The 21 Most Inspiring Ads: The Definitive Guide, With Examples

Advertising is a powerful persuasive tool that can be used to influence people’s thoughts and beliefs. But what are the most inspiring ads?

The basic concepts of persuasion are the same in both advertising and politics, but advertisers have many more techniques at their disposal than politicians do.

Surpising? Maybe not. Let’s investigate!

This article will explore five different types of persuasive ad techniques, as well as how they work to create inspiring ads.

And, of course, we’ll also be dropping a list of the 21 most inspiring ads of all time!

Sound good? Let’s jump right in!

Persuasive Ad Techniques To Create Inspiring Ads

Advertising is a powerful tool for businesses. It can be used to create an image of success and happiness that leads consumers to purchase the product or service advertised.

However, not all advertising techniques are ethical, and they should always be carefully scrutinized before being put into use.

These types of messages invoke the fight-or-flight response which creates an emotional reaction that makes it difficult for someone to make rational decisions about what they should buy or not buy.

   

When it comes to inspiring ads, ethos, pathos, and logos are hugely important. But what are they exactly?

Here’s our video breakdown of ethos, pathos, logos, and what each one means:

Advertising is an art form that can take many forms. The most common type of advertising used for marketing to the masses is a persuasive ad technique, which can be very effective and inspiring when done right.

There are some simple techniques you can use to make your ads more engaging and memorable.

There are many different persuasive techniques that can be used in advertising including:

• testimonials,
• appeals to ethos, pathos & logos,
• humor,
• fear tactics, and
• celebrity endorsement.

The correct technique for the desired response will depend on the situation.

For example, if you wanted to create an ad for a weight loss product it would not make sense to use humor as your persuasive technique because no one wants to feel like they’re being laughed at when trying to lose weight.

Fear or celebrity endorsement would be a more obvious method here. We see this all the time!

You might want to try using fear tactics which could show before and after pictures of someone who lost 50 pounds due to your product/service.

In fact, one of the most used techniques is fear appeals. Fear appeals are based on negative emotions such as anger or sadness by using words like “don’t” or “stop.”

You’ve just read an introduction about persuasive ad techniques! Now you know how important it is for us advertisers to understand what makes people act on their impulses when they see something on TV or online!

The Most Inspiring Ads That Every Agency Should See

Every year, agencies release their best work to the world and hope for recognition.

No matter how often we get bombarded with advertising, it’s always difficult to find the perfect ad that resonates.

They’re not only great examples of how marketers can use powerful stories to inspire people – but they’re also some of the most beautiful pieces of advertising we’ve ever seen.

And while you may have seen your fair share of inspiring ads, these are some of our favorites from this past year. Be sure to check them out!

The 21 Most Inspiring Ads Of All Time

Next up, here are the 21 most inspiring ads of all time, courtesy of a Twitter thread by the awesome Sahil Bloom.

De Beers “diamonds Are Forever”

Arguably the most iconic, controversial, and impactful marketing campaign in history. Created the massive, global diamond industry.

Coke Vs. Pepsi Superman Battle

Pepsi ran the Halloween ad on the left. Coke responded with the ad on the right. Game, set, match.

The Original Apple Ipod Campaign

“1,000 songs in your pocket”

Simple, intuitive, genius.

   

Starbucks Wrong Names On Cups

Starbucks employees write the names of millions of customers in hilariously wrong ways to get them to post the images across social media with Starbucks branding.

For free.

Coca-cola “buy The World A Coke”

Released in 1971, but way ahead of its time. Invoked a deep sense of humanity and togetherness never before seen in the world of marketing and advertising.

Snickers “not Going Anywhere For A While?”

Positioned a Snickers bar as a robust meal with a compelling ad that captured the audience until the punchline.

Patek Philippe “you Never Actually Own A Patek Philippe”

Legacy, craftsmanship, and pride.

Volkswagen “think Small” And “lemon”

Creativity in crafting a unique selling proposition to the customer.

Parental Advisory Explicit Content

Made an entire generation of kids 100x more likely to purchase an album…

Coca-cola Santa Claus

The modern-day red and white imagery of Santa Claus was created by a Coca-Cola 1920s holiday marketing campaign.

Durex Father’s Day

An unbelievably creative, product-relevant dagger into the heart of the competition.

Apple “think Different”

Iconic is an understatement.

Avis “no. 2”

This creative campaign from Avis focused on why being #2 is a competitive advantage.

Lego Airplane

Simple and imaginative.

Invokes a feeling of child-like wonder and curiosity.

Gatorade “be Like Mike”

Used one of the greatest athletes of all time to convince young and aspiring athletes everywhere that a sugary performance beverage was the key to their success.

Porsche “honestly…”

Clean imagery with a touch of swagger.

Dollar Shave Club “our Blades Are F****** Great”

The campaign that drove Dollar Shave Club from 0 to a $1 billion acquisition…

This one’s a real favorite example that video companies and agencies use all the time.

Patagonia “don’t Buy This Jacket”

Pushed the brand’s core values while stoking significant intrigue in new and prospective customers. Brilliant and effective.

Got Milk?

A brilliant push by the dairy industry positioned milk as a superfood at the center of a healthy, balanced diet.

It worked. If you grew up in the 90s, you believed it.

Absolut Vodka: “the Bottle”

Campaign Began in 1986 – 10,000 Cases sold in the US 1,500 Print ads & 25 years Later… Campaign Ends in the mid-2000s

By then, Absolut is importing 4.5M cases/yr and owned 50% of the US import vodka market.

