. You will want someone who can really sell the humor in your commercial without coming off as goofy.

4. Pepsi

Ben Stiller stars in the 2023 Pepsi Zero commercial that pokes fun at the idea that actors in commercials are only acting; they don’t genuinely like the product. Ben Stiller acts as a superhero, a man proposing, and a friend of a robot, all proven to be disingenuous.

Pepsi is notorious for having celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Beyonce, David Beckham, and more sponsoring the brand. This funny commercial addresses the elephant in the room: Do these celebs actually like Pepsi?

The answer isn’t as important as you might think because when you really think about it, who cares if Beyonce actually enjoys Pepsi? The commercial reframes the question by asking you to try Pepsi and decide for yourself.

Pro tip: Be self-aware of people’s preconceived notions of your brand and use those ideas as a jumping-off point for your commercial.

5. Paramount+

Sylvester Stallone steals the show in Paramount’s commercial “Stallone Face,” which also features cast from Paramount shows such as Dora, Reno 911, Beavis and Butthead, and more.

Stallone tries to climb up a giant mountain of his talking face when the stone mountain suddenly needs to sneeze.

Everyone watching, including his real-life daughters (who are not impressed), holds their breath, hoping the mountain won’t sneeze him off. It’s ridiculous and hilarious and showcases the shows on their platform well.

What we like: Absurdity can be a way to incorporate humor into your commercial without thinking of witty quips.

6. M&Ms

Another commercial that took an unexpected turn was the 2022 M&M commercial “Meet The Parents.” A nod to the movie Meet The Parents, this commercial shows a young woman bringing home her boyfriend for the first time.

His face and body are covered in tattoos, and the yellow M&M says, “What’s all over your… shoes?”

Instead of pointing out the obvious tattoos, they talk about the flowers on his shoes and his occupation as a botanist, winning over the girl’s father, who loves to take care of plants.

Pro tip: If you want a funny commercial that isn’t generic, be sure to first address the situation in a way your viewers would expect and then take an unexpected turn.

7. Wonderful Pistachios

As society becomes more health-conscious, companies are finding ways to entertain consumers in their marketing while promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Wonderful Pistachios is a brand that has paved the way by using humor to encourage healthy snacking.

Their motto has been “Get Crackin'” for a while now, focusing on the joy of cracking open their pistachios.

Wonderful Pistachios’ 2023 commercial features PAC-MAN, who eats the pistachios just like the dots in the video game.

Viewers will chuckle when he runs into a giant bag of pistachios and somehow expresses confusion despite his lack of facial features.

Pro tip: Nostalgia can play an important role in marketing. Identify your key audience or ideal consumer and ask yourself which era they might be nostalgic for.

Pop culture references that target their nostalgia can win you some brand awareness.

8. McDonald’s: Next Stop, McDonald’s

The second McDonald’s commercial on our list, the UK commercial “Next Stop, McDonald’s,” makes good use of the 80s “Oh Yeah” song by Yello, made famous in the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

A family in a car notices that the next stop has a McDonald’s, and they all give each other a knowing look, raising their eyebrows to the beat of “Oh Yeah.”

This look passes from car to car stuck in traffic, including a giant bus full of people, a tour bus, and a biker gang, all driving towards the upcoming McDonald’s.

What we like: This commercial gives off very retro vibes, not just from the popular 80s song, but with the color choices, outfits, and cars.

If you’re going to give your commercial a retro vibe, be sure to pay attention to small details like wardrobe and makeup.

9. GM (General Motors)

In the Dr. Evil General Motors ad, Austin Power’s nemesis, Dr. Evil, takes over GM and decides that he can’t be the number two worst enemy of the world, coming second to climate change.

Dr. Evil decides to help save the world first and then take over the world. Seth Green and Dr. Evil argue childishly before going to fix their carbon footprint by having 30 new electric vehicles by 2025.

What we like: One of the safest types of humor for a funny commercial is self-deprecating.

If your company has a reputation for something not great, consider poking fun at yourself and showing your audience that you’re aware and trying to be better.

10. Uber Eats

If you’re a fan of the Netflix show Bridgerton, you will love the Uber Eats commercial “Period Romance,” which stars Bridgerton lead actress Nicola Coughlan.

In the commercial, Nicola watches the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice and dreams of Mr. Darcy when she searches her Uber Eats app for period romance, and a man who looks like he’s straight from a Jane Austen novel appears at her door.

Be careful what you wish for, though, because her Darcy-esque man has some really outdated takes, like being shocked by her ankles, asking what is in her dowry, disbelief at her status as a working woman, and using her crockpot as a chamber pot.

In the end, Nicola really just wanted some period relief products delivered, not a period romance male lead.

What We Like: The Female Gaze is having a moment in pop culture, and this commercial really leans into this idea and how it might be too good to be true.

11. Uber

Different from Uber Eats is the car service Uber that serves as a modern approach to taxi cabs.

Similar to the Uber Eats ad in pop culture references is the ad “Airport Dad,” which features the social media phenomenon where kids film their fathers being stressed and high maintenance at the airport.

The commercial includes many of the Airport Dad tropes, such as protecting the passports, ensuring pick up and drop off go smoothly, getting to the airport so early it’s funny and more.

Pro tip: If you’re going to use pop culture references, you’ll need to do your homework like the creators of this ad did and get as many aspects right as you can.

12. Bud Light

Another 2023 Super Bowl commercial turned heads as a couple dances to hold music while drinking Bud Light. Bud Light commercial uses Opus No. 1, made by Tim Carleton and Darrick Deel in 1989.

It went on to become one of the most famous hold call music when one of the creators worked at Cisco as a Call Manager and implemented it into the calls.

What we like: The song choice for a funny commercial should be taken seriously. Check out trending sounds on TikTok and other platforms before committing to a song.

13. Life Cereal

Getting kids to eat healthy is sometimes an impossible task, to the point that it feels like a good ‘ol Western standoff. A dad tries to get his daughter to eat healthy, while his other child says, “She never eats anything healthy!” in the Life commercial “Standoff.”

The cereal wins over the little girl, and the commercial ends with “Mikey likes it!” The ending tagline might be confusing for viewers who are on the younger side because it’s an inside joke referencing Life’s campaign “Mikey likes it” from the 80s.

Pro tip: If you’re going to reference past campaigns in your ad, be sure that your target audience fits the age range required to remember.

14. Hulu

We’ve all got our favorite TV shows, and some may say that we can be a little obsessive about not hearing spoilers before we watch them.

In the commercial “Be Obsessed: Give In,” Hulu fans plug their ears and scream “la, la, la” to avoid overhearing spoilers about their new obsession TV series.

The obsession worsens with couches that have an imprint on them that looks like you’ve never moved from that spot and fights between couples for watching new episodes without them.

The commercial tells the viewer to embrace it and be obsessed.

What we like: Some of the tropes in this commercial are nothing new, but the delivery is hilarious.

When the wife asks her husband if he watched The Bear without her, he is dressed like the main character Carmy and replies, “Yes, chef,” which is what they say in the show.

Commercials Featuring Comedians

15. GM

The second GM commercial we like stars Will Ferrell, who is being chased by zombies, with funny quips like, “If you’re going to be kidnapped, why not be kidnapped in an EV (electric vehicle)?”

GM uses contradiction in this commercial, with easygoing, joking Will Ferrell contrasted with the grim, dusty desert swarming with zombies.

What we like: The entire commercial is about 30 seconds, making it one of the shorter commercials on our list. Yet, the important ideas are still conveyed, and the quick pacing matches Will Ferrell’s witty nature.

16. Peloton

A Peloton commercial went viral during the holidays of 2019, but not in a good way. In the commercial, a woman’s husband buys her a Peloton, and she uses it throughout the coming year.

Audiences were conflicted about the commercial, calling the commercial “only for rich people” and “sexist.” So when the holidays of 2021 came around, the bar was pretty high for advertisers at Peloton.

Luckily, the 2021 commercial “A Fitness Carol,” which spoofs the character Ebenezer Scrooge in the classic A Christmas Carol, wasn’t controversial, just funny.

This commercial features comedian Bob Odenkirk and focuses on the absurdity of a grumpy Scrooge using a Peloton and finding Christmas joy played well in light of the controversy.

The commercial ends with the line, “When your workout’s a joy, it’s a joy to workout.”

Pro tip: Put careful thought into your tagline; you want something catchy and something people will remember.

17. Lays

The “Stay Golden” Lay’s commercial is one of the funniest commercials of 2022 due to its comedian cast of Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd.

The commercial begins with the two actors sharing a bag of Lays and reminiscing on all their experiences involving Lays, which include singing to Shania Twain in a convertible, extreme airline turbulence, being kidnapped, a turf war, buying a haunted house, and a wedding between Seth and the ghost from the haunted house.

What we like: If you’re going to show multiple, back-to-back funny scenes, they need to ramp up in both humor and intensity to keep viewer interest and get a big final laugh — just like Lays does.

18. Pepperidge Farms

There will never be an advertising campaign as iconic as “Pepperidge Farm Remembers” or more parodied by Family Guy or Futurama.

Sometimes, your commercials can be funny and memorable for the wrong reasons, and that’s the risk you take when you create an earnest, serious commercial.

This may be why the current Pepperidge Farms commercials focus on being lighthearted and funny, making fun of themselves before anyone else can.

In the commercial “Tasteful Observations,” comedic actress Hannah Waddingham, known for playing a proper British lady, eats Pepperidge Farm cookies and remarks on their buttery and flavorful taste, saying, “There are a million ways to describe Pepperidge Farm cookies.”

She stops, realizing that “It’s not proper to talk while you’re eating.” There’s a pause as she eats, and then her rigidness leaves when she says, “That is a damn fine cookie.”

What we like: Making your audience laugh can also influence them to buy more, as long as they can also reference the joke to the brand. So, make sure to mention your brand name multiple times to increase your chance of future association.

19. Old Navy

Another contemporary comedian, Natasha Lyonne, stars in the Old Navy commercial “The Pixie Pant.” In the commercial, Natasha is walking on the set when someone compliments her pants.

She goes through a stressed inner dialogue where she says, “Love to hear it, hard to own it, the overthinking begins and bingo-bango. Just own it!” She turns to the complimenter and says, “Thank you, they’re Old Navy.”

What we like: Natasha Lyonne is a great example of a comedian who appeals to younger crowds, which is important for a brand like Old Navy.

