We live in an attention economy. But because we have access to constant stimulation, it can be incredibly difficult to grab someone’s focus, especially if you’re trying to advertise a product or service. So companies need to come up with bold, creative ideas to engage consumers. They just have to be careful not to make massive mistakes, or their customers won’t ever let them live it down.
Netizens have been discussing some of the worst marketing campaigns that companies have ever run, so we’ve gathered a list of these painfully bad ideas below. From unintentionally making insensitive comments to seemingly inviting customers to mock them, these campaigns definitely should not have gotten the green light. Enjoy reading about these PR disasters, and be sure to upvote the ones that you believe should have cost someone their job!
#41
I refuse to eat at Arbys until they get rid of the commercials with the fat guy about to have a heart attack yelling about how much meat is on their sandwiches.
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10points
#43
Probably any time a company tries to use facebook or twitter and people respond with what everyone really thinks.
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9points
#44
DraftKings and FanDuel. DraftKings had been around since 2012, FanDuel since 2009. Nobody had heard of them until they start bombarding viewers with commercials during NFL games this season. It seems this raised their profile enough for the US government to seriously investigate if daily fantasy leagues are gambling, and therefore illegal.
The fact DraftKings and FanDuel employees were using information to play and win at the other company's leagues added fuel to the fire.
The fact DraftKings and FanDuel employees were using information to play and win at the other company's leagues added fuel to the fire.
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9points
#45
Those new Buick commercials, the ones that emphasize how little the new Buick's look like the old Buick's. There has to be a better way to sell a car than reminding everyone how ugly the old ones are.
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9points
#46
A friend of mine was working for an ad firm she told me a story about a cross promotional idea for Uncle Ben's rice where he (Uncle Ben) would help you out in Farmville. Unbelievably no one thought about the obvious racist connotation.
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9points
#47
My college's (Drake University) campaign for recruiting prospective students 3-ish years ago was "The D+ Advantage." Because we all want to be D+ students. I mean, I enrolled anyway, but everyone still makes fun of it on campus.
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8points
#48
I think Samsung got in trouble for making the Galaxy S4 slogan "Applesauce".
At least here in Sweden.
At least here in Sweden.
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8points
#49
Groupon's 'Tibetan Curry' Superbowl ad received a whole metric ton of fall out, which led to CPB Group losing the account very publicly in less than 24 hours. It was harsh to watch, but unfortunately someone had to take the fall.
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6points
#51
Gatorade by changing the names of products and not explaining their new before, during, and after stages of a work out that their product should be used for. Sales plummeted.
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6points
#52
Adecco Way to Work. Turns out they stole the idea, and their follow up social media response was basically transparent [defense]. Complete disaster.
WWF 9-11 campaign: Showed dozens of planes crashing into NY to illustrate the enormity of the tsunami in Asia. Apparently people get put off by images of 9/11 in advertising. Who knew?
JCP: Depending on who you ask, more of failed marketing than the campaign. The commercials were generally well liked and pushing back on One Million Moms got them some pretty good PR, but the loss of sales scared off their core consumer and they're trying to claw their way back.
Ninja edit: Head on apply directly to forehead! Remember these god awful commercials, great awareness but never brought in any sales because how is forehead goo better than just taking an aspirin?
WWF 9-11 campaign: Showed dozens of planes crashing into NY to illustrate the enormity of the tsunami in Asia. Apparently people get put off by images of 9/11 in advertising. Who knew?
JCP: Depending on who you ask, more of failed marketing than the campaign. The commercials were generally well liked and pushing back on One Million Moms got them some pretty good PR, but the loss of sales scared off their core consumer and they're trying to claw their way back.
Ninja edit: Head on apply directly to forehead! Remember these god awful commercials, great awareness but never brought in any sales because how is forehead goo better than just taking an aspirin?
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6points
#53
Michael Dukakis' tank ride video pretty much destroyed his chance at the presidency.
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6points
#54
Maybe not something a lot of people noticed but Rick Perry's campaign ad has an pro religion anti gay pro america vibe to it. He used a piece of music by Aaron Copland, a very american composer to give his ad a real american feel to it. One thing that was overlooked though was that Aaron Copland was a homosexual. Just thought that was a bit funny.
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6points
#56
My favourite game, Earthbound, had the slogan "This game stinks!"
It did not do well in the US.
It did not do well in the US.
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6points
#57
That commercial from the tobacco truth people.
Where they just used memes and kept saying "it's a trap".
Where they just used memes and kept saying "it's a trap".
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5points
#58
Google Glass. Insane technology. It has the ability to assist in a lot of areas of life, but was marketed as a novelty nerd item.
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5points
#59
I saw an ad for Klondikes (an ice cream bar with a hard chocolate shell) a few years ago with the usual "What would you do" theme, and a guy getting a bikini wax. I used to absolutely love Klondikes, but now I can't think about them without imagining pubic hair stuck in the chocolate.
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5points
#60
Kmart "Ship My Pants" campaign, while very successful in terms of viewership, has had a lot of debate surrounding its effectiveness since their demo is senior citizens and parents of school kids. That'd be an interesting topic since it was fairly split in terms of "success".
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4points
