Many people complain about glossy advertisements and TV commercials as an obnoxious way for companies to invade our everyday lives and cram their products down our throats. But that’s not all that printed ads are good for. The best commercials on this list are excellent examples of the most effective advertising strategies for social issues marketing campaigns that let their voices be heard.

A well-made advertisement is designed to grab your attention and remain in your memory long after you’ve left it behind, and that is precisely what many of these social problems need. Getting people to think and worry about various social and environmental issues, such as human trafficking, racism, and air pollution, is significant for raising public support and affecting meaningful changes. 

A few of these ads are commercial ads. However, it’s nice that they champion socially or environmentally aware causes/products. Like commercial advertisements, having just the facts isn’t enough. They are essential, but the ad must also appeal to the observer’s emotions to raise social awareness. Many studies have indicated that feelings can powerfully affect memory formation, ensuring that memories with emotion last longer than those without.

Effective Advertising Examples

Howard Luck Gossage (HLG), aka ‘The Socrates of San Francisco,’ was an advertising innovator and a marketing genius. He led some brilliant and effective advertising campaigns that changed the face of advertising. 

HLG once said, “Advertising justifies its existence when used in the public interest—it’s much too powerful a tool to use solely for commercial purposes.” We definitely agree, which is why we wanted to share this list of excellent advertisement examples with you! Let’s get started, shall we?

Torture Victims Are People Just Like You And Me

Image credits: Advertising Agency: Advico Y&R, Zurich, Switzerland

Stop The Violence: Don’t Drink And Drive

Image credits: Advertising Agency: Terremoto Propaganda, Curitiba, Brazil

Premature Ending: “If you smoke, statistically your story will end 15% before it should.”

“THE END. If you smoke, statistically your story will end 15% before it should. For help with quitting call QUITTLINE on 0200 00 22 00” (Advertising Agency: Iris, London, UK)

World Wide Fund For Nature: Frightening vs. More Frightening

Advertising Agency: DDB&CO., Istanbul, Turkey

Your Skin Color Shouldn’t Dictate Your Future

What Makes Advertising Effective?

Printed, television, or social media; your ad can be of any type. Whichever type you choose, here are a few tips for making effective ads.

• Ads should capture the attention of the viewers instantly and keep them engaged. With receding attention spans, you barely have seconds to capture this attention. So, jump directly to the message of your ad and be bold rather than beating around the bush.
• Your ads must carry a clear and memorable message that’s easy to understand. If your message is simple and clear, the viewers are likely to remember it.
• Ads should not just contain facts about the product/service you are advertising about but also narrate a story. But instead of “telling” a story, your ads should “show” the story.
• Emotions are universal human traits. If your ad has an emotional appeal, viewers can empathize with it and actually connect with the message you are trying to deliver.
• Once viewers can connect with your ad, it should prompt them to take action. Provide clear instructions or CTA (call-to-action) on what they should do next. For example, encourage them to purchase your product/service, visit your website, sign up for your weekly newsletter, etc. 
• Along with everything else, your ads should also mention the benefits of the product/service that you are offering. Basically, explain to the viewers why they should pick you.

Deforestation Continues With The Turn Of A Page

Advertising Agency: LINKSUS, Beijing, China

Unhate

Advertising Agency: Fabrica, Italy

Elm Grove Police Department: Slower Is Better

Advertising Agency: Cramer-Krasselt, Milwaukee, USA

Save Paper – Save The Planet

Advertising Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi, Copenhagen, Denmark

Air Pollution Kills 60.000 People A Year

Advertising Agency: unknown

Liking Isn’t Helping. Be A Volunteer. Change A Life

Advertising Agency: Publicis, Singapore

Bird Conservation: If You Don’t Pick It Up They Will

Advertising Agency: TBWAHuntLascaris, Johannesburg, South Africa

What We See When You Smoke

Advertising Agency: JWT, Atlanta, USA

Animal Anti-Cruelty League: That’s Not A Football

Advertising Agency: Lowe Bull, Cape Town, South Africa

Bangalore Traffic Police: Don’t Talk While Driving

Advertising Agency: Mudra Group, India

Child Soldiers: It’s Not Happening Here, But It’s Happening Now

Image credits: Creative/Art director Pius Walker, Amnesty International, Switzerland.