20. Amazon

The most watched ad on YouTube in 2022 was Amazon’s Alexa commercial featuring Scarlett Johansson and SNL comedian Colin Jost.

Colin tells Alexa to turn on the football game, and Alexa closes the curtains, chills the rose, and dims the lighting.

Scarlett remarks it’s like she read his mind, and then it cuts to a scene where they both wake up, and someone has bad morning breath because Alexa immediately orders mouthwash.

Alexa turns on a blender to drown Colin out and basically just exposes all their secret inner thoughts for comedic effect.

What we like: This commercial plays on gender or relationship stereotypes, yet the jokes are new and not the outdated misogyny the advertisement world is occasionally prone to, making it a fresh take.

21. Nike

A room full of babies gets a pep talk from comedian Bobby Cannavale in the Nike commercial “Unlimited Future.” Bobby lectures them about how unfair life is and how they don’t even get to choose their names.

As the camera zooms into their name plates, you realize they are all famous athletes.

Bobby says, “You don’t get to decide how your story begins, but you get to decide how it ends,” and a baby gets excited and stands for the first time at these words.

What we like: Similar to other commercials on this list, you really can’t go wrong with a lot of cute babies and a comedian as your spokesperson.

Commercials Starring Celebrities

22. Mountain Dew

Star basketball players Zion Williamson and Zach LaVine play themselves in a video game in the commercial “Level Up Your Game.” The game trash-talks them as they miss slam dunks and other throws, getting more and more personal.

The basketball players take a Mountain Dew break and are able to get the hang of the game and finally score points.

What we like: Food commercials are different than a lot of other products because you watch the actors or, in this case, basketball players, consume the product on camera.

Mountain Dew does a good job of making their drink look delicious and energizing in this funny commercial.

23. Heinz

You know a commercial is going to be good when it begins with the disclaimer “based on a true story.” Ed Sheeran explains his vision for a Heinz commercial in the video “Ed’s Heinz ad.”

He sets the scene by describing a super posh restaurant with pictures on the wall, fancy silverware, a jazz piano player, and a hostess who leads him to the table.

The waiter comes over and describes the specials, which are fancy meat, fancy vegetables, and so on, as Ed says, “Sounds fancy!”

Ed says the food looks good, but there’s something missing, and reaches into his bag to pull out a bottle of Heinz ketchup, to everyone’s shock and horror.

Time slows down as he adds ketchup to his meal, the waiter screaming. The ad ends with Ed asking, “So, that’s my idea. Do you want to do it?”

What we like: There’s something so clever and meta about having a commercial idea come from a celebrity, having them narrate the ad, and then end by asking if Heinz wants to make the commercial, essentially making it a non-commercial.

24. Frito-Lay & Pepsi: Unretirement

In the commercial “Unretirement,” former NFL players watch a game and reminisce on how much they miss playing when one of the players suggests that they unretire.

Eminem’s song “Without Me” starts playing with the chorus of “guess who’s back” while they suit up again.

At first, fans are enthusiastic about these legendary players joining the team again.

Still, this enthusiasm is short-lived as their age begins to show, falling asleep on the sidelines and asking for a senior discount on Pepsi and Frito-Lay products.

The scene ends with the players realizing they’d rather just watch the game at this point in their lives. This commercial was popular enough that Pepsi and Frito-Lay later made it into a series.

What we like: A collaboration between two products can be an excellent way to get more bang for your buck. Before choosing a partner, be sure that their product values and offerings align with yours.

25. Frito-Lay & Pepsi: Road to the Superbowl

The second Pepsi + Frito-Lay commercial on this list is “Road to the Superbowl,” featuring Eli Manning, Jerome Bettis, Terry Bradshaw, and Victor Cruz as they make their way to the 2022 Super Bowl in a giant bus that says “Super Bowl LVI or Bust.”

Peyton Manning is not enthusiastic about leaving, so they attach a hitch from the bus to his living room to bring him and Eli along. Victor and Eli end the commercial by jamming to an Olivia Rodrigo song.

Pro tip: Enthusiasm and great acting are the best ways to sell the jokes you feature in your commercial.

26. Dorito’s

“Jack’s New Angle” features Jack Harlow, who, while in the recording studio, sees someone eating a perfectly triangular Dorito chip and becomes obsessed with the triangle musical instrument.

Jack finds unexpected success by involving the triangle in his music, becoming more famous, and autographing fans’ triangles.

The commercial gets more chaotic as people become increasingly obsessed with triangles, replacing the British pound and getting its own award, “triangle player of the year.”

What we like: This commercial’s take on absurdity is engaging, which is what makes it actually funny. If you want to make a funny commercial that focuses on a ridiculous situation, be sure to use fast clips and rapid pacing.

27. BIC Lighters

One of the most iconic friendships has to be between Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart. What do these two have in common? Well, it involves a BIC Lighter, which can be used for grills, candles, and other items that need fire.

This commercial is a tongue-in-cheek approach to suggesting that BIC lighters can be used for recreational drug use, but it is not obvious enough to get anyone in any real trouble.

What we like: Your product could be used in an unexpected way; listing off all the ways it can be used is a great way to show its value.

28. Sprite

Another example of a commercial that isn’t afraid to get meta is the Lebron James Sprite commercial featuring Lil Yachty.

The commercial begins with Lebron telling us he will never tell us to drink Sprite, even if he was in a commercial (which he is) and it was on the cue cards (which it also is).

The director is upset as Lebron walks off set and approaches a table of men who are eating hot tacos. A cold Sprite could ease their burning mouths, but he still won’t tell them to drink Sprite.

He would only tell you to if you “wanna Sprite,” which is the tagline for the commercial.

What we like: Reverse psychology is what makes this commercial funny and also what makes the Sprite look delicious.

Parodies

29. Coors Light

When you’re a brand as big as Coors Light, you have more than one product you need to buy commercial space for.

But what if you’re buying astronomical Super Bowl ad time? Coors Light products such as Miller Lite, Coors Light, and Blue Moon all compete for the same commercial in the ad “The High Stakes Beer Ad.”

In the style of a Mission Impossible movie or other action thriller, this commercial features different Coors Light product lovers fighting each other in ridiculous combat to get the most screen time.

What we like: If you’re going to feature more than one of your products in a commercial, you’ll want to do it in a memorable way, like this ad. Make sure that each product gets sufficient screen time and viewer attention.

30. Google Fiber

Google Fiber’s commercial “What’s happening with the internet?” is unusually menacing.

In the ad, a girl clicks through her laptop, downloads tons of content with her super fast internet, and mocks Google Fiber’s ability to be so quick. The commercial parodies common horror movie tropes and pacing.

The ending tagline suggests that this kind of speed might take some getting used to.

What we like: Quick, succinct commercials can make a big impact if done correctly. If you’re limited to less than thirty seconds, use that time to make your viewers laugh and showcase your product.

31. Charmin

Voted the “sassiest” brand on Twitter, Charmin has found a way to stand out in a highly saturated market. Bathroom humor is a topic that is often perceived as being overdone, but when you see one of Charmin’s ads, you don’t feel that way.

The Charmin “Theatre of the Behind” commercial plays into this potty humor with a parody of a Shakespearean monologue on why you should “enjoy the go.”

What we like: Charmin consistently creates commercials with the same light-hearted, potty humor that fits their brand. Think deeply about your brand before deciding which type of humor to use in your funny commercial.

32. Texas Tourism

Parody works well in the Texas Tourism commercial “Get your Go Big or Go Home trip to Texas.” The narrator starts by saying, “Have you ever noticed that tourism commercials use camera angles that make everything look really big?”

As the camera shows stock footage of sizzling steaks and giant theme parks, the narrator says, “That looks like a great vacation!” The main woman of the commercial interrupts to say, “Hold on, we don’t need these camera angles to make this look like a fun vacation because it actually is.”

The commercial ends with the tagline “Let’s Texas.”

What we like: A funny, self-aware narrator can show you don’t take yourself too seriously and open up your audience to your message.

Commercials With Unexpected Twists

33. Tubi

It’s very rare that a commercial gets as much buzz as the 2023 Tubi Super Bowl commercial got.

Super Bowl fans were confused when it looked like the announcers were back reporting the Super Bowl and suddenly interrupted by their TV opening the Tubi app and playing Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

As someone who watched this occur in real-time, it was hilarious seeing everyone in the room scramble to find the remote and turn it back to the Super Bowl, only for it to be a clever prank.

Pro tip: If you want to pull off a commercial prank, you’re going to need to be convincing. Test out your commercial on people who aren’t aware to work out any kinks beforehand.

34. Max (Formerly known as HBOMax)

As more and more TV shows and movies end up on streaming services and away from cable, people are getting frustrated with all the subscriptions they have to pay for just to watch their shows.

Max addresses this in their commercial “Grandma Has to Go.”

In the commercial, the father complains about how expensive all the subscriptions have gotten. Instead of offering to cut down on subscriptions, he says, “Grandma needs to go,” offending his mother-in-law and her daughter.

The daughter suggests that they get Max instead because it has more of the movies and shows they actually want to watch.

What We Like: This is another example of a commercial addressing problems that their industry is known for, giving them a competitive edge instead of ignoring them.

35. Dollar Shave Club

If there is a company out there that embodies the effectiveness of using humor in marketing, it’s Dollar Shave Club.

This is a company that, a few years ago, consisted of about 10 employees, just trying to find a way to compete in an industry filled with iconic, long-time brands.

How did they expect to be able to compete with such big names as Gillette and Bic? The only way they knew how: by taking to social media to share their story.

You could probably call it the “ad seen around the world,” with over 17.5 million views on YouTube. If you haven’t seen it, you need to. Trust me.

Being a small company, they couldn’t afford a production crew, ad space on TV, or anything glamorous right off the bat. So they took to good-old YouTube with their CEO as the main character to talk about why their blades are “f***ing great.”

In an interview with the New York Times, CEO Michael Dubin expressed his firm belief in using video to tell stories and that the concept of using humor to promote a “smart business” led to the video going viral.

What we like: Shock value can go a long way in a funny commercial. Consider what your brand image is, and if you’re unconventional, make your commercial memorable with edgy quips and language.

36. Axe Body Spray

Another tongue-in-cheek approach to a funny commercial is Axe’s “Flipping the Haters” commercial. Axe invites “haters” of their brand who say their worst nightmare is someone next to them on the plane wearing Axe body spray.

Unaware of who is sponsoring them during the experiment, each participant smells the newest Axe body spray and expresses their admiration of the scent.

