Creating a memorable ad is not a piece of cake. It requires a deep understanding of your audience—knowing what resonates with them, how they perceive your product and what emotions drive their decisions.
Creating a standout advertisement isn’t just about having a brilliant idea— it’s about executing that idea in a way that truly connects with people.
We understand that creating such an ad can be challenging but hey it is not impossible. If you find yourself struggling to spark creativity, seeking inspiration from successful campaigns can be incredibly helpful.
Let’s revisit the memorable brand ads of all time in this blog. But before diving into those iconic campaigns, it’s crucial to understand what exactly makes an ad memorable. By exploring the elements that contribute to an ad’s lasting impact, we can better appreciate the strategies and creativity behind these standout examples.
Table of contents
- What Makes an Ad Memorable?
- Iconic Brand Ads That Left a Mark
- In Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes an Ad Memorable?
Sometimes, it’s the simplest elements that make an ad truly unforgettable. Yet, these key aspects are often overlooked.
Here are a few things you can keep in mind to make your ad memorable.
☑ Emotional Connection: Ads that evoke strong feelings—whether joy, nostalgia or empathy—tend to stick with people longer.
☑ Creativity and Uniqueness: A distinctive concept or inventive execution helps your ad stand out from the sea of content people see daily. Being creative not only grabs attention but also makes the ad more likely to be remembered and talked about.
☑ Relatability: Ads that reflect shared experiences or cultural moments have a greater impact. When viewers see themselves or their lives reflected in the ad, it creates a stronger connection and makes the message more resonant.
☑ Clear Messaging: A memorable ad communicates its message clearly and effectively.
Iconic Brand Ads That Left a Mark
Now that you know why people remember a few ads, we can talk about the examples of the same to inspire you.
Maybe you don’t have that many resources, but getting inspired from the best always works.
1. Cadbury Dairy Milk – “Asli Swaad Zindagi Ka”
One of the most iconic ads in Indian advertising is Cadbury Dairy Milk’s “Asli Swaad Zindagi Ka” campaign. Launched in 1994, this ad featured a cricket match. The woman (played by Shimona Rashi) entering the field out of nowhere to share the dairy milk with her cricketer friend who hit the boundary became the highlight of the ad.
This ad resonated because it revolved around cricket(Something that unites every Indian) and the time when cricketers had massive female fans.
Its emotional appeal, quirky storyline and music made it a hit with families across India.
Before this ad came out, people thought dairy milk was just for kids But this campaign changed this perception.
Even today we all love to have dairy milk although we are not kids.
A takeaway from this ad is —connect your brand with emotional and cultural moments that resonate with your audience. By doing so, you create a lasting bond between your product and the consumer’s personal experiences.
2. Amul – “Amul Dudh Peeta Hai India”
The “ Amul dudh Peeta Hai India” campaign is a classic example of how a simple, relatable message can create a huge impact.
The idea was to talk about the benefits of having milk. And they made a cult classic jingle out of it.
The ad featured people of different ages in different professions having Amul milk. They kept the messaging focused on India so people actually connected to it.
But why did it work? The ad’s catchy tune and straightforward message about India growing as a nation, because people are healthy and energetic, communicated the brand’s association with quality dairy products in a fun and engaging way.
The campaign solidified Amul’s position as a leading dairy brand in India. Its memorable jingle became part of popular culture, helping the brand maintain high recall and customer loyalty over the years.
Lesson? A simple, memorable tune or phrase can make your brand stick in people’s minds long after they’ve seen the ad.
3. Nirma – “Washing Powder Nirma”
We have all heard this iconic Nirma jingle. And you know what this ad first aired on radio in 1975. The jingle caught up so well that they decided to release a commercial with the same jingle in 1982.
The ad communicated Nirma’s effectiveness as an affordable washing powder. The best part is that they continued to make this ad using the same jingles — with the evolved version of the same ads.
It worked because the jingle was catchy and easy to sing along to, making it highly effective in capturing attention. It conveyed the product’s key benefits clearly and memorably.
Plus, when the company knew the jingle was a hit— they acted upon it and made it onto a TV commercial. Not just that, they used the same jingle to create multiple ads. Who would have thought that?
The ad helped Nirma become a major player in the detergent market, positioning it as a value-for-money option.
4. Airtel — Live Every Moment
You may not recall the tagline but you certainly know that Airtel tune. Music maestro A.R. Rahman composed that tune.
But how did the tune become so well-known? Well, it was due to the “live every moment” commercial.
They went out of the box and decided to feature A.R. Rahman in the ad who didn’t do any commercials.
In fact Hemant Sachdev — the marketing director of Airtel and Gullu Sen —who contributed significantly to the campaign flew to London to convince A.R. Rahman to appear in the commercial.
