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15 Legendary Marketing Fails

By , February 28th, 2013 in Funny | 18 comments
marketing fails double face palm

These marketing fails deserve a double facepalm

Back by popular demand we have rounded up the best of the worst marketing fails.

If you haven’t already, check out this past ‘epic marketing fail’ post for some entertainment. We also post a weekly marketing fail to our Facebook page every Monday to start your week off with a smile.

15 Epic Marketing Fails

Today’s categories:

  • Genius or Fail? When marketing fails are so horrible, you wonder if marketers did it on purpose. And if they did, does the phrase “Any publicity is good publicity” really ring true?
  • Grammar & Spelling Fails. I am no Grammar Nazi, but when something is representing your brand or marketing your product, please, please remember to double check your work.
  • Ad Placement Fails: When one ad meets another and causes chaos. When Marketers pay good money and then editors screw it up.
  • Miscellaneous Marketing Fails: These can’t be categorized – except maybe with the word WRONG.

Genius or Fail?

She takes a what, where?

These marketers clearly did this on purpose. Pro: They got people talking about their ad. Con: They compared their product to “sheet.” So is it a fail? Or did they succeed in making this ad go viral?

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Marketing FaiI take a sheet in the pool

Come a little closer

What do you think, marketing genius or marketing faux pas? Are these marketers going a little too far?

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Marketing Fail Funeral Services

#susanalbumparty

So Susan Boyle’s Album Release Twitter HashTag was one big mistake…but hey, publicity is publicity, right?

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Marketing Fail Susan Boyle

Grammar & Spelling fails

Apostrophe please

What is the spelling on the actual cake going to be?

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Marketing Fail Cakes For All Occasions

Free Joining Fee

Loves me a free fee? Wait, what? I have to pay?

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Marketing Fail Free Joining Fee

Ad Placement Fails

Shameless Tricks

Shameless Tricks? Well, Mr. Editor-in-Chief, you should be ashamed. Please make sure you look at BOTH sides of the fold before you approve the magazine for print.

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Marketing Fail Ad Placement Fail

QR Code Fail

Of course I will climb down onto the track and step over the railing to launch my QR Code scanner. Let me get right on that… Death wish anyone?

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Marketing Fail third rail QR Code

Laughing so hard right now

Laughing at you. Not with you.

Dear Editor-in-Chief, Please remember where you place an ad is just as important as the ad itself. Sincerely, Marketers everywhere

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Marketing Fail Placement

Father’s Day Fail

This really makes you want to “treat him.”

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Marketing Fail Fathers Day

Miscellaneous Marketing Fails

Strong Call-to-Action

This call to action was so strong, someone took it to heart.

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Marketing Fail If It Ain't Broke Break It

I Spy With My Little Eye…

Aan advertising executive clearing their desk

We’re putting the ball in your court. What exactly is wrong with this ad?

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Marketing Fail Nicolas Cage

Today is the Day…

We fire the marketing team. Please, remember your audience.

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Marketing Fail Today Is The Day We Take The Stairs

Celebrity Endorsement Fail

Common Oprah. I had higher expectations coming from you.

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Marketing Fail Twitter for iPad

Sexual Innuendo Fail

Hmmm. Not sure if this is an ad for a touchless faucet or…

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Marketing Fail The Moment Your Forearm Has Been Waiting For

Racist Fail

Word on the street is that this may be fake. But still.

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Marketing Fail Racist

– Stefanie Grieser


15 Epic Marketing Fails [Funny]

By , September 6th, 2012 in Funny | 16 comments

Sometimes it’s so obvious you can’t see what you’re doing wrong.

Every now and then, you need to look at some really bad marketing to know that you’re doing it right. Or just to laugh at the stupidity of advertisers and ad placement people (what are they called?).

So to follow up on our last “bad marketing” post – 13 Epic Marketing Fails – I’m going to expose a few classic faux pas as a warning to be extra careful when you put an ad out to the world.

