CEOĪs you can see from the quote above, this brand readily accepts controversy in their marketing campaigns however, unlike most of our entries on our list, they utilize a different approach. “If people don’t complain, I go to the head of marketing and say, ’What’s wrong with our ads?’” Andrew Puzder, Carl’s Jr.

The fact that the commercial had earned 2.5 billion media impressions even before its debut at the Super Bowl should be evidence enough just how successful it was. Namely, the brand made a commercial that showed some skin, was brimming with sexyness, and made a ton of profit. This ad was purposefully so over the top that everyone loved it! Except for the critics, of course. Here are some of the most controversial ads to date:Ĭarl’s Junior 2015 Super Bowl commercial was, although controversial, a massive success! But how did this fast-food company manage that? It’s pretty simple - sex sells! So lean back, put your learning hat on, and enjoy! 12 Most Controversial Ads of Recent Years OK, but how can you protect yourself from potential controversy? By learning from others’ mistakes, of course! Also, a bit of market and audience research helps as well! So don’t forget to dedicate your time to that before launching your ad campaign.īut now, let’s take a look at some of the most infamous and controversial ads of the past years! In the end, we’ll also provide you with an overview of what to avoid in your video content marketing campaigns to safeguard yourself from controversy adequately. Barnum’s point of view might apply for small businesses without much to lose, but if you’re a famous brand with a broad existing audience, controversy and bad press can be detrimental to your growth and sales. If this quote just crossed your mind, tread carefully.

But if it does happen, you should try to make the best of it. Let’s clear one thing up first - controversy is not always bad however, it is a slippery slope! As a rule of thumb, you should avoid it like the plague. But what happens if they do that in all the wrong ways? What happens if your business puts out a controversial ad? Essentially, ads are supposed to put your brand in the spotlight. They have a multitude of purposes - promoting services or products, raising brand awareness, building brand loyalty, and much more. Ads have been essential tools for many businesses worldwide for as long as we can remember.

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