And last but least…

Nike “just Do It”

One of the most iconic campaigns in history. Nike was no longer just for elite athletes – the campaign made everyone feel like they could accomplish great things.

Meaningful Ads That Inspire

Advertisers have long relied on the persuasive power of advertising to get customers to buy things. But, what if we consider ads as something more than just an invitation for purchasing?

What if our ads inspire us or connect us with causes that are meaningful to us?

We will discuss what meaningful ads are and how they can help you better connect with your target audience. If you want to learn more about meaningful ads, keep reading!

Advertising can be a powerful tool for brands to reach their target market, but so much of it is saturated and superficial.

A great company knows that the best advertising comes from meaningful connections with potential customers, not flashy graphics or clever slogans. We’re here to show you how we do it.

Most Inspirational Commercials Ever

Sometimes, it can be hard to see the good in life. I think we get so caught up in our own daily struggles that we forget about all of the awesome things happening around us.

Everyone has their favorite commercials. Whether it’s a catchy jingle, an innovative product, or just the nostalgia of childhood memories, these ads can evoke strong feelings and emotions from viewers.

The most popular commercial on YouTube is Budweiser’s “Puppy Love,” with over 150 million views. What are some other notable commercials that you think deserve recognition?

The best commercials are the ones that make us laugh, cry, and feel good.

The Techniques Behind Inspiring Ads

Creative advertising is a powerful tool in the marketing world. From clever slogans to stunning visuals, some ads can be so inspiring they make you want to buy whatever product is being advertised!

The techniques behind these effective ads are worth exploring and understanding.

As a society, we are constantly fed advertisements. We see them on billboards, in magazines and newspapers, and on TV commercials.

But how do these ads inspire us to buy products? The answer is by playing with the emotions of their audience.

There are many techniques that advertisers use to evoke emotion from their viewers including:

• humor,
• fear,
• nostalgia or sadness,
• sexual arousal,
• hope for the future or regret for the past and
• bonding with other people who share similar experiences.

These emotional triggers help persuade consumers into purchasing a product they might not have otherwise considered had it not been advertised to them in this way.

Inspiring ads are all around us. They can be seen in every city, on the television during commercial breaks, and even within our own social media feeds.

After scrolling through a few ads that seem to have an inspiring message, it’s easy to become jaded and lose sight of what they really represent—a company trying to make money off you.

But what are some techniques behind these ads? What makes them work so well for their purpose? And how can we take inspiration from these creative minds who know how to get our attention?

What are some of the techniques behind producing ads that inspire? The answer is a little complicated, but there’s one major factor: emotion.

Creating an emotional connection with your audience often leads to higher engagement and brand loyalty.

To do this, marketers need to know what emotions they want their ad campaign to convey and how these emotions will resonate with their target audience.

For example, the Nike ‘Just Do It’ campaign has been very successful in inspiring people because it taps into feelings of empowerment and self-confidence.

Shooting Your Inspiring Ad

Shooting an ad is a lot of work, but it can be worth the effort if you want to produce a successful and memorable campaign.

If you are thinking about taking on this project for your company or organization, make sure to take note of these helpful tips before you start planning.

Focus On The Details

Make sure every detail is accounted for so that nothing will go wrong when shooting your ad.

Create A Shot List

Stay organized by creating a shot list that includes all the necessary shots needed for your ad campaign.

Bring In Professionals

If you need help with anything from shot composition to lighting, consult with professionals in those fields who will offer their expertise.

Shot listing is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. It’s also a useful tool for any kind of production – even when you’re just shooting stills on your own with the intention of working on them later.

The goal is to have everything set up in advance so that once you start shooting, it feels like second nature.

Creating a shot list can be time-consuming and require some trial and error before you find what works best for you as an artist but the end results are always worth it!

A shot list is a document that outlines the shots required to complete your video production.

It’s a great way to organize equipment, actors, and locations for any shoot. Here are some tips on how to create an easy-to-follow shot list!

1. Write out each scene as its own title with a brief synopsis of the action. Storyboarding is a good idea here.

2. Make sure you have all of the shots for the scene before moving on (and if not, go back and add them!)

3. Keep track of scenes with one-line titles so you can easily find them later in editing.

Creative Digital Ad Trends

The digital ad trends that I want to talk about today are all related to the creative process. The first is a trend in video production called VR180, which has been created by Google.

This allows people who watch videos on YouTube and other platforms to experience 3D virtual reality without using any special equipment or glasses because it uses the standard screens of smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Another trend is an “in-the-moment” approach when it comes to advertising campaigns by brands like Nike and Apple.

These companies use their products as tools for storytelling; they create marketing materials with engaging content that tells a story, rather than simply making sales pitches or trying to maximize impressions through ads.

Finally, there are more interactive ads coming out

Digital advertising is a growing industry with many opportunities for creativity. As technology rapidly evolves, new ad formats are being developed to keep up with the change.

Advertising is one of the most important elements in marketing. The digital world has given advertisers a wide range of options to bring their message to consumers.

What are your thoughts on how these ads would make you feel? What do they make you want to do next?

The world of advertising has changed dramatically in the last few years with the rise of social media and digital marketing.

The old way no longer works, so it’s important for companies to stay up to date on what is happening in digital advertising if they want to maintain their customer base.

They also need a strategy that will work for their company because not every business runs the same as another.

Most Inspiring Ads – Wrapping Up The Top Ads

We hope you’ve enjoyed this trip down memory lane and thoughts on the 21 most inspiring ads of all time.

What’s your favorite ad of all time? Feel free to drop your nominations in the comments below.

With this knowledge, you are well on the way to creating an inspiring ad of your own! Good luck!