Censorship Tells The Wrong Story

Advertising Agency: Memac Ogilvy & Mather Dubai, UAE

Distracted Driving: Think Of Both Sides

Image credits: Advertising Agency: Red Pepper, Ekaterinburg, Russia

Every 60 Seconds a Species Dies Out. Each Minute Counts

Image credits: Advertising Agency: Scholz & Friends, Berlin, Germany

Innocence In Danger: Where’s The Pedophile?

Art Director: Michael Arguello, Copywriter: Bassam Tariq, Additional credits: Jason Musante

Sexual Predators Can Hide In Your Child’s Smartphone

Image credits: Advertising Agency: Herezie, Paris, France

Smoking Causes Premature Aging

Image credits: Advertising Agency: Euro RSCG Australia

You’re Not A Sketch. Say No To Anorexia

Image credits: Advertising Agency: Revolution Brasil

Neglected Children Are Made To Feel Invisible. Stop Child Abuse Now

“To dramatize the issue of neglect, we placed mannequins dressed as children behind billposters. When the inevitable happened, we revealed a second message.” (Australian Childhood Foundation, JWT Melbourne)

Global Action In The Interest of Animals: Plastic Bags Kill

Advertising Agency: BBDO Malaysia, MALAYSIA, Kuala Lumpur / Advertising Agency: Duval Guillaume, Belgium

What Goes Around Comes Around. Keep The Sea Clean

Image credits: Advertising Agency: JWT, Dubai, UAE

Tailgating Isn’t Worth It. Give Trucks Room

Advertising Agency: Amélie Company, Denver, Colorado, USA

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: When You See A Tuna, Think Panda

Advertising Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, Singapore

Sleepiness Is Stronger Than You. Don’t Drive Sleepy

Image credits: Advertising Agency: BBDO Bangkok, Thailand

See How Easy Feeding The Hungry Can Be?

Image credits: Advertising Agency: TBWAHuntLascaris, Johannesburg, South Africa

Causing Cancer By Yourself

Image credits: Advertising Agency: Dentsu, Beijing, China

Deforestation And The Air We Breathe: Before It’s Too Late

Image credits: Advertising Agency: TBWAPARIS, France

For The Homeless, Every Day Is A Struggle

Image credits: Advertising Agency: Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne, Australia

The Prvention Beer Mug: Please Don’t Lose Control Over Your Drinking

Image credits: Advertising Agency: EURORSCG Prague, Czech Republic

One Child Is Holding Something That’s Been Banned In America To Protect Them. Guess Which One?

Advertising Agency: Grey, Toronto, Canada

Breast Cancer Awareness Bra

Advertising Agency: Bolero, Fortaleza, Brazil

What Goes Around Comes Around: Stop The Iraq War

Advertising Agency: Big Ant International, New York, USA

UN Women: Auto-Complete Shows Perceptions Of Women

Image credits: Advertising Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, Dubai, UAE

Don’t Buy Exotic Animal Souvenirs

Advertising Agency: LOWE GGK, Warsaw, Poland

Animal Abuse And Shelters: Same Pet, Different Owner

Advertising Agency: TBWA-Santiago Mangada Puno, Philippines

Buckle up. Stay alive

Advertising Agency: Lg2, Quebec, Canada

Powerful Ads to Raise Awareness

Now, wasn’t that a rollercoaster of emotions? The above ads didn’t just tug at our heartstrings; they clearly delivered their message and “showed” us the story behind the message. But we would love to hear from you, too; let us know in the comments whether you found these ads powerful! Feel free to share this with your friends who are in love with the marketing world or anyone you know who appreciates an impactful ad. 

RELATED: 35 Of The Most Powerful Ads by WWF

Popular Questions About Powerful Advertisements (FAQ)

Why Are Ads So Powerful?

Ads don’t just appeal to the emotional senses of viewers but also inform them about something within a few seconds or a few words. Their ability to grab attention and create an impact makes them powerful.

What is the Most Powerful Element in Advertising?

According to Bill Bernach, aka ‘The Father of Creative Advertising,’ “The most powerful element in advertising is the TRUTH.”

What is the Fastest-Growing Type of Advertising?

Digital advertising is the fastest-growing type of advertising, according to Statista.

What is the Most Powerful Word in Advertising?

There isn’t a single powerful word in advertising. However, some of the most powerful ones are you, click, free, exclusive, easy, safe, proven, and now.

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