By introducing the participants to their hatred of Axe body spray, their review of the scents is given more meaning when they end up liking Axe’s newest fragrance.

What we like: If you’re aware of some of the negative stereotypes your brand holds, don’t be afraid to address them like Axe does in this commercial. Let your “haters” change their minds on how your brand has changed and adapted to modern times.

Iconic Campaigns

37. Subaru

In their series “Dog Tested, Dog Approved” commercial series, golden retrievers try to sneak off with a car in the middle of the night, driving offroad as a retriever family, and more.

This campaign started over ten years ago and has just recently been brought back due to popular demand.

The cute golden retrievers show how durable the car is while also making viewers smile.

What we like: These short commercials still make a big impact by being so unique and memorable, and of course, cute puppies never hurt!

38. Progressive: Fast Casual

One of my favorite contemporary commercial campaigns is the Progressive commercials that focus on new homeowners that are turning into their parents.

The ad “Fast Casual” focuses on a millennial who encounters a Chipotle-like restaurant that is fully customizable.

Overwhelmed by the number of choices, which he deems similar to a “science experiment,” the Progressive spokesman chimes in that they can’t save you from becoming your parents, but they can save you on home insurance.

What we like: This campaign has been widely successful because it humorizes and brings attention to the generational divide happening between millennials and boomers.

Satire can be an excellent way to bring humor to a potentially touchy subject.

39. Progressive: Replay

Have you ever been betrayed by your child being too honest with people and telling them things you would rather stay private?

The second Progressive commercial on our list is “Replay,” which features two moms talking about getting together to watch the upcoming game when one of the mom’s daughters chimes in to say, “She said she doesn’t want to watch the game with you” because they “talk too much.”

While the mother denies ever saying this, the replay doesn’t lie.

Pro tip: Children and babies in commercials can be a relatable way to make your audience smile and laugh.

40. State Farm

When you think about it, there are probably few industries more difficult to market than insurance because it’s not particularly exciting and it can be expensive.

Maybe that’s why every major insurance company is jumping on the humor train in an attempt to breathe life into this essential but pretty uninteresting industry.

Ten years ago, State Farm introduced us to the “everyday” character of Jake.

We can probably all recite in our sleep the TV ad featuring a customer calling “Jake from State Farm” at three in the morning as his wife comes downstairs to see him on the phone, refusing to believe he’s actually talking to an insurance agent.

State Farm refreshed this commercial in 2020 by introducing us to Jake, mixing the old commercial with the new one.

What we like: Their ability to take an everyday person and make him iconic has helped State Farm triumph in a very competitive marketplace. By building off an older, iconic commercial, State Farm has kept brand awareness, but they haven’t rested on their laurels.

41. Allstate

Another insurance company? I know; I could probably list several others, but Allstate has made one of the most significant and effective transitions in marketing strategies the industry has seen.

Today, Allstate is taking a completely different approach to marketing by using a “character” named Mayhem.

Mayhem represents all of the freak accidents or situations that you could never envision actually happening, but with the reassurance that even under these circumstances, Allstate has you covered.

The marketers at Allstate have come up with the wildest situations in their advertising, it’s always humorous and fresh in the consumer’s mind, like this recent competitive brother commercial.

What we like: Allstate is another great example of a brand that hasn’t been afraid to switch things up. Like State Farm, they have been able to transition seamlessly from one concept to another, which is a truly invaluable skill in marketing.

Hilarious Animation

42. Facebook

Have you ever wanted to meet your sleep paralysis demons in a virtual reality? If you have, you’re in luck because that’s pretty much what happens in the “Tiger & The Buffalo” ad for Facebook’s metaverse.

In the commercial, art onlookers are sucked into a piece of art that features different jungle creatures, and honestly, the whole thing is a little unnerving.

So what makes this commercial funny and not just outright terrifying? Surreal and absurd elements make this commercial into a horror comedy.

The people jamming to the art and music are so unbelievable it’s laughable. It’s hard to say if this was Facebook’s intention, but either way it’s pretty funny.

What we like: Going against the norm can feel risky, but if your jokes and humor are predictable, they will blend in with the thousands of commercials that exist. Having your actors give an unexpected reaction is an easy way to lighten the mood.

43. Pepsi & Frito-Lay

Ok, ok, one more Pepsi + Frito-Lay commercial — a devious snowman steals a Christmas party snack stash in the commercial “Melt For You.”

The song “Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall & Oates plays in the background while the snowman ransacks the Lays and Pepsi soda cans, narrowly avoiding a dog by sliding outside and performing a forward flip trick on a wooden board that serves as a skateboard.

The ending shot shows the snowman with his snowmen friends, who replace his missing carrot nose with a nacho cheese Dorito.

What we like: Animation can be a great way to include cool tricks in your commercial without needing a stunt person to perform them.

44. Clash of Clans Mobile Game

One of the most-watched commercials of 2022, with over 135 million views, is Clash of Clan’s “Welcome to CLAN CAPITAL!”

The commercial features brilliant animation, with a clan member monologuing about a magical place while he slowly dies, when he’s suddenly crushed by a boulder right before telling his clan where the magical place is.

This cycle begins with another leader hit by an arrow, and right before he says where the place is, he’s crushed by a giant.

By the third monologue, they finally discover that the magical place where clans can battle together was there all along if they just turned around.

What we like: The stunning animation is most certainly why this commercial has so many views, and it really sells the mobile game as a beautifully designed space for friends and family to play together.

Silly Commercials

45. Hyundai

Hyundai addresses the increasing popularity of women’s football (or soccer, depending on your country of origin) in their commercial “How Far We’ve Come.”

This commercial doesn’t have an over-the-top sense of humor but rather lets the women football players have the last word, kicking around men who don’t want them to play and disobeying a police officer.

Hyundai’s commercial is partnered with FIFA Women’s World Cup, making it a sort of two for one commercial.

Pro Tip: If humor or jokes aren’t a big part of your brand, consider a tongue-in-cheek approach that focuses on empowerment or pushes against the status quo.

46. Heinz

Heinz has always been a leader in the advertising space and their recent commercials are no exception. “It has to be Heinz” works as a straightforward, funny commercial.

The commercial starts off relatively normal, with someone putting Heinz ketchup on their steak.

Then it ramps up with people getting tattoos of Heinz ketchup bottles, stealing ketchup from a room service cart, slipping ketchup into a dead man’s pocket at a funeral, and dipping nigiri sushi into ketchup in front of a horrified sushi chef.

This commercial works well because it doesn’t start off completely absurd but reels you in with increasingly crazy situations.

What we like: Don’t feel like you need to over-explain what’s going on in your commercial. Trust that your viewers are smart and will deduce what’s going on.

47. Chipotle

Chipotle makes the ridiculous concrete by asking, “What if a burrito could change the world?” A brother and sister sit at a table; when the brother looks at his burrito and muses if it has the power to change the world while his sister rolls her eyes.

He then goes on to describe how the ingredients in the burrito could be grown using permaculture, saving water and soil, making animals happier, buying more locally, emitting less carbon, and more.

By the end of his rant, his sister asks him, “Are you still talking?” and the commercial ends with the tagline, “How we grow our food is how we grow our future.”

Pro tip: If you’re working to ensure your product has a positive change to the world, silly humor is a great way to highlight these possibilities in a way that isn’t self-aggrandizing.

48. Coke

Coca-Cola is no stranger to making absolutely incredible ads, with iconic retro commercials like “Buy the World a Coke” and the Micheal Jordan Coke commercial.

Music is a key element for any Coke commercial. Hence, it makes sense that they would partner with comedian and musician Tyler the Creator to make the commercial “Open that Coca-Cola.”

In the commercial, sluggish people are revived from the summer heat by drinking bottles of Coke, with zany dancing and ridiculous circumstances like Grandma breaking it down by the dinner table or becoming a conduit for electricity with all their energy.

What we like: Music and dancing, if done correctly, can bring an incredible amount of energy to any commercial.

49. TikTok

In the TikTok commercial “Search it, learn it,” a father and daughter move into a new apartment and turn to the TikTok app to help them learn how to clean carpets, which books to add to their library, budget meals, and more.

The ending scene inverts expectations by revealing that the dad is moving into the apartment, not the daughter, as so many other commercials depict.

What we like: Your funny commercial doesn’t need to be constant jokes. Consider how a meaningful pause adds humor to a commercial or a knowing look between actors over a silly situation.

50. Robinhood

Have you ever wanted to be a CFO? In Robinhood’s “Run Your Money” commercial, being the CFO of your money is shown to be possible with the investing app.

The main actress is transported to a corner office, with employees working hard to grow her money, expanding into a crypto department, all in the comfort of her own pajamas and home.

Robinhood ends with the tagline, “No one runs your money like you.”

What we like: The tone of this commercial is more playful and silly than outright joking, like some of the other commercials on this list. Silly can be hard to get right; make sure your viewers won’t roll their eyes by not overselling your product.

Comedic Storytelling

51. Apple: Focus Mode

Have you ever felt stressed out by tons of texts and calls coming through on your phone?

Apple addresses this phenomenon in their commercial “Focus Mode” which features several people running away from their dinging phones as if their phone were a misbehaving, overeager dog.

Apple ends with the tagline “Relax, It’s iPhone.”

This commercial creatively tells the story of being always available for a phone call or text and focuses on their new solution, a button that puts you on do not disturb mode.

What we like: Let your main thing be your main thing. Don’t spend your whole commercial only addressing the problem; give equal time to your proposed solution to customer pain points.

52. Spotify

Perhaps no other funny commercial that tackles the absurd is more believable than Spotify’s “Let the Song Play.”

How many times have you delayed leaving your car and going inside because the song you’re listening to just got to the best part?

Spotify listeners drive past waiting, eager grandparents, ignore their bosses, and hold personal concerts in their car listening to Sia’s “Elastic Heart.”

Spotify is known for young, fun commercials, and this is no exception. The song choice of “Elastic Heart” really ties together a younger crowd of Gen Z and Millenials who both love Sia’s music.

What we like: This commercial contains no dialogue, and it doesn’t need it. The hilarious situations speak for themselves, and the music lets the app’s offering shine.

53. Grammarly

One of Grammarly’s features is the ability to make your tone sound more confident when you write. The commercial series “Get Your Tone Right” focuses on how easy it is to slip into unsure language when writing emails or chats to your team.

In the commercial, Dave, head of marketing, wins over clients and gets his team’s support using Grammarly’s tone modifier.

