16 Worthy Advertisement Examples You Must Learn from

The Hollywood film of 93’ captured the complicated effect the ads have on us. While future people are happily singing the hot dog ad song, we take a moment to think about how deep ads infiltrate our minds, culture, and habits.

Good ads make you buy more; great ads pave society’s cultural path: we remember them, learn from them, and are inspired by them. We’re not as young as we look, and for years now, we have been falling in love with some ads. Some of them are so simple, some are edgy, some are tech-based, and some are format-perfect. 

In this post, we’ll look into some of the best campaigns and see how the most creative minds use the different formats offered by today’s media: social networks, search, display, and video ads. You’ll make a few treasures of your own; we know you can. We’re making history here.

Social media advertisement examples

Social media platforms have become indispensable for advertisers. With billions of active users, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, and LinkedIn offer amazing targeting and reach opportunities. Here are some standout examples:

1. Cryptic Reels from Arby’s

We love Kyle McLachlan. We loved him in Twin Peaks, and we love his mysterious Arby’s ad collaboration. The potato cakes are back at Arby’s, and the way we learn about this is from bizarre vintage-looking reels. We dare not think of what happened to the original Arby’s PR team, but who cares now? All hail to the Order of Potato Cake!

What’s so good about it? It’s chaotic. It has some Illuminati symbols, references to the Do Not Feed the Monkeys game that became totally cult, some Cold War tutorial aesthetics, and good old curses. It remains unclear if those were real customer feedback.

What do we learn? Mesmerize your customer with the oddity of your ad. You don’t even need a CTA - you know how to order the potato cakes. What you didn’t know is that you can be a part of a very confusing and not very secret potato cake admirers community.

2. TikTok, Wolverine, Deadpool, ketchup, and mustard mash

Continuing with the food theme (oh, there will be a lot) is our pretty awesome duo... Heinz Ketchup and Mustard. The ad for the classical continents fits perfectly into the ironic narration of the Deadpool character. And we must say, the color combo is a perfect fit.

What’s so good about it? It’s the type of engagement this campaign gets. Young viewers (the demographics of Marvel) must have been very latent ketchup and mustard consumers, and that is about to change. Get a hold of this user - he’s growing to be a good marketer.

What do we learn? Use every occasion to reference your product. Heinz may have a deal with Marvel, but nobody can stop you from hijacking a fresh cultural reference to create your ad.

3. Fenty Beauty on Instagram

What’s that 11,5 million views? That’s just Rhianna putting on her own brand’s lipstick. Over and over (Reels format for you), she is using Fenty Beauty products on her face - no makeup artist is required. Since her brand is all about inclusivity, the social inclusivity of the moment when a superstar is drawing her lipliner is unmatched.

What’s so good about it? Beauty brands are great for Instagram because they source their content from existing customers. Here, two birds fall with one stone—social proof and bandwagon biases play nice.

What do we learn? Any CEO, general manager, or actual producer can be an advocate for their own product. And it’s even better if they show some vulnerability. Being a pop idol is not the goal here - being invested in what you’re making is.  

4. You can still dunk in the dark on Twitter, now X

This is an old, very old, and exemplary use of recent events highjacking on social media. You see, at some point, the agency handling Oreo's Twitter account saved the brand a whopping $4 million. Instead of running the ad during the Super Bowl, they only posted one tweet when the lights at the stadium suddenly went out. The rest is history.

What’s so good about it? $4 million less ad spend

What do we learn? You must use any relevant event, no, ANY event, to talk about your product. This is even more obvious than with the Marvel movie example because the events do not belong to anyone. They just happen, and you have to constantly think about how to turn them into relevant ad copy.

5. Thursday Boot Company on Facebook

The ads don’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s enough to follow a certain aesthetic and just talk about the production line and the results of it. Otherwise, it’s hard to explain why almost half a million people subscribed to the casual leather footwear page.

What’s so good about it? It’s a very straight presentation of a product. Rustic and plain ads for rustic and plain shoes people like to look at. It’s most certainly a good way to create a loyal client base of leather-shoed people from the US.

What do we learn? Sometimes, understanding your product and your customer is simply the best way to make a sale. 

Display advertisement examples

Combine text, video, and pictures to get the audience to your site. Create a buzz and utilize the versatility of placements and formats. The perfect medium for creative branding and captivating visual products - here’s what potential display ads have demonstrated so far:

6. Shot on iPhone

This campaign has generated record revenue for Apple. It contributed to increased sales of the iPhone 6s, particularly among the target audience. According to Apple’s Q4 2015 earnings report, iPhone sales reached a record high, with the iPhone 6s being the most popular model. And it’s still running.