This way airtel smartly leveraged the incredible brand value of A.R. Rahman. As one of the most celebrated music composers, his presence in the ad automatically gave it credibility and class.
You still know it’s Airtel when that tune plays. Hence this ad was successful in boosting brand recall for Airtel.
5. Pepsi – “Yeh Dil Maange More”
Pepsi’s “Yeh Dil Maange More” campaign, which began in the late 1990s, tapped into youthful energy and desire. There are different versions of the same campaign.
But all the different commercials revolve around the same idea — the energetic youth always craving for more. It’s also the tagline of the brand.
So all these campaigns that they have done over the years have actually reinforced their brand message. Hence, we can say that it’s necessary to tell the same thing again and again to build a recall value.
Plus, The campaign’s vibrant and energetic tone appealed directly to Pepsi’s target demographic—the youth. The ad’s upbeat music and dynamic visuals captured the essence of youthful enthusiasm.
6. Surf Excel — “Daag Ache Hain”
Surf Excel’s “Daag Achhe Hain” campaign redefined the way we looked at dirt.
Traditionally, detergent ads focused solely on stain removal. Surf Excel took a bold step and created a campaign that wasn’t just about cleaning clothes but about celebrating the experiences behind those stains.
The core message? Dirt is not something to be afraid of— rather, it’s a sign of life’s valuable experiences and lessons, especially when those stains are earned while doing something good.
The most memorable ad from this campaign featured a young boy who saw his sister fall into a puddle. To cheer her up, he becomes angry at that puddle and starts punching it to signify that it can not hurt his sister.
Then, slowly his clothes get dirty due to mud. And they both start smiling.
The ad worked for a variety of reasons. First, it took a mundane, everyday occurrence—getting dirty—and turned it into an emotional moment that resonated with families everywhere.
Instead of focusing on how well the detergent cleans, Surf Excel focused on the joy and innocence behind the dirt, which hit an emotional chord with viewers.
7. Swiggy Instamart — “Yeh Se Leke Woh Tak” Ad Featuring Rohit Sharma
Swiggy Instamart’s “Yeh Se Like Who tak” ad, featuring Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma, has become quite the hit since its release. This ad stands out because it plays on Rohit Sharma’s unique way of speaking, where he often uses “yeh” (this) and “woh” (that) in a casual, non-specific way.
The ad starts with Rohit Sharma’s wife asking if he needs anything while she’s ordering from Swiggy Instamart.
Rohit, known for his relaxed and sometimes vague style of speaking, responds with his usual “woh” – meaning “that” but without being very clear. His wife (used to his way of talking) orders those everyday items using Swiggy Instamart.
At the end, it promises to deliver everything in 10 minutes.
The ad worked well because it taps into Rohit Sharma’s quirky way of talking, which his fans find funny and relatable.
By using his well-known style, Swiggy Instamart made the ad entertaining and memorable. It’s easy for viewers to connect with and remember, thanks to the humour and Rohit Sharma’s charm.
The ads that we talked about were way older. However, this ad is a recent example and includes new-age ad platforms like YouTube and Instagram.
The mix of Rohit Sharma’s personality and the ad’s funny concept has helped boost Swiggy Instamart’s brand awareness and engagement.
You can easily create this type of digital campaign with the help of a digital marketing agency.
8. Vodafone – “Zoozoo” Ads
Vodafone’s “Zoozoo” ads, which first hit the screens in 2009 following IPL season 2, quickly became iconic. This campaign featured a series of quirky, animated characters called Zoozoos, who engaged in various activities like playing games, gossiping and going on dates—all while speaking in gibberish.
The Zoozoos’ unique and comical appearance, combined with their entertaining stories, captivated viewers. The ads were simple yet effective in conveying Vodafone’s service features in a memorable way.
The egghead characters became synonymous with Vodafone, helping the brand stand out.
The Zoozoos’ appeal didn’t stop at television; they sparked a range of merchandise and even fan clubs, a clear indicator of the campaign’s massive success.
In Conclusion
Creating a memorable ad is about more than just catching the eye—it’s about creating a lasting impression. By examining the successful campaigns we’ve discussed, you can see the power of emotional connection, creativity, relatability and clear messaging. These elements combine to create ads that not only grab attention but also stick in people’s minds long after they’ve seen them.
If you’re looking to develop ads that truly make an impact, our team is here to help. Reach out to us to learn how we can assist in bringing your brand’s story to life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vasim Samadji is a partner at Flora Fountain, where he leads the Business and Marketing Strategy divisions. In a world where everyone is used to sugarcoating, his directness is often considered rude. But that shouldn't be a problem if you like the no-nonsense approach. Because he is a seasoned professional...