Top 30 Marketing Posts, Stunts and Ads in 2008 (HOLY CRAP)

Disney fairytales, bathroom blood dispensers, the pope and mystery flavored potato chips?  OH MY!

Shockvertising, publicity stunts and the pope just scratch the surface of this awesome list of the 30 most popular marketing strategy posts in 2008. 

I freaking love this category more than any other.

This is one of many features in our new FREE Micro Trend Reports section.

Enjoy.

Top 30 marketing strategy

1. Top 50 Shockvertisements - Controversial Ads (SUPER GALLERY)

Creating an emotional connection is crucial to effective marketing campaigns. One common technique is to arouse the feeling of shock.

Some of these ad campaigns really push the limits of what could be… [More]

2. Toyota Prius Campaign - Prostitute, Lover, Killer (GALLERY)

Toyota thinks that sometimes you gotta overlook and forgive a man’s wrongdoing, as long as he is driving a Prius! The new Toyota Prius campaign uses the tagline “Well, at least he drives a Prius” with… [More]

3. Top 40 Publicity Stunts (SUPER-GALLERY)

This super gallery profiles TrendHunter.com’s selection of the top 40 publicly stunts.  You’ll see the list spans everything from dead body parts to free money.  As well, the list includes some of the… [More]

4. Youth Shockvertising II - CONCEPT ‘Don’t Lose Control’ Child Abuse Ad (GALLERY)