Today’s categories:

  • Ad placement fails: When combining your ad with another causes chaos.
  • Acronym fails: If you’re going to make an acronym for your name or event, please, please please double check what it means.
  • Miscellaneous horrible marketing: These can’t be categorized – except maybe with the word WRONG.

Enjoy, cringe, laugh, cry.

Ad placement fails

1. Sign after sign fail

Before you pay through the nose for your ad placement, consider what’s coming next.

Hope is about 100m ahead in this case. I wonder how many alcoholics felt a moment of “you’re not alone” followed by, mmmmmm wine.

2. Braille fail

Ummmm. I get that it’s probably for people buying on behalf of those without sight, but the irony is somewhat ridiculous. I guess with a screen reader it could work to an extent – but paying for an ad like that? Seems kinda wrong. And really? “Never seen before?” #ouch

Touch screens don’t have bumps yet. Pick your medium when placing an ad.

3. Meth or speed?

Wow. Talk about co-marketing. These guys should go into business together. I’d love to be the dude that pastes these things on the billboards – he must have the funniest job in the world.

4. Search engine – baseball not found

Come on now! A Search engine (Yahoo) ad placed right next to section 404 in a sports stadium. Is this meta genius or just something for us to laugh at? I’m laughing FTR. But kudos to Yahoo if they specifically asked to be next to that section to try and generate some kind of viral brand exposure. #doubtful

Ball not found. Please search again.

5. Obesity for a dollar fail

Health food?… Yeah! Obesity?… No! McDonalds FTW!!! I mean really. Is the goal to confuse people? Or just cause arguments in minivans between parents and children.

6. Bad timing Twitter fail

I have to give them points for having an electronic banner with a live Twitter stream. And congratulate the photo taker for their epic timing. Doesn’t look so good for those 3 news anchors tho.

Acronym fails

7. WTF were you thinking?

Surely you could rearrange this and it would still make sense, right? Must be a generation gap thing.

8. Overemphasis fail

Okay, so you accidentally have a bad acronym for your business. Don’t make it worse! Although it’s probably a very effective interruption marketing technique, whether intended or not.

9. Ride the what?!

How could you not catch this one? I’m starting to think there’s a movement of inappropriate interruption ad companies that rely on creating controversy. #conspiracytheory

And with the row of women below the ad! Could it really be any worse?

10. Don’t bring this guy home to mom

Really? You are so old you don’t know what this means? My version: Memories I‘d Like to Forget.

Miscellaneous horrible marketing

11. Benefit statement fail

Looking to buy a car? Keep your eyes peeled for the women’s prison, we set up shop right beside it to enhance our trust value.

12. Naming fail

I heard someone say recently that branding and the name of your product doesn’t matter, just get it out there and see how it goes. I disagree, and this demonstrates it perfectly. How much education do you need to know that these are BANANAS!

13. Racist toothpaste?

Words #fail me…

14. Some things shouldn’t be free

I’m guessing the banner designer for this promotion got fired.

Insulting much?

15. Obvious fail

There’s only so much real estate on your packaging or landing page. Make the most of it without pointless references to things people already know. For cats? No sh*t Sherlock.

Who knew cat toys were for cats?

The world is broken…

– Oli Gardner


The Most Boring Marketing Post You’ll Ever Read

By , August 23rd, 2012 in Funny | 11 comments
Conversions? Blah blah. Gimme milk idiot. (Original image source)

Boring? Not really – that was just link bait… Hooked yet?

Read, but don’t emulate, these 10 really stupid marketing moves

If you’re guilty of doing or discussing any of these, you need a time out. Maybe go stand in a corner and reconsider your life.