What we like: Because this commercial is one of a series, it’s easy to compare it to its predecessors. What really turns up the charm in this commercial is a personable voice-over that tells the story with funny quips and observations.

54. Amazon

The second Amazon commercial that makes this list is “Separation,” which depicts a couple fighting and the boyfriend moving out of their shared apartment.

They continue to share an Amazon account and get frequent updates on what the other person is buying, such as a sports bra to get healthier, cups for hosting a party, and a red dress for clubbing.

These frequent funny reminders of packages being shipped keep the couple from forgetting about each other, leading to their subsequent reunion at the end of the commercial.

What we like: This is another example of a commercial with no dialogue, just excellent storytelling. Amazon turns up the relatability by showing realistic purchases after a breakup and how those might influence a relationship.

55. Clorox

Clorox is a classic American brand, one that has been trusted for decades to clean homes around the world. They realized they couldn’t just ride on the coattails of this “classic” persona forever and have taken a more modern approach recently.

Their motto today is “Start Clean,” and their newest commercial uses a feel-good approach to humor in a commercial.

The young girl in the commercial tells the story of her first day of school, and her happy spirit is oblivious to the messes she makes.

Clorox focuses only a short amount of time in the commercial to actually cleaning up these messes, showing the viewer that letting kids be kids might result in messes, but it will also result in happiness.

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to be genuine and wear your heart on your sleeve. Comedy doesn’t need to always be satirical or pessimistic; showing humor in everyday situations is an excellent way to strike the right chord with your viewers.

Use Humor to Enhance Your Sales

There’s a lot that we can learn from contemporary commercials, especially when it comes to what audiences are finding funny now.

Humor is incredibly relative. What may be hilarious to one person is cheesy to another or off-putting to someone else, so sprinkle humor into your commercial wisely. Don’t forget that creating a genuinely funny commercial is only half the battle.

Use comedy in your commercial in a way that makes your product and brand stick out in an oversaturated market, and you’ll be able to increase both sales and smiles.

The post 55 Funny Commercials We Love From the Last Five Years appeared first on ProdSens.live.

Nostalgia marketing is the advertising equivalent of comfort food.

In a time where most marketing focuses heavily on the future, nostalgic commercials and ads transport us back to a simpler place where our current problems don’t matter.

Instead of anticipating the next great thing, nostalgia marketing urges us to focus on what we already know works.

To inspire your campaigns, we selected 22 examples of nostalgia marketing that play on the bittersweet pangs of days gone by.

The Power of Nostalgia Marketing

“When you play on nostalgia, you’re bringing people back to a simpler time, and the familiar comfort that comes with a shared experience with your peers,” says Jones Krahl, Deloitte Digital’s co-head of creative brand and advertising, along with Milton Correa.

“While playing into nostalgia isn’t new, putting your own spin on nostalgia has become increasingly popular,” Correa adds.

We know at a gut level that nostalgia gives our lives a feeling of meaning and continuity, but you may be surprised to learn it can also make us looser with our wallets.

A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that nostalgic feelings made participants more willing to spend money on consumer goods and services — making nostalgia marketing a major win.

22 Examples of Nostalgic Ads

We rounded up some nostalgic commercials that induce a fondness for a bygone time by calling upon pop-culture elements of the good old days.

Incorporating famous characters and scenes from the past in modern advertisements is a tried-and-true way to generate positive feelings in your target audience, making them more likely to open their wallets.

1. Nintendo

Many children of the ‘80s and ’90s remember playing Nintendo-based video games with their siblings. And many people also recall the sad feelings related to growing apart or drifting away from a relative.

This commercial highlights both memories by telling the story of two Nintendo-loving brothers who grow apart, argue as teenagers, and then happily reunite as adults to play the new Nintendo Switch together.

This nostalgic commercial not only reminds people of what it was like to grow up with siblings, but it also reminds you of the great fun you had playing video games as a child.

Then, because the brothers connect and chat virtually as they play Switch games at the end, it shows how Nintendo’s technology has evolved to connect old friends and relatives worldwide.

2. Australia Tourism Board

Instead of promoting a traditional ad showing Australia’s most beautiful destinations, Australia disguised a tourism ad as a star-studded trailer for a fictional reboot of the ’80s film Crocodile Dundee.

As those who watched the original Dundee series get excited by clips from the film, starring Chris Hemsworth and Jason Sudeikis, it‘s revealed that Hemsworth tricked Sudeikis into a tourism ad. Despite the trickery, Hemsworth and Sudeikis agree that their trip to Australia was still the best vacation they’d ever taken.

This was a clever way to embrace the television and movie reboot trend of 2018 and 2019 while still highlighting the best Australia has to offer for tourism. Because it features famous actors in the present day, it’s also hilarious for both people who followed the Dundee films or the main characters in the fake reboot.

3. Spotify

In 2016, music-streaming service Spotify unveiled a new spokesperson — er, spokes-dragon — in a 30-second ad produced by Wieden + Kennedy New York.

Falkor and his boy companion Atreyu (now a heavily bearded 44-year-old man) are both characters from the beloved 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story.

W+K even got the original actors to reprise their roles (Noah Hathaway as Atreyu and Alan Oppenheimer as the voice of Falkor).

The pair appear just as the film left them over 20 years ago: gliding through the clouds while the movie‘s dramatic theme song plays in the background. “I can’t believe people still listen to this song!” Atreyu exclaims. His dragon agrees; they share a laugh, and the two speed off into a grainy, ’80s-quality CG sky.

4. Freia

The tagline of Freia, a Norwegian chocolate company, is “Et lite stykke Norge” (A little piece of Norway). This spot for the company produced by SMFB Oslo fully encapsulates the sentiment in a simple, joyful way.

The plot follows a Norwegian expat in New York navigating a hectic life as a fashion stylist. When he returns home to his apartment one evening, he finds a half-eaten bar of Freia chocolate in his otherwise empty fridge.

After just one bite, he’s inspired to hop on a plane back to Norway to visit his father and soak up the majestic landscape of his homeland. The ad ends with the stylist discovering a modest hair salon for sale in what is presumably his hometown.

The message is clear: A taste of Freia chocolate is inherently connected to Norway, no matter where in the world you may be.

5. Adobe

Bob Ross, the beloved ’80s painting guru who passed away in 1995, experienced an unexpected resurgence in popularity in 2016 after Netflix added his classic TV show, The Joy of Painting, to its streaming lineup.

After his Netflix debut, Ross became a trending topic on Instagram, and Adobe took notice. They decided to pay homage to the late painter in a series of tutorial videos promoting their new Adobe Photoshop Sketch for the iPad Pro.

Authenticity was central to this nostalgic campaign. Adobe and agency Lekker Media collaborated with Bob Ross Inc. to make sure every detail was accurate, even going as far to make sure it properly displayed the clothing Ross wore on his show.

Children‘s book illustrator Chad Cameron, who plays Ross in the series, perfectly channels the artist’s relaxed, unpretentious demeanor.

“Bob’s wish was to inspire as many people as possible to be creative and to share it with others,” Joan Kowalski, media director at Bob Ross Inc., told Adweek. “Adobe’s ‘Joy of Sketching’ series reminds us that a company as big as Adobe shares in that hope.”

6. Oikos

Although it originally aired from 1987-1995, Full House has become a nostalgic childhood symbol for multiple generations thanks to syndication.

But before Netflix revived the show with a 2016 reboot, Dannon reunited a few of the show‘s stars in an ad for Oikos, the company’s line of Greek yogurts.

John Stamos is joined by his former cast members Bob Saget and Dave Coulier in this Y&R Vinizius-produced spot. The trio doesn’t explicitly reprise their Full House roles, but the dynamic is undeniably reminiscent of their days on the sitcom.

7. Adidas

In 1973, Billie Jean King won a tennis match against male player Bobby Riggs, coined “The Battle of the Sexes.” The historic tennis game was the first time a woman tennis player was matched against a male.

In and before the late 1950s, men were seen as superior athletes. Before the tennis match with King, who was only 25, even Riggs said he could beat a woman at the age of 55.

King’s tennis match win proved Riggs wrong. It also proved that men and women could compete equally on the tennis field and in other sports.

On a bigger scale, it further empowered women, who were often stereotyped as wives, homemakers, or secretaries at the time. With King’s win, it became harder to ignore that gender stereotypes were false and that women could win and even lead amongst men.

King wore an iconic pair of blue Adidas tennis shoes during the match. Years later, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of King‘s win, Adidas launched a limited edition line of BJK shoes with the tennis legend’s face and initials on each pair.

To announce the shoe line, Adidas launched a series of simple commercials showing Billie Jean King spray-painting piles of shoes blue. Here’s an example of one of the ads:

To further promote the line, Adidas also had booths at the U.S. Open tennis match where fans could bring any brand of shoes and have an artist paint them blue with Adidas’ unique BJK logo.

According to Adidas, the overall campaign led to a 20% boost in tennis shoe sales. And, now that the campaign is over, people are auctioning off these limited edition shoes on eBay for upwards of $1,000.

8. Tesco

Nothing screams nostalgia like old home movies. In this extended holiday ad from British grocery chain Tesco, we watch a family grow and age over the years through the lens of their Christmas home videos. Set to a poignant theme, the ad is intended to stir up fond holiday memories for viewers.

“We wanted to show what a real Christmas is all about — not a perfect, airbrushed one — but the ones we recognize from our own lives,” David Wood, former marketing director at Tesco, told Adweek. The ad was produced by Wieden + Kennedy, London.

9. Microsoft

Although Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is no more, this 2013 spot for the web browser earned viral recognition and a Webby Award nomination.

“You might not remember us,” the ad‘s narrator begins, “but we met in the ’90s.” The commercial highlights all things ’90s — fanny packs, Tamagotchi, bowl haircuts — even the Oregon Trail PC game makes an appearance.

Column Five Media, the creative agency behind the ad, set out to create a nostalgia-driven viral ad that would reintroduce Internet Explorer to ’90s kids.

“The idea of a brand like Internet Explorer being forward-thinking enough to make such a story-focused, Gen Y-centered commercial was pretty newsworthy,” the agency wrote in a behind-the-scenes blog post.

“Focusing that story on ’90s nostalgia, which we knew was popular with Gen Y and not yet fully realized in video form, is what made [the ad] shareworthy.”

10. Chili’s

Chili’s ads are usually characterized by close-up shots of glistening hamburgers, sizzling bacon, and french fries still glowing with fryer oil.

