Best and Worst Ads of 2011

In 2011, Madison Avenue got even more creative with their commercials by extending their lengths beyond the usual 15- and 30-second spots, as well as expanding their formats to go from TV to digital. These savvy strategies were used to help gain greater viewer attention and maximize online sharing in an effort to stretch dwindling ad dollars. The Wall Street Journal recently compiled a year-end list of their favorites and failures, and below we’ve featured some of their highlights and low points.

1. Volkswagen: “May the Force Be with You” – This Star Wars-themed commercial featuring a boy using “the Force” on the new VW Passat received over 45 million views to become this year’s most-viewed ad on YouTube. It also generated more than $100 million in free publicity and helped sell more cars in two months than the 2010 model sold all last year.

2. Allstate: “Mayhem” – These ads personify potential driver troubles into a wry man named “Mayhem.” Since the ads debuted, the insurance company has had a 17.8 percent increase in quote requests, as well as earned more than 20 million YouTube views and over one million Facebook fans.

3. Kraft Foods: “Golden Voice” – When a homeless man’s beautiful singing voice made him an online video star, he became the voice for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese commercials. This resulted in a 13% sales increase for the first quarter and 430% jump in Facebook fans.

4. Nivea: “Racial Repercussions” – An ad featuring a clean-shaven black man removing his Afro and facial hair with the headline “Re-Civilize Yourself” caused a consumer outcry of racism for the grooming products brand.

5. Groupon: “Tasteless TV” – When the daily deal company debuted an ad that showed Timothy Hutton discussing the poverty in Tibet and then eating at a Tibetan restaurant, consumers complained about insensitivity and the ad was quickly pulled.

6. Reebok: “Bad Footing” – The sneaker brand’s TV ad claimed its shoes could deliver up to 28 percent more muscle tone, but the FTC filed charges of false advertising, which resulted in the brand paying $25 million in customer refunds.

While these are just a few of the spots that generated buzz for better or worse, the good news is that there was an increase in ad spending both on television and online. In 2012, television is predicted to grow 4% to $58.8 billion since so many TV commercials are being recycled and viewed on the Web. According to Rob Schwartz, chief creative officer of TBWA/Chiat/Day in Los Angeles, “TV commercials were some of the most shared content online.”

To discover how to maximize your advertising for increased ROI, contact MDG.

MDG, a full-service Florida advertising agency with offices in Boca Raton and New York, NY, specializes in developing targeted Internet marketing solutions, exceptional creative executions and solid branding and media buying strategies that give clients a competitive advantage. Our core capabilities include print advertising, branding, logo design, creative, digital marketing, media planning and buying, TV and radio advertising, customer relationship management, inbound marketing programs, public relations, Web design and development, email marketing, social media marketing and SEO. View MDG’s creative marketing portfolio.