What’s so good about it? Where to start… First of all, it still drives engagement even after a decade of running. It also sparks controversy, so the conversation about having professional results with a phone camera is ongoing.

What do we learn? We can do something amazing with our product and then claim anyone could replicate the result should they have any talent. 

7. Doordash celebrating Valentine's Day

As we were talking about riding the waves of culture and recent events, let’s mention the winner of Cannes 23, Doordash, with their unconventional offer.

What’s so good about it? It empowers the relationship narrative shift AND promotes consumption. Valentine’s Day, once just a day to eat gas station chocolates, is now offered as a celebration for one.

What do we learn? Don’t let the traditions and customs limit your creativity. Sell shovels on Mother’s Day and rainbow slime for the day of Bastille. Maybe show some creativity and invent a holiday just to sell gas station candy (we need one now).

Search advertisement examples

What started out as a tiny traffic boost has, over time, become a prime location and a battlefield. Sponsored search results range from dry and optimized to funny and viral. So, search, and you shall be given (not necessarily what you were looking for, but perhaps something equally worthy).

8. BBDO and Snickers misspelled keywords

As we were talking about riding the waves of culture and recent events, let’s mention the human factor. Human error led to the creation of Google, BBDO, and Snickers joint campaign that used the misspelled keyword strategy. They generated a list of 25,381 misspellings from the top 500 search terms.

What’s so good about it? This campaign tapped into the frequent mistakes people make while searching online. By targeting misspelled keywords, Snickers turned an inconvenience into a marketing opportunity. It cleverly aligned with Snickers' brand message of eating a chocolate bar and stopping to mess with the fabric of reality.

What do we learn? Embrace the imperfections and mistakes of your audience and turn them into creative opportunities. This campaign shows the power of understanding and leveraging human behavior. Think outside the box—use the unexpected. Whether it’s targeting typos or finding other everyday mishaps, there’s a way to connect it back to your brand.

9. Nike and Google Shopping ads

Nike was the first to use dynamic ads to automatically show their products with images, prices, and descriptions. These ads targeted users based on their searches, making sure Nike products reached interested buyers.

What’s so good about it? This approach led to more clicks and sales.

What do we learn? Use automation to create personalized shopping experiences. This strategy shows how targeting the right audience with relevant products should boost sales. To stand out, do data-driven marketing.

10. Semrush is taking traffic back

You’ve seen it a million times – while you’re searching for a specific product, the ads will be like, “The best alternative to what you were searching” and other standardized pick-me behaviors. So what Semrush did was elegant (perhaps also not cheap). They took back the initiative with ads that matched their keywords.

What’s so good about it? Semrush used competitor names in its marketing to position itself directly alongside them. This tactic highlighted Semrush's unique features and benefits, turning competitors' visibility into an advantage.

What do we learn? Using competitor names can be a powerful way to assert your presence. This strategy shows how embracing competition can communicate your unique value. It’s about inviting consumers to compare and demonstrating confidence in your offerings.

11. HoneyBook

HoneyBook cleverly uses FreshBooks’ brand recognition to grab attention. Instead of insulting the competition, they merely present an actual alternative as if it was designed to be in the first place.

What’s so good about it? HoneyBook highlights its own unique features. This approach benefits from FreshBooks' established reputation while showing why HoneyBook is different and valuable.

What do we learn? Don’t be afraid to acknowledge your competitors. Use their strengths to highlight your unique qualities. Celebrate what sets you apart and confidently position your brand in the market. It’s not about tearing others down but building yourself up.

Video advertisement examples

When you need a wide canvas to tell an epic story, turn to video ads. Even if your ad won’t get 50 million views and become a footnote in history, you can at least become a fashionably unknown director with some interesting stories to tell.

12. YouTube Volvo Trucks "The Epic Split"

What better way to make an ad cinematic than to add an action-hero superstar? Jean-Claude Van Damme does a very impressive split between two moving trucks in Volvo Trucks Epic Split. We sincerely hope no Van Dammes were injured while making this.

What’s so good about it? Jean-Claude Van Damme did a perfect split between two moving Volvo trucks. What else do you need?

What do we learn? I wish we could all learn how to be handsome and active at Van Damme’s age… Focus! Use bold and creative ideas to show off your product’s strengths in epic ways. Drop your product from the cliff to see if it will bounce, cover your office in 10 million glitter pieces, and make your CEO only drink water for a year. Don’t be afraid to go big and make a statement.