So this 2016 ad produced by Boston-based agency Hill Holliday was a departure from the casual dining chain’s typical go-to formula.

The commercial depicts Chili‘s origin story through a series of retro vignettes. We see the laid-back founders playing ring toss, lounging on the hood of their car, and, of course, flipping classic Chili’s burgers in their first restaurant.

The ad taps into traditional Americana — a form of nostalgia for small-town American life, middle-class values, and neighborhood restaurants.

11. Apple

Apple regularly features celebrities in their advertising, but they made a throwback casting decision for this iPhone 6s nostalgic commercial.

Everyone’s favorite sweet-toothed Muppet, Cookie Monster, might have switched to a more balanced diet, but he appears whipping up a batch of his favorite chocolate chip cookies in this ad.

TBWA/Media Arts Lab is the agency behind the ad, and they even released a series of “bloopers” featuring the beloved childhood character.

12. Target

The nostalgic force is strong in this Target video promoting Star Wars: The Force Awakens merchandise.

As part of a more extensive campaign to encourage fans to share their Star Wars memories online, Deutsch LA produced this two-minute compilation of Star Wars fans’ home videos.

In the nostalgic commercial, young fans dressed as little Princess Leias, Luke Skywalkers, and Han Solos brandish lightsabers and give their best Chewbacca impressions, all while the classic Star Wars theme plays in the background.

The result is an endearing campaign that will resonate with longtime fans and new converts alike.

13. Bacardi

For its 150th anniversary in 2012, Bacardi released a series of print and television ads showcasing the brand’s party-starting heritage.

The trip down memory lane was intended to give the company a shot of authenticity, reminding consumers that Bacardi has stood the test of time.

The goal, according to Leo Premutico, co-founder of WPP agency Johannes Leonardo, the agency behind the ad, was “to depict a moment in time that lives in history” and offer “an eye to what’s next, an exciting future.”

14. McDonald’s

When McDonald’s removed antibiotics and artificial preservatives from their chicken in 2016, they wanted an ad campaign that informed consumers about these changes and tapped into nostalgia surrounding their famous nuggets.

“There’s an undeniable level of nostalgia tied to the McDonald’s brand and its food,” Britt Nolan, Leo Burnett USA’s Chief Creative Officer, told Adweek.

“We set out to capture that relationship in a sincere, simple way that today’s parents can relate to and feel good about sharing with their own kids.”

15. Uber Eats

To support local restaurants and build hype around their product, Uber Eats turned to beloved local access show hosts and rockers Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar for their Super Bowl 2021 spot.

The dynamic duo from the 1992 classic Wayne’s World appealed to nostalgic millennial audiences while also nodding to the present with a Tik-Tok-dancing Cardi B cameo. While the Cardi B cameo is self-awarely shameless, it illustrates a valuable strategy of leveraging nostalgia while acknowledging modernity.

Limited Re-Releases of Nostalgic Products

Some products are so classic that the mere mention drums a swell of warm, fuzzy nostalgic bliss. Think Tamagotchi and Beanie Babies for 90s kids or Cabbage Patch Dolls from the 80s.

Companies lucky enough to score a hit product back in the day have capitalized on it in the present by offering limited re-releases of those beloved past items.

Here are a few examples of limited re-releases of nostalgic products.

16. Crystal Pepsi

Pepsi released Crystal Pepsi in 1992. Despite a less-than-stellar reception and resulting discontinuation in 1994, Pepsi’s quirky, clear soda remains a warm and comforting memory for many who yearn for simpler times.

Pepsi ran a limited rerelease of the drink in 2022 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its failed yet nostalgic beverage.

However, Crystal Pepsi was never available for purchase. Nostalgia fans entered a social media competition and used branded hashtags to show off their favorite 90s photos, with winners receiving 20 bottles of the storied soda.

In addition, Pepsi recently unveiled its first rebrand since 2008, complete with a new logo and visual identity that pays homage to vintage Pepsi branding of the 70s and 80s.

17. Motorola Razr

In the early 2000s, before smartphones, one of Motorola’s most popular cell phones was a tiny, flat flip phone called the Razr. Despite its number-based keyboard and a small screen, people loved it for its design and simplicity.

In 2019, Motorola gained buzz when it re-introduced a new and improved Razr featuring a folding touchscreen.

In the commercial announcement, you see an old-school Razr lifting off a table and flying through the air as its old layers peel off to reveal a new design. The phone then opens to reveal the Android-like touch screen.

Partnering with Nostalgic Brands

Your brand may not have been around back in the day — and that’s okay! However, that doesn’t mean you can’t draw on nostalgia in your marketing efforts.

Partnering with a classic brand is a win-win scenario that draws nostalgia fans toward a new product and reinvigorates awareness of the older brand.

Here are a few examples of modern companies partnering with nostalgic brands to supercharge their marketing efforts.

18. Hotels.com x Lisa Frank

Image Source

Hotels.com partnered with Lisa Frank and Barsala to offer a pop-up flat that fulfills the nostalgic fantasies of ‘90s kids who loved their rainbow-clad notebooks and unicorn pencil pouches.

“We wanted to design a room that celebrates all things ’90s, and nothing screams childhood nostalgia more than these iconic designs,” shared Adam Jay, President of Hotels.com.

The room was exclusively bookable on Hotels.com for a short time in 2019 and proved to be a successful example of nostalgia marketing, especially as it appeals to millennial audiences.

The hyper-stimulating and nostalgic design generated lots of press and even more Instagram hype from happy guests basking in the warmth of childhood wonder.

19. JNCOs x Goldfish

Image Source

Jalapeno poppers were big in the ‘90s, and so were ultra-wide-leg jeans. So, it was only natural for Goldfish to partner with JNCO for a limited edition pair of nostalgia-inducing jeans to promote their new jalapeno popper-flavored snack.

Brand partnerships are a great way to market new products and reach wider audiences. If your partnership can evoke sentimental emotions in a specific audience, that’s a recipe for success.

20. AirBnb x Blockbuster

Image Source

Few 90s memories are as sacred as wandering into Blockbuster on a Friday evening and being greeted with a labyrinth of movie titles and games to choose from — perhaps even some candy at journey’s end.

Sadly, only a single Blockbuster remains in Bend, OR. However, AirBnb partnered with the lone video rental store to offer a 90s-themed experience to Blockbuster lovers looking to relive their nostalgic memories in the form of an overnight stay.

The sentimental stay was only available for three nights in September 2020, with proceeds going to charity. With limited availability and a strong nostalgic hook, this partnership garnered significant buzz for both brands.

Nostalgia in Design

Nostalgia in advertising can be more subtle than partnering with classic brands or featuring nostalgic pop-culture icons in advertisements.

Some brands invoke fond memories within consumers through the design of products that nod to the style and aesthetics of a time when things were just a bit simpler.

21. Levi’s

Image Source

Baggy jeans are back, and Levi’s is driving the resurgence of the 90s clothing aesthetic in their design. Their Instagram page is replete with vintage tinted filters and models who look like they stepped off the set of Dawson’s Creek.

They even offer a special line of 90s edition 501 jeans that call upon nostalgia in name and design, with their loose-fitting, mid-rise vibe that provides a blast from the past for lovers of all things 90s.

Levi’s leans into the storied history of their brand in their advertising and product design, which elicit positive feelings of the past in their customers. If you can make your customers feel good, they’ll surely want to buy.

22. Heinz’s Ketchup

Image Source

There’s comfort in consistency, and few brands recognize that more than Heinz.

The image above shows an original Heinz Ketchup bottle from 1890, which doesn’t look all that different from the current Heinz designs.

If you have an iconic logo, it might be your best bet to stick with it. Classic designs offer feelings of safety and trust in consumers, resulting in brand loyalty and sales.

Of course, we can’t all be stewards of iconic brands. However, leaning into nostalgia through the design of your products is a powerful way to garner positive feelings toward your brand.

How to Nail Nostalgia

The key to nailing nostalgia is understanding what motivates your audiences, how they were raised, and where their deepest interests lie.

To do this, research or develop buyer personas that grew up in certain generations to learn what makes them think.

Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in September 2016, but was updated for comprehensiveness and freshness in February 2020.

The post 22 Examples of Nostalgia Marketing that Make Customers Feel Good appeared first on ProdSens.live.

On average, Facebook is home to over 3 billion daily active users — from CEOs to students to companies. And while the community is clearly there, connecting with them from a marketing standpoint isn’t always easy.

For brands, posting on Facebook alone isn’t enough anymore, especially for ones just starting out. Sure, you can invest in promotional content to drive users to your Facebook Page and website, but this requires more than an ad budget: it requires strategy.

One way to get the most out of your Facebook ad strategy is to create optimized Facebook Ads targeted at the right audience. By leveraging optimized ads, you can better allocate your PPC budget and better promote your brand.

We’ll show you how to make a great ad to achieve these goals through the best Facebook ad examples and practices we’ve seen yet.

• Do Facebook Ads Work?
• Best Facebook Ad Examples
• How do Facebook Ads work?
• Facebook Ad Placements
• Facebook Ad Formats
• Facebook Ads Best Practices
• Facebook Ad Resources

So, what does optimized Facebook advertising actually look like? To gain some inspiration for your next Facebook ad campaign, take a look at our list of the best Facebook ad examples from across industries.

Featured Resource: 50 Amazing Facebook Ad Examples

See these best practices in action with our collection of 50 Facebook Ad Examples from real businesses that we admire.

1. SofaLush

Video Ad

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: The video in the ad clearly demonstrates how the product works. Also, the video opens with a pressure cooker that seemingly “disappears” during the course of the video. This Easter egg prompted a lot of engagement in the comments, which further improved the ad’s performance.
• It’s relevant: It’s relevant to me because I was recently looking for new couches. This product shows an alternative to replacing my couch, on the off-chance that I might want to get more mileage out of my existing couch before making a new purchase.
• It’s valuable: The “how-to” style of the video is meant to underscore the value proposition: making your existing furniture more stylish… without a lot of hassle.
• It has a solid call to action: The ad states that there are over 150 designs to choose from and has a button that prompts me to “shop now” and see if one of them would fit my style.

