5 Best and Worst Ad Campaigns of 2008 5.January.2009
Best Negative Stereotyping Rebuttal: Hyundai: Think About It
Hyundai wants you to forget about the old joke, Hope You Understand, Nothing’s Drivable And Inexpensive. Not only is “Think About It” a clever campaign, but the company is backing it up with their first luxury car, the Genesis. Bonus points for their 2009 Hyundai Assurance program, negative bonus points for using some of the same stock footage. I also know who the Worst Negative Stereotyping Rebuttal 2009 will go to: Made by GM…Surprised?, a cheap knock off of Hyundai’s effort.
Best Effort in Giving a Company Personality: Microsoft: Gates & Seinfeld
Microsoft received its share of criticism for this campaign, but these ads gave Microsoft a likable personality and answered Fast Company’s question “Can This Dude Make Microsoft Cool?“. Yes, but can he help them sell more copies of Vista? Um, that’s a different story.
Most Effective Use of an Annoying Jingle: Subway’s $5 Footlongs
Super annoying and admittedly cheesy, but people have made Subway a regular part of their lunch week thanks to subway no longer charging an arm and a leg, and making sure we know about it. For a long lasting, and also very memorable local jingle there is always Century III Chevrolet.
Worse Attempt of a Brand Trying to Find Its Voice: Wendy’s: A-Hole Blue Collar Worker
Ever since Dave Thomas died Wendy’s has been meandering around in the dark and stumbling for some theme for their ads. If it wasn’t for the fact that they make some of the best nation-wide fast food burgers, they probably would be in serious trouble.
Worst Made-Up Word: McDonald’s: Nuggnuts
The only people who like Chicken McNuggets® as much as the commercials claim are under 11 years old. This is a blantant example of a company trying to artificially claim/create a cult following that just doesn’t exist and is completely ignoring the fact that “Nuggnuts” sounds like a high school-era insult.
Bonus: Worst Renaming of a Company: FedEx Kinko to FedEx Office
Not actually an ad campaign, but it needed to be said. It’s not like anyone ever called Kinko’s “FedEx Kinko’s” anyway. The “UPS Store” works because UPS was a much stronger brand than Mailboxes Etc. and they both were centered around shipping. Kinko’s was the Kleenex of their industry. Will “FedEx Office” work as a name? Time will tell, but I don’t like it. FedEx does get bonus points for their Worky Worky Busy Bee spot.
What was left out? Chime in, in the comments.