13. Facebook Video: Blendtec "Will It Blend?" 

When “viral” was a word doctors used, video ads were becoming insanely popular simply because they were amusing to watch, just like the long series of videos where things were put in a blender. You say it’s ASMR, and we say it plays to basic human curiosity.

What’s so good about it? Blendtec created viral videos blending all sorts of crazy items—from smartphones to marbles. These videos were not only a satisfying way to vent the intrusive “what if” thoughts, they were actually demonstrating the power of Blendtec blenders.

What do we learn? Have fun with your marketing! Blendtec shows that humor and creativity can make your product unforgettable. Don’t be afraid to blend a little fun into your campaigns. Check out more buzzzzzy videos on their Facebook page.

14. Golfers vs. Porn stars by PlayStation

There’s no way to describe this ad in words and identify it as normal. Here it goes: the PlayStation universe is so vast and bizarre that the most entertaining events might occur. We wish we could invite the great minds behind this ad to a bender in Las Vegas.

What’s so good about it? It’s mind-blowing. The second part is setting up athletes against the ventriloquists.

What do we learn? Sometimes, the shortest way to the top of the Cannes shortlist and mad sales looks like an explosion or a volcano eruption. Try to imagine the pitch for this ad and realize what kind of people must have been involved in the process. Trust the professionals and allow the craziest ideas to flourish into amazing ads. 

15. Old Spice guy

Another example of a disruptive-like ad was produced years ago for such a trivial item as body wash. Apparently, the creators took inspiration from advertising cliches and added some irony.

What’s so good about it? The numbers were very good. On the first day, the campaign received almost 6 million views (now 62 million), their Facebook fan interaction was up 800%, the campaign increased sales by 27% over the 6 months since launching, and now Old Spice is the #1 body wash brand for men. 

What do we learn? Chances are, you have competitors, and your product is not innovative. So what? Dig through the ads and find patterns and thought traps. To think outside the box, you must first realize there’s a box. 

16. GoPro has 38 million views

It's one of the best videos some random people on the internet have ever seen. Seriously, the 38 million views this ad very well deserves. Besides having 4K quality and incredible scenery, it has everything a movie has. There’s narrative, there’s sequence, and there’s development. Yes, we also cried about the whale.

What’s so good about it? Everything about it was great.

What do we learn? Look what GoPro did. It’s somewhat similar to the famous iPhone campaign we were talking about before. Instead of advertising the product itself, they have advertised the result that their product provides. This switch of angles became an example for all aspiring advertisers, and for that, we are grateful.

Creating a great ad

Most of the examples presented are the results of high budgets, established brands, and talented agency staff. If you want to actually learn from them and try out your new references, oh boy, do we have good news for you.

Get inspired

The creative process remains the same, regardless of the era, art type, and quality of the result. First, you get inspired. Gathering inspiration is a critical part of any creative process: a writer must read great books, a musician must play Bach, and an artist must copy the work of the masters.

In the same way, to learn how to create great ads, you must first look through some examples, both artistic and practical. Meta has a Facebook Ad Library, where you can search for ads and dig into their targeting and performance.

This library has certain limitations, though: the search is general, and you can’t save ads.

But you can get access to the world’s largest ad library, created by Madgicx. There, you can see the ads that are not only beautiful but also performing well. You can search the ads and save them by format.

And if you have an idea of how your ad should look, you can move on to the next step of the creative process: the creation itself. See for yourself, you will get so many great ideas here.

Create or co-create

It’s hard not to doubt your decisions when you look at the examples of beautifully made ads in the library. We’ve all had blank page paralysis on many occasions.

This is why you can send the ads you like as a reference to our creative agency, Sparkle. Together with information about your brand and style, this reference will be transformed into a great ad within 48 hours. Our creative staff is indeed creative.

If you have your own team, you can just send them the link to the board of ads you saved, and they can use it as inspiration even if they are not yet using Madgicx.

Let it out there

After your ad is ready, just launch it within Madgicx and see if people like it. Unlike in art, where feedback is shaped by words, in advertising, feedback is shaped by numbers.

You can check your metrics and see how well your fresh creative is doing. Once you have more than one (we’re sure you’ll have plenty), you can see all of your ads and their specific performance in Creative Insights.

It will do more than just show you the results - it will give you insights into which ads are doing better on the spend/revenue scale.