Mad Men almost managed to convince the world that marketing was made by clever folks in swanky offices, discussing and debating the ins and outs of human wants and needs. Certainly, sometimes that is the case. But there are a lot more ads and companies out there than there are competent marketers.
We’ve gathered some of the most unhinged, cursed and hilarious advertisement fails from across the world. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.
#2
Chinese Hair Salon Uses Google Translate To Create An Advertising Banner, But Seems Like Their WiFi Was Down
#3
If There Is An Award For Advertising, I’m Sure This One Ain’t Up For It
There is a distinctive difference between cheap, unimaginative ads and marketing so terrible that it actively diminishes your brand’s image. Take, for example, a 2015 ad from Bloomingdales, which included the line “Spike your best friend’s eggnog when they’re not looking.”
This is the sort of thing that absolutely begs the question, how did someone think this was ok? Their PR did issue an apology and, in a show of maturity, didn’t just blame it on some rogue marketer. However, the folks calling the shots at Bloomingdales did also approve of this ad, so that raises some questions.
Some companies will “show” just how much they trust their products by putting themselves at risk. The manufacturers of bulletproof glass come to mind, standing behind their product as someone tests a gun. Very little room for fails here. In 2006, Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock, a company that sold data protection services put out an ad with his actual social security number.
#9
Whoopsie, Shanghai Uses Wrong Poster (Fanmade) To Promote Thor Movie
The gist was simple, LifeLock’s services were, according to Todd Davis, so effective, that even with his SSN plastered across billboards, scammers and fraudsters would still not be able to do anything. It probably won’t come as a surprise that his identity was stolen over 13 times, and, to add insult to injury, he was made to pay multiple false advertising fines. If your ad is so bad the FTC has to get involved, you messed up.
#19
People Will Never Learn To Not Put Faces In Corners
#24
Drove Past This Malfunctioning Billboard Outside A Major Sports Stadium
#29
This Billboard Has A Clear Message That #sanjose Can’t Ignore
#33
I Live In Ghana. This Billboard Is On A Highway Near My House
#38
Flew Into Dia The Other Day And Saw This Ad. They’re Leaning Into It The Conspiracies And I Am *here* For It
#42
An Ad On A Game I’m Playing. The More You Look. Not Sure What The Goal Of The Advertiser Was With The Editing Of This Photo, But This Is An Ad For Vacations
#48
This Shopped Car At The Mazda Booth At The Portland International Auto Show
#50
Saw This At My Local Car Dealer
Note: this post originally had 93 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
