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50 Hilarious Advertising Fails You Might Find Hard To Believe Were Actually Approved (New Pics)
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.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Anti-Smoking Ad Accidentally Recommends Quitting The Wrong Thing
Andrew Irish 1 day ago
Somebody noticed when this was being applied. They either super don't care to an almost impressive degree of apathy, or it cracked them up.
#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.
#4
Oh Good, Didn’t Want To Misplace It!
#5
Boldly Going Where No Man Has Gone Before
#6
This Habitat For Humanity Van
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.
#7
This Ad For Teeth Whitening
Premislaus de Colo 1 day ago
If you look at the slogan you'll see that this is intentional and eye-catching, so this doesn't really fit here
#8
I See Your Car Doors And Bus Windows, And Give You This
#9
Billboard My Wife Found In Indiana
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.
#10
Whoopsie, Shanghai Uses Wrong Poster (Fanmade) To Promote Thor Movie
#11
‘Oilyfans’ Billboards Show Bp Chief Executive Topless After Earning £10 Million
#13
But... Where Did The Snowflake Come From??
#14
This Large Billboard Of A Random Goat
#15
That Is Not How That Works
#16
Got The Copy Done For That Billboard
#17
Somebody Didn't Have His Coffee
#18
Choose Asia. Choose Wrong
#19
This Ad I Saw Knocking Prince Andrew
#20
This Billboard Literally Makes No Sense
#21
Maybe Not The Best Two Billboards Right Next To Each Other... Just Sayin
#22
People Will Never Learn To Not Put Faces In Corners
#23
That's A Lot Of Legs For Three Women
#24
This Ad Caught My Eyes
#25
Advertising Ethical Business
#26
This Ad
#27
Drove Past This Malfunctioning Billboard Outside A Major Sports Stadium
#28
Put Up That Ad For You Boss
#29
The Menopause; It's Natural, Irish And Genuinely Works
#30
Flew Into Dia The Other Day And Saw This Ad. They're Leaning Into It The Conspiracies And I Am *here* For It
#31
Taste The Feeling Of Cr*ppy Lenticular Design
#32
As Campaign In Munich For The Euro Championship
#33
Goeye Rgelash
#34
This Billboard Has A Clear Message That #sanjose Can't Ignore
#35
I Live In Ghana. This Billboard Is On A Highway Near My House
Adrienne FWB 1 day ago
Surely this is a fake - "whiles" driving? Or someone is worse at editing than advertising.
#36
Interesting Billboard On My Way To Work
#37
At A Local Library. Have No Idea What’s Going On
#38
Another Unattainable Body Portrayed In Advertising
#39
I Don't Even Have The Words
#40
This Ad
#41
Put Up The Advertisement Boss
#42
“I Put That Billboard Up, Boss!”
#43
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
#44
Bus Ad That Seems To Be Advertising Human Trafficking
#45
I Don't Think Mirrors Work Like That
#46
There Wan An Attempt To Advertise
#47
Cool New Ad!
#48
This Shopped Car At The Mazda Booth At The Portland International Auto Show
#49
They Should Have Mirrored Her On The Other Side
#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.
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What do you think ?
Mäandertal 21 hours ago
I've got 90% of these saved in meme folder called "old as Moses". So glad they're still delighting the web
nana theater 11 hours ago
Obviously the editor has no idea what the difference is between very bad ads and very good ads.
Mäandertal 21 hours ago
I've got 90% of these saved in meme folder called "old as Moses". So glad they're still delighting the web
nana theater 11 hours ago
Obviously the editor has no idea what the difference is between very bad ads and very good ads.
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