  1. Infographic Semantics

    Ever had an argument about infographics, and whether they’re only valid if they have stats and percentages? ZOMG, find a better use of your time. Information + graphics = infographic. Get over it already, hipster.
    » Tweet This «


  2. Answering Dumb Questions

    If something is FREE, why am I filling out a form about “my biggest marketing challenge” for this freebie? My biggest marketing challenge is your form.
    » Tweet This «


  3. Stop Being Verbose (I’m guilty)

    If you have 5 paragraphs of text and no images, you’re either really dull or you like to appeal to dull people. Stop it. Stop it now. The world hates you.
    » Tweet This «


  4. Respect Thy Stream

    Ever shared a post about marketing that actually bored the crap out of you? Why? What’s wrong with you. #facepalm. There’s enough s**t out there already, so keep your Twitter trigger finger under control for the good stuff. #please
    » Tweet This «


  5. Don’t Show Negative Social Proof

    Are you happy with 9 Retweets? You shouldn’t be. Learn how to write gooder or get a bar job in a ski resort.
    » Tweet This «


  6. Be Awesome or Get Off the Pot

    What’s the difference between a great marketer and a crappy marketer? If you can’t answer this question you should seriously consider that bar job I just mentioned. To really understand if you have the ability to be awesome, write some guest posts and see how other audiences react to your ideas. Best recommendation? Start at SEOmoz. The community is awesome, good and bad. They’ll quickly tell you what they think. If they think you’re an idiot, learn from it and come back stronger.
    » Tweet This «


  7. Bad Joke

    A marketer walks into a bar and asks “What’s the most popular drink here?” (demographic research, in case you were wondering). Bartender says: “I have no idea. If you can generate a report on what the best selling beer is in here, I’ll give you $1,000″. Point being, as a marketer, you should always be measuring your campaigns, and your client will expect the same. Told you it was bad. Didn’t even make me laugh, and I laugh at myself all the time. #truestory


  8. Writing is the New Black

    I used to be a marketer. Then I became a writer and my marketing got better. Lesson: the copy matters, and if you suck at writing, you’ll probably be a crappy marketer.
    » Tweet This «


  9. Use Unbounce!

    How many marketers does it take to change a light bulb? Well first, you need 2 bulbs, to test which one is brighter, then you need an engineer to turn them on for you, then you have to ask IT for a report. Me? Personally, I’d rather go live in a cave and light a candle.
    » Tweet This «


  10. At Least Tweet it Once Yourself #selfesteem

    I LOVE people who write posts about social proof, and have zero retweets. Makes me feel smart, cos their content sucks.
    » Tweet This «


So how many are you guilty of? Share in the comments and let’s have a laugh at what we’re doing wrong. If you share, so will I, that’s a promise.

– Oli Gardner


Top 7 Reasons Why Chuck Norris Didn’t Invest in the Facebook IPO

By , May 25th, 2012 in Funny | 1 comment

If there are images in this attachment, they will not be displayed. Download the original attachment

What Does Chuck Norris Think About the Facebook IPO?

Well let’s find out. And please feel free to tweet these choice nuggets of wisdom… Otherwise you’ll be in trouble with Chuck #NotAGoodIdea

  1. Chuck doesn’t invest in anything except roundhouse kick lessons, which he teaches himself. » Tweet This «

  1. Chuck doesn’t “Like” anything. Okay, a roundhouse kick to Zuckerbergs face would be somewhat Likeable. » Tweet This «

  1. Shares in Chuck Norris are measured in badassery, not dollars. And he has muscles in his toe nails that are bigger than your biceps. #TrueStory. » Tweet This «

  1. If you suggest a share price to Chuck Norris, he’ll kick you in the face and tell the New York stock exchange to buy more Chuck stock and devalue Facebook. » Tweet This «

  1. If you unfriend Chuck Norris on Facebook he’ll just bitch slap you, take your money and invest in himself rather than Facebook. » Tweet This «

  1. When Facebook’s share price falls, Chuck could just pick it up again with his awesome fists. But why would he? » Tweet This «

  1. When Chuck was asked about the Facebook IPO, he said “I Poked Oli” … he’s now in a coma. » Tweet This «

If you liked these ones, you might like the 9 Reasons Chuck Norris Shouldn’t Work in Marketing too.