2. Lume Deodorant

Photo Ad

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: The vibrant, purple hues of the text, packaging, and background guide the user to the most important information on the ad like how Lume deodorant “Stops Odor BEFORE it starts.” The smiling model may showcase where you most commonly apply deodorant — your underarms — but the text makes a bold value statement that you can actually use it all over your body. This ad makes you feel better about a topic that doesn’t always feel so good — sweating — by making you feel confident in your antiperspirant protection.
• It’s relevant: I have been recently researching skincare products to begin a new regime. With this behavior cue, Lume knows that organic deodorant is better for skin but many brands fall short of being able to block odor, and some even cause rashes. This is also aluminum-free deodorant, an increasingly desirable option amongst consumers like their target audience.
• It’s valuable: Knowing where other organic deodorants fall short, Lume positions their brand without those drawbacks, and they do it in a clever and engaging way (the song).
• It has a clear call to action: The end of the photo ad prompts the user to click “Get Offer” so they claim their starter pack — a hassle-free proposition for consumers new to their products and unsure of where to start.

3. Kay Jewelers

Video Ad

This Facebook video ad from Kay Jewelers tells a quick but moving story — something Kay Jewelers is well-known for — using just a few seconds of your time. You don‘t even need the sound on in the video above to know what’s happening and the message Kay is sending.

If you‘re advertising a product with sentimental value, like Kay Jewelers, video ads are the way to go. Just be sure your video has a clear (and happy) ending — people view videos more passively on Facebook than they would on YouTube and don’t have time to interpret your ad if it’s too long or complex.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: Even though this is a video, I have a general idea of what I will be watching, thanks to the screen capture it started with. Additionally, I can understand the gist of this ad without playing with the sound on, which is important given that most users are more likely to view videos with the sound off.
• It’s relevant: It’s relevant to me because I was recently scouring jewelry websites, specifically for necklaces like the one in the ad.
• It’s valuable: Kay shows potential customers the value of purchasing with the help of the happy reaction from the woman receiving the gift in the ad. Plus, who doesn’t love dogs?
• It has a solid call to action: This ad is set up to drive Page Likes, which is an easy, one-click way for me to get more relevant content served up to me.

4. Monday.com

Photo Ad

Monday.com is a task-management tool that caters to multiple operating systems, both desktop, and mobile. But in the photo ad above, the company used its compatibility with Mac computers to remix its own logo in the original rainbow colors of the Apple brand.

For growing businesses like Monday.com, it‘s a smart idea to pivot off the brand awareness of household names. By filling the Monday logo with Apple’s famous rainbow color-way, the ad above captures the attention of Mac users who’d recognize those vintage rainbow stripes anywhere (and could use a new task-management tool that works on their computer).

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: The rainbow colors filling the Monday logo are both eye-catching against the black background and familiar to any Mac user.
• It’s relevant: For Mac users, and those who need to organize their tasks on a regular basis, this ad is relevant to their lifestyle in more ways than one.
• It’s valuable: The ad calls attention to Monday‘s compatibility with Mac computers, making the product’s user experience more valuable to Mac users as a result.
• It has a clear call to action: The “Learn More” CTA on the bottom-right of the ad is a clear invitation to find out more about this product’s usage on Apple hardware.

5. Amazon

Event Ad

This is how an event ad from Amazon looks in the News Feed on a desktop. This ad works well on a few different levels: A sample product is clearly displayed, the ad shows an impressive (but honest) rating of that product, and you know which event Amazon is promoting right away — Black Friday.

Ecommerce companies like Amazon use event ads to boost sales at specific points during the year, and Facebook event ads make this easy. When investing in event advertising, build a list of the holidays, shows, conferences, and awareness months your business cares about. That way, you know exactly which market campaigns line up with these occurrences and when to promote them on your Facebook Business Page.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: Not only is this image larger than the right column ad display, but it also uses warm colors, white space, and directional lines, which drew my eye toward the featured product.
• It’s relevant: As a cat mom, this offer is clearly tailored to my consumer needs.
• It includes an enticing value prop: Amazon has advertised a self-cleaning litter box here, which is of tremendous value for any cat owner. Additionally, it shared the strong customer ratings below an image of the product. (Social proof, anyone?)
• It has a clear call to action: Amazon instructs me to click on its ad today, after which point the deal for the litter box will presumably disappear. “Now” is strong CTA language that compels clicks.

6. NatureBox

Photo Ad

This photo ad by NatureBox features a creative point-of-view shot that is perfect for the angle at which you‘d dive into the company’s various healthy snacks. The ad makes you imagine your next house party… I thought the peanuts spilling out onto the table was a nice touch.

In your next Facebook photo ad, play around with live-action photography and digital design in the same image. As you can see in the ad above, NatureBox was able to design a vibrant “free trial” icon right on top of an image that would’ve worked just as well on its own.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: The image shows you exactly what you’re getting, and it calls out the “free trial” CTA well.
• It’s relevant: Everyone likes to snack. In all seriousness, the person who saw this is a fan of several lifestyle subscription companies, which is what NatureBox is.
• It’s valuable: This ad is full of value. First, the “free trial” callout is the first thing your eyes go to when looking at the image. Second, it clearly mentions the healthy aspects of the goodies in its product.
• It has a clear call to action: NatureBox is asking you to try its free sample. It couldn’t be easier to know your next step.

7. Winc

Retargeting Ad

Here’s an example of a short and sweet (literally) retargeting ad from Winc (formerly known as Club W). This ad is displayed on the right column of Facebook specifically for users who browse wine-related content online. When your ad caters to people who you know would be interested, modeling the product the way Winc does above can be a home run for your brand.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: The visual is clear, simple, and appealing to all types of wine lovers wine-lovers.
• It’s relevant: This came up in my wine-obsessed colleague’s News Feed. Need I say more? Two thumbs up on relevance.
• It includes an enticing value prop: Three bottles for $19? What a steal. They also pull the viewer in with an additional value: a discount on their first order of wine.
• It has a strong call to action: The word “get” is strong call-to-action language, and it’s used twice here. A time limit on this offer would have made it even stronger.

8. Shutterfly

Multi-Product Ad

Here’s an example of a multi-product ad from Shutterfly, along with the additional images that are used in the ad. Each image has a different offer, to appeal to many different demographics in one ad.

In each image, the product being promoted is consistent in the look and feel of the Shutterfly brand — this is an important quality of ads that showcase more than one item and picture.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: This series of images leans on a consistent color palette, making it feel both cohesive and on-brand. (Including delicious-looking cupcakes doesn’t hurt either.)
• It’s relevant: The person who saw this loves taking photos of life events like graduations and creating sentimental gifts from these moments. Spot on, right?
• It’s valuable: There is a clear value for the user, 50% off each of the products being advertised. The sale details aren’t stated and it only alludes to a fastly approaching end date but this also encourages users to click through to the website in order to find this information. This ad also has an added level of value, it is showing the many different ways people can create grad cards and gifts using Shutterfly, in ways many may not be aware of.
• It has a clear call to action: I know I need to use this before February 17th when this deal expires, so I would be encouraged to take action right away.

9. MU Campus Dining

Reach Ad

This Facebook Reach ad from Mizzou Campus Dining promotes amenities at the University of Missouri, using two familiar logos and a marketplace that anyone on campus might recognize.

The ad copy beneath the image invites customers in “after the game” — a reference to campus life that helps Facebook users imagine when they might want to stop in for a sandwich.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: This image has college pride, a variety of salty and sweet treats, and a well-known logo to attract hungry college students.
• It’s relevant: This ad is likely only being shown to students on campus who are in its target audience. It also mentions the sports game that was going on at the time and plays to the student’s current needs: snacks and Subway sandwiches.
• It’s valuable: Mizzou Market is telling hungry college students that it has everything students need for the big game.
• It has a clear call to action: This ad has the option to show directions, making it extremely easy for a college student on the go to follow the walking directions to this market.

10. Boston Sports Clubs

Offer Ad

All consumers really need to see is the boxer pictured above to know what this ad by Boston Sports Clubs (BSC) is offering. The woman in the photo even looks like she’s staring at the text to her left, getting viewers to shift their attention to the promotion right away.

This Facebook Offers Ad makes it obvious what customers would be signing up for when they click the “Sign Up” CTA button below the picture. Offer ads can easily mislead viewers into pressing their CTA just to get them to click on it, but it ultimately doesn‘t convert viewers into customers. BSC’s approach above is clear and upfront about what it’s offering throughout its conversion path.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: The featured photo uses bold colors and clear typography to draw my attention to the details of the offer, and the woman exercising gives me an idea of what I could gain from purchasing the offer.
• It’s relevant: I recently moved to Boston and have been searching for gyms in my area online, so this ad is highly relevant to my recent Facebook and search activity.
• It’s valuable: Paying $5 for a monthly gym membership is a great deal. Even though the price may increase in the future, the low price definitely makes me want to click.
• It has a clear call to action: The CTA emphasizes that the discount offer is limited and should be claimed quickly using the word “hurry” and telling me when the offer expires.

11. Allbirds

Video Ad

This video ad by Allbirds, a shoe maker, uses simplicity and whitespace to its advantage. The video only lasts nine seconds, but Allbirds demonstrates the product in a way that catches your attention and resonates with the individual wearer.

There’s a lot of ad content on Facebook, and when Facebook users scroll through their News Feeds, that content starts to blend together. Sometimes your best chance at sticking out on Facebook is by using subtle movements and details — like Allbirds did, above. Let every other video on Facebook be quick and flashy, and yours will be a breath of fresh air to your audience.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: The video has a clear focus on a subject, and that subject is engaging in a movement that means something: These shoes are comfy. I subconsciously started wiggling my own toes as I saw this ad for the first time.
• It’s relevant: I’m always interested in finding new shoes — I probably search or click on something related to footwear once a week. This ad feeds that interest in a unique way.
• It’s valuable: The opening quote above the video is reason enough for me to want to learn more about why these shoes are so comfortable. Allbirds also sweetens the deal with “free shipping,” “free returns,” and a note below the video that the product is “machine washable” — all without taking the focus away from the video itself.
• It has a clear call to action: If I want these shoes, there’s a “Shop Now” CTA button to the bottom-right of the ad, waiting for me to take a closer look at them.

12. The New York Times

Photo Ad

This photo ad by The New York Times is driving traffic to a written article with an intriguing illustration. The drawing literally depicts the article’s ideal audiences — working men and women raising children. For parents who are even a little interested in understanding burnout and mental health, this image (along with the statistically backed report in the headline) clearly shows a tired mom trying to catch some rest with her children.

