Best Ads of 2020
Kiley Fletcher
While the events of 2020 were catastrophic to say the least, there were many ad campaigns that helped boost brand awareness even amidst the pandemic. Here are my top three ad campaigns of 2020:
1. Burger King’s Moldy Whopper Campaign
Before COVID-19 struck and that was all our world could focus on, Burger King released a pretty controversial ad that ended up working really well for them. They documented a Whopper for 34 days in video format to show how much it molded over time. Some may be put off by the thought of a moldy burger, but Burger King wanted to showcase how they don’t use artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives in their food. The ad also showed their burgers are more fresh than their main competitor, McDonald’s, in response to a viral video of a McDonald’s burger barely changing over the course of 20 years. This video was eye opening to Burger King and made them realize changing their ingredients would not only increase the quality of their food but position themselves higher against competitors.
2. Netflix’s #HomeSick Campaign
During the mandated stay at home order, many people were frustrated that they couldn’t go outside to do their normal activities. It’s one thing to want to stay inside, but when you’re forced to, going outside is the only thing you want to do. This ad campaign was a student project that went viral and encouraged people to stay home. The idea behind the ads was to spoil popular Netflix shows in common outside areas like subways and parks so people would wish they had thought twice about going outside. While these ads weren’t endorsed by Netflix, they were still impressed by the message behind the ads.
3. Guinness’s “Don’t Worry We’ll March Again” Campaign
St. Patrick’s Day is an important holiday for many beer companies, so Guinness definitely faced a hit when celebrations came to a halt this year. Despite the financial burden Guinness faced this year, they still advocated for partygoers to stay in and celebrate in the safety of their homes. Their campaign pushed for everyone to celebrate the Irish spirit with good beer, good food, and the idea that all of us are going through the pandemic together. Guinness’s message made a lot of people emotional that they couldn’t celebrate their favorite holiday, but they were reminded that celebrating virtually this year meant they would be able to celebrate in person the following years.