– Oli Gardner

8 Marketing Posts to Fill Your Prescription with Funny Pills

By , April 20th, 2012 in Funny | Be the first to comment

Friday’s should be 50% work, 20% fun and 30% chuckle pills…

Take as many as you like, they’re awesome and make you giggle… (Image source)

With that in mind, here are some blogs and blog posts, old and new, that will hopefully make you laugh while you slurp back a cold beer. P.s. I’m pretty sure Anna Sawyer from Trada could just do regular funny videos to make my job much easier…

Eight totally unethically prescribed ways to make you pee your pants at work

Read More …

9 Reasons Why Chuck Norris Shouldn’t Work In Marketing

By , March 2nd, 2012 in Funny | 27 comments
Logo's wait in line to be made bigger by Chuck Norris

Logo's wait in line to be made bigger by Chuck Norris

Ok, for some light relief on a Friday, we’re rehashing the classic Chuck Norris Facts to see what would happen if Chuck Norris decided to become a marketing expert and critique your favorite landing page.

Advance warning, this won’t be pretty, but with a bit of luck it should make you laugh.

Chuck Norris Marketing Facts

Here are the top 9 reasons why Mr. Norris should never be allowed near a whiteboard:
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The Social Media Bucket List: 50 Things to do Before You Die

By , February 23rd, 2012 in Funny | 10 comments
(Image source) This cute bird is gonna kick the proverbial bucket any minute. Tweet that, you fat blue budgie!

If you can do all of these, you’re officially Oli’s hero. Add up how many you’ve done and share in the comments. Whoever has the highest score gets a free hug!
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The MR. MEN Guide to Landing Pages, Conversion & Absurd Metaphor [Cartoongraphic]

By , January 2nd, 2012 in Funny, Landing Pages | 31 comments
You'd be happy too if you were a yellow cartoon ball with a smile to rival Julia Roberts.

You'd be happy too if you were a yellow cartoon ball with a smile to rival Julia Roberts. (Images from Ladybird Books)

Landing pages, conversion rate optimization, bounce rate, blah, blah, blah, blah, yada yada yada.

As important as all of those terms and concepts are, sometimes you need to step back a bit and look at things in a more playful manner.

Landing Pages Made Simple

I find metaphor can greatly aid the process of communication – although as you’ll infer from the title of this post – my examples can at times be a bit of a stretch. Hopefully, this bunch are clear enough to mean something.

And so, with no further posturing or technical jargon, I present to you – The MR. MEN Guide to Landing Pages, Conversion and Absurd Metaphor.

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50 Things Every Marketer Should Do Before They Die

By , June 27th, 2011 in Funny | 32 comments

Think you’re a rockstar marketer? Let’s find out. Scan the list below and add up your total, multiply it by 2 and add a % at the end – that’s your rockstar score.

Everything that’s left is your marketing bucket list.

In no particular order (how lazy of me) …

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A/B Test Yourself – Life Experiences You Wish You Could’ve Tested

By , November 18th, 2010 in Funny | 9 comments

Have you ever daydreamed about hopping into a souped up DeLorean to travel back in time? Of course you have, and not because you miss your old ripped jeans and Robbie Williams CD collection. No, you really want to go back so you can test out some of those weird decisions you made at crucial life decision points – whether or not to kiss Janie Hutchison at prom, deciding to sell your 1/3rd stake in Apple Computers for $2,300, how many kids to have…

Imagine if life had A/B testing. Imagine facing a tough choice between two paths and being able to do both! It would be a breeze to figure out which one leads to cool adventures and money and sex with Natalie Portman, and which to a NyQuil habit and a job selling generic Viagara over the internet.

Life Experiences You Wish You Could A/B Test

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We have a ton of blog posts for you to explore:
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