When publishers advertise on Facebook, they need to connect with their audience through featured images that evoke emotion — if their main product is a reading experience; the photo they choose has to complement their written content perfectly. The New York Times’ ad above is an example of photo ads done right.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: This ad is emotionally impactful — if you have not been a tired, working parent then it is you’ve seen them, and that sight can make you feel immense compassion towards them. By including a visual that makes a user care enough about the ad to read it and click through, NYT is accomplishing the goal to which every ad aspires.
• It’s relevant: Especially, in the wake of COVID with parents simultaneously balancing work and personal life within the same space, the topic is incredibly relatable. This is an article I would personally be interested in reading, and it helps that the ad appears like a native post promoting an article in my News Feed.
• It includes an enticing value prop: The ad states that you can find help if you recognize the signs of parental burnout, which can feel like being tossed a life jacket — especially to the parents reading the report. This social proof makes you more likely to click and read the article.
• It has a clear call to action: This ad is dedicated to helping parents make sense of the signs and get help for their fatigue, so by encouraging parents to ”Learn More”, the call to action makes you want to click the article to finally find answers.

13. Tortuga Music Festival

Event Ad

Successful event ads have at least two important qualities: the event‘s schedule and something to justify why people should attend. The event ad above for the Tortuga Music Festival accomplishes both of those things — it displays the date and time and the bands playing and shows you a picture of the amazing time you’ll have if you come.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual. The picture alone is worth a thousand words about how much fun this concert would be. Not only is it on the beach, it was also taken on a gorgeous day and the stage looks amazing. Also, it clearly represents what to expect during the event, and it catches the eye as someone scrolls through their News Feed. (The beautiful ocean water definitely helps.)
• It’s relevant. The person who saw this ad is a fan of Kenny Chesney and has been to his concerts before. They’re also originally from Florida, which is where this event takes place.
• It’s valuable. Since the image was taken on a beautiful day, it looks like an ideal place to be — especially to those of us viewing it from our office desks. It also clearly tells you the cost of the ticket so you know before you click. (This is also good for the advertiser: By including the price, the ad allows users to self-select based on whether they can afford the ticket. If they can‘t afford it, they won’t click through, thus saving the advertiser money on unqualified clicks.)
• It has a clear call to action. The CTA is clear: “Buy.” The advertisers also add urgent wording with the title “Time is running out!”, encouraging you to purchase your ticket now before it’s too late.

14. Adrianna Papell

Retargeting Ad

Last week, I started shopping around for a bridesmaid dress for an upcoming wedding I’ll be in. Today, the ad above appeared in my News Feed.

Retargeting ads enable you to get in front of those viewers who are already looking for what you‘re offering. This retargeting ad by Adrianna Papell doesn’t just show me what I‘m on the market for — it excites me about how beautiful our own wedding party pictures will look on my friend’s big day.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual. The image gives me a good idea of what to expect from the designer’s website, and it definitely helps that the gowns are both unique and stunning. Talk about a showstopper.
• It’s relevant. The ad called out that I was already shopping for bridesmaid dresses, and what’s more, I had previously looked at dresses on this exact website, so this ad is highly relevant to my search.
• It’s valuable. The variety of dresses in the ad’s image and in the description make this website worth a visit for someone trying to find the perfect gown out of thousands of options.
• It has a clear call to action. The CTA is “Shop Now,” which encourages me to click to purchase the beautiful dresses in the ad’s image.

15. Bustle

Boosted Post

Here‘s an example of a boosted post from Bustle, which promoted one of its articles on Facebook. Paying to “boost” a post you already posted organically to your Facebook Business Page can greatly benefit content that has mass appeal — versus a post that targets a specific segment of your audience. Bustle’s choice of a boosted post here falls into that first category.

From Amazon‘s vibrant neon sign in the photo to the high number of examples included in the article (42, to be exact), Bustle’s boosted ad is sure to pique the interest of many Amazon and Bustle followers.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: Lots of people are familiar with the Amazon Prime logo, but not in neon lights in a window display. It made me do a double-take while scrolling through Facebook.
• It’s relevant: As we’ve already learned from the earlier examples, I like shopping on Amazon and also read Bustle, so this article is a combination of those two behaviors.
• It’s valuable: “Brilliant” is a strong adjective to describe products, which makes me curious to learn more about purchasing them.
• It has a clear call to action: The ad entices me with information about useful and “brilliant” gadgets I can get delivered to my door within two days, which I’m happy to click to learn more about.

16. La Colombe Coffee Roasters

Offer Ad

This ad from La Colombe Coffee Roasters is promoting its canned Oatmilk Salted Caramel Latte with a 20% off discount. It emphasizes that the drink has all the same flavor and creaminess of a regular latte — without the dairy.

Offer ads can be a highly effective way for businesses to attract new customers, drive conversions, and generate buzz around special deals. By leveraging Facebook’s ad targeting capabilities, La Colombe is able to present their discounted offer to customers directly on their feeds.

Why This Ad Works

• It’s visual: The vibrant colors in the photo instantly caught my eye as I was scrolling through my Facebook feed. Plus, the offer is highlighted in bright red, making it stand out in the image.
• It’s relevant: I’m an avid coffee drinker and I had been searching for canned coffee brands earlier in the day.
• It’s valuable: The ad offers a 20% off discount code on the first purchase, which gives me more incentive to try out the product.

It has a clear call to action: The CTA “Shop Now” invites me to find a new canned coffee that I can use the discount on.

Facebook ads can be a great way to reach out to potential customers, but it’s important to make sure yours stands out from the rest. Creating a great ad is all about understanding your audience and what they want to see, these insights will show you how to leverage Facebook ads so that they work for you.

To invest in Facebook Ads effectively, you first need to know who your ads are directed toward. When creating a new ad on Facebook, you can create a new audience that includes many customizable characteristics. Among them are:

• Location.
• Age.
• Sex.
• Languages spoken.
• Interests and behaviors.
• Their connections to your other business-related pages on Facebook.

You can also create what’s called a Lookalike Audience, which permits Facebook to create an audience for you that best resembles a particular “source.” This source can include some or all the information listed above.

Facebook Ad Formats

After you define the audience you want your ads to reach, it’s time to choose the Facebook Ad format you think they’ll find most engaging from these eight options:

Format 1: Photo Ad

Photo Ads are still images that can help to promote a product or event you want to specifically call attention to. If you have a special promotion going on, for example, this ad format puts a crisp snapshot of your product or venue at the center of your ad.

For ads shown in a Facebook News Feed, the recommended image resolution is at least 1080 x 1080.

Format 2: Video Ad

Video Ads have a GIF or video as the centerpiece of the advertisement and can be used to demonstrate a product or event. Video Ads help you form deeper connections with your audience by aligning your brand with a type of content online users are quickly consuming more of (nearly 80% of all data consumed on mobile devices will be in video form by 2021, according to a Facebook study).

There are six types of video ads you can invest in on Facebook:

• Short Videos and GIFs
• Vertical Videos
• Instagram Stories
• Video Carousels
• Video Collections
• In-stream Videos

Format 3: Stories Ad

Stories Ads are a part of Facebook Stories, one of the newest content types rolled out by Facebook that allows users to post temporary clips and images of their day for their friends to see. This type of ad is fitted to the dimensions of a mobile device and can be played on both mobile and desktop.

As users browse their friends‘ Stories, these ads can appear in the same format inside a stream of Stories. For this reason, it’s best to create Stories Ads that reflect the same candid and entertaining look and feel that people see from their friends. Stories Ads can be placed on Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram.

Format 4: Messenger Ad

A Messenger Ad appears as a direct message in a user‘s message list when they’re inside Facebook’s Messenger app. These ads allow you to interact with your audience, showing them offers you think they would like, and listening to their responses to better tailor your next message to their interests.

Let‘s say your ad’s first message is “What product might you be interested in?” The user can then select from three different responses, triggering your ad to produce a more specific product offer directly in the message thread.

Format 5: Carousel Ad

Carousel Ads contain a series of images or videos that users can rotate through, all of them helping to describe a single product, service, or event the ad is promoting. Each Carousel Ad can contain up to 10 images or videos at a time and link to their own individual web pages. Because these ads carry so much media, according to Facebook, they’re ideal for:

• Endorsing multiple products.
• Promoting multiple features of the same product.
• Telling a story or sequence of events that unfold over the course of multiple pictures or videos.
• Explaining a process to potential customers.

Format 6: Slideshow Ad

Similar to Carousel Ads, explained above, Slideshow Ads segment your ad into individual images that users view one after another. The difference between these two ad formats is that Slideshow Ads only play images (not videos), and the ad compiles these images into a slideshow that plays automatically in the form of a video. According to Facebook, Carousel Ads are ideal for:

• Creating a video-like experience for users quickly and with a small budget.
• Advertisers who want to choose from a library of pre-created images and music (a unique perk of Facebook’s Slideshow Ad).
• Simplifying an otherwise complicated concept or process for potential customers.
• Reaching people who have slower internet connections (Slideshow Ads use five times less data than video ads on Facebook).

Format 7: Collection Ad

A Collection Ad allows advertisers to bring the buying process directly into Facebook, so potential customers can move from “discovery” to “purchase” more easily when they see a product they like. This ad format features a central image or video promoting a product, with a collection of four smaller images below it that viewers can click on to learn more about the product. There are four types of Collection Ads you can invest in:

• Instant Storefront: This ad is ideal for displaying multiple products as part of the same ad campaign, and driving traffic to each product’s respective product page.
• Instant Lookbook: This ad is ideal for demonstrating or modeling a product in various contexts for your audience.
• Instant Customer Acquisition: This ad is ideal for driving traffic to, and prompting them to take a specific action on, a product’s landing page.
• Instant Storytelling: This ad is ideal for telling a story about your brand or helping your audience learn more about the business.

Format 8: Playables

Playables cater specifically to app developers. This ad format allows your audience to watch, preview, and even play an abbreviated version of your new app directly from inside the ad.

So let’s take a look at the different ad placements that you can use to best position your brand promotion.

Facebook Ad Placements

After customizing your ad’s audience, you need to consider how the ad will look on both desktop and mobile. This ensures you design your ad for easy viewing no matter where it appears on Facebook. Here are three different places you can see your Facebook Ads show up:

Placement 1: Right Column

Image Source

This type of ad is the most traditional on Facebook, it appears on the right side of a user’s Facebook News Feed. This is the first type of advertising Facebook had, and it still exists today.

Although ads in the News Feed are likely to get higher engagement metrics due to its native advertising features, right column ads shouldn’t be forgotten. We often see less expensive clicks and conversions when using these ads. In order for a right column ad to be successful, it needs to be relevant, have a value proposition, a good visual, and have a call to action.

Placement 2: Desktop News Feed

Image Source

This type of ad appears directly in a user’s News Feed when they access Facebook on a desktop computer, and it looks more like native advertising. In our experience, these ads have a higher engagement rate than right column ads, but they can also be more expensive. These ads must follow organic Facebook posts’ best practices and be both engaging and visual.

Placement 3: Mobile News Feed

Image Source

Like the desktop News Feed ad, this type of ad appears in the user’s mobile News Feed and displays like an organic post from the people and Pages they follow.

Pro tip: When picking your ad placements, think about the best position to showcase the Facebook ad format you choose, as well as, the ad template you use to add color to your marketing vision.

Facebook Ad Templates

Facebook Ads can be used to accomplish a number of different goals for your business. Here are a few real ads that you can use as templates of inspiration when creating an ad that targets the same goal:

Video Product Demo Facebook Ad Template

Image Source

Video ads appear fairly large in the user’s News Feed and offer more engaging content than static posts. And with 100 million hours of video being watched on Facebook every day, it serves as an interesting — and potentially profitable — ad type for marketers to try out.

How can you create your own video ad? First, understand Facebook video ad requirements including length and video size. We suggest keeping your video as short as possible, even though Facebook allows you to upload a much larger video. Create a video that displays your product or service, and upload it directly to the Facebook ads manager by following these instructions.

Photo Model Ad Template

Image Source

Another type of rich media advertising on Facebook is a post of an image. This is one of the most popular types of ads ever since Facebook began favoring visual content. The optimal size for News Feed photo ads is at least 1080 x 1080 pixels, otherwise, your image will get cropped. Adjust your image based on the target audience’s needs and by what will appeal to them the most.

Multi-product Ad Template

Image Source

Multi-product ads allow advertisers to showcase multiple products within one ad. Viewers can scroll through the images and click on individual links to each product. You can promote multiple of anything, not just products — like different blog posts, ebooks, or webinars. These ads can be created in Facebook Ads Manager.

Reach Ad Template

Image Source

Reach ads on Facebook are designed to grow your local awareness. They only work if your business has a physical location to which you’re trying to drive real foot traffic. If you fall into this category, locally targeted Facebook ads might be a great fit for you, as you can hyper-target on Facebook down to the mile.

If your business has an offer or event going on at your store, set up a few Facebook Reach ads that appear only to people within a short distance of your store. Have these ads appear a few days prior to the event and on mobile devices while the event is happening. You may want to reach some people the day of the event who happen to be in the area and check their Facebook accounts on their smartphones.

Special Offer Ad Template

Image Source

An offer ad is a form of Facebook advertising wherein a business can promote a discount on a product or service that can be redeemed on Facebook. The benefit of this? It eliminates one step in the buyer’s journey, which ultimately increases sales.

The offer ad has many benefits. First, it drives the user directly to the offer. The user claims it directly on Facebook, removing any added friction of needing to go to your website for the offer. You also can reach any type of audience that you want, as all the Facebook targeting options are possible.

Finally, you can include all the information needed for the user to decide if they want it or not, including the time period it is usable, the number of people who have already claimed it, and the exact amount the offer is. This will eliminate any unqualified clicks, which cost you money.

Event Ad Template

Event ads promote a specific event. The CTA on these ads usually sends users directly to the ticket purchase page, wherever that happens to be hosted.

Using this type of ad will help drive a targeted group of people to attend your event. These will show up in the News Feed of the specific audience you’ve chosen. Events are a big part of most businesses, but getting people to attend even a small event can be tricky. Promoting your event to a targeted specific audience on Facebook can help drive the right kind of attendees.

A good ad in this format will clearly show the benefit of attending the event: the price, dates, and a clear CTA to purchase a ticket.

Boosted Ad Template

Image Source

A boosted post is an organic Facebook post that was originally on the homepage of a company’s Facebook, and that later was boosted with advertising money.

This is different from the above ads because it’s not created in the Facebook Ads Manager. You can include more in the description, as there is no limit to word count on boosted posts like there is in ads. You can also have a link in the copy.

The cons? Boosted posts leave you fewer options for bidding, targeting, and pricing. You also cannot run any types of A/B tests because you‘re promoting a post that has already been created; you’re not creating one from scratch.

Retargeting Ad Template

A retargeting ad promotes an ad to a specific list of previously identified people. Have you ever seen ads follow you across the internet after visiting a certain website? Then you’ve seen a retargeting ad.

Facebook has the same capability. An advertiser can advertise to a list of leads or customers by uploading a list of email addresses it already has into Ads Manager to make a custom audience. A good retargeting ad acknowledges that the brand knows you‘re already interested in its product. (Because let’s face it… retargeting can be a little creepy.)

Now that we‘ve covered the best ad examples, main formats, placement possibilities, and standard templates, let’s dig into ad best practices that help optimize your Facebook campaign.

The key to making great Facebook ads is about understanding your audience and what they want to see. By creating a promotion that is relevant and attention-grabbing to your target audience, you’re more likely to see a return on your investment.

Despite all of the advantages that Facebook offers advertisers, seeing success with Facebook ads ultimately comes down to your strategy and how well you implement it.

1. Target your ads to a specific audience.

Audience quality is more important than size because, with Facebook advertising, the goal is engagement and/or conversions. Casting a wide net to individuals who are not your target audience will tank your relevance scores and give you bad data to work from.

The good news is that Facebook’s targeting capabilities are more robust than any other platform, including demographics, interests, location, and even behavior. That means you can get far more specific on who you want to see your ads.

For example, you don’t have to settle for “women between ages 25 and 45” when you can target “women between ages 25 and 45 who like reading and whose favorite author is Suzanne Collins.”

By getting granular, you end up excluding users who are not your target market, showing ads to only those who will find it most relevant and who are most likely to convert.

2. Make your ads relevant to your audience.

Relevance is critical for success when using Facebook advertising. Remember, you are spending money when someone views or clicks on your ad (depending on the settings you use). If you‘re showing ads that aren’t relevant to your target audience, you’re wasting your time and money and will likely not see success with any advertising.

Facebook determines ad relevance through its ad relevance diagnostics (formerly ad relevance score). Several factors are evaluated to determine the relevance of your ad, including feedback from users (such as ad hides or negative feedback), engagement (such as clicks, likes, or shares), and predicted positive actions (such as conversions or video views).

Additionally, Facebook provides diagnostics for three specific dimensions: quality ranking, engagement rate ranking, and conversion rate ranking. Ultimately, the more relevant your ad is, the more favorably Facebook will treat them.

3. Include a visual element.

Visual content is not only treated more favorably in the Facebook algorithm, but it’s also more likely to be shared and remembered than written content. The lesson for Facebook marketers? No matter what type of ad you create, your image needs to be visually appealing.

Check out this blog post for a detailed guide to image sizes for various ad units on Facebook along with some tips on posting visual content.

4. Align your ads’ visuals and copy.

Let‘s say you’re running an ad for astrological jewelry. You’re targeting people who like astrology and whose birthday is coming up.

You could use a generic “buy a bracelet with your astrology sign” copy paired with an image/video of all the jewelry.

A better strategy, however, would be to target those whose birthdays are coming up and create a more specific ad targeting that astrological sign (e.g. “All you Geminis out there will love this” paired with a video of a specific Gemini product).

Aligning copy and visuals in a way that‘s relevant to the targeted audience provides a feeling of personalization which increases the likelihood of engagement and/or conversion. You’ll also see better ad performance due to higher relevance scores.

5. Include an enticing value proposition.

A value proposition tells the reader why they should click on your ad to learn more about your product. How is your product or service different from any other? Why should the viewer click on your ad to see your website?

Your value proposition should be believable. For example, saying you have the greatest sandwiches in the world will not make people come to your business’s Page, but maybe offering 20% off will. Or, perhaps adding social proof will help — something like, “Sandwiches loved by over one million people every year! Come try yours today and get 20% off your order with this coupon.”

6. Have a clear call to action.

A beautiful and relevant ad is great, but without a CTA, your viewer might not know what to do next. Add a CTA like “Buy now and save X%,” or “Offer ends soon” and add a sense of urgency to your viewer. Your CTA should encourage people to click on your ad now.

7. Test different ad formats.

Experimenting with various ad formats in your Facebook ads allows you to optimize your campaigns by identifying the most effective formats for your audience, objectives, and budget. It can also help you increase engagement, improve creative effectiveness, and maximize the impact of your advertising efforts.

You can test different ad formats by creating multiple ad sets within your Ads Manager account. Just make sure to keep other variables, such as targeting, audience, or placement, consistent across the ad sets you’re testing.

8. Continually monitor ad performance.

Review the performance of your ads regularly and optimize them based on key metrics such as click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, engagement, or return on ad spend (ROAS). This enables you to gain valuable audience insights, prevent ad fatigue, make real-time adjustments, and drive long-term campaign success.

Use Facebook’s Ads Manager or other analytics tools to monitor the performance of your ads. Review metrics and assess how each ad is performing relative to your objectives.

Pay attention to trends, patterns, and deviations from expected results. Keep an eye for underperforming ads so you can prioritize them for optimization.

Based on what you find in your analysis, take specific actions to improve the performance of your ads. This could involve making adjustments to ad creative, testing different headlines, refining targeting parameters, or modifying your bidding strategy. Experiment with different optimization strategies to see what works best.

Facebook Ad Resources

• Facebook Marketing: The Ultimate Guide
• Facebook Business Manager: How to Use Meta Business Suite
• How to Run Facebook Ads: Step-by-Step Guide to Advertising on Facebook
• 15 of the Best Facebook Ad Examples That Actually Work (And Why)
• How to Create An Effective Facebook Ad Strategy
• The Facebook Ad Types: How to Choose the Best Ad Type for Your Goals
• A/B Testing on Facebook: How to Do It Right
• 22 Facebook Stats to Know in 2023

Engage Your Target Audience with Ads That Make an Impact

The first step to reaching potential customers or retargeting your customers to bolster brand loyalty is by visually and expertly promoting your products and services where they can see them: on their Facebook News Feed. So draw inspiration from our list of the best Facebook ads we’ve seen to keep your promotions relevant to your target and visually impactful as you test different ad formats.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in May 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness in June 2022.

The post 16 of the Best Facebook Ad Examples That Actually Work (And Why) appeared first on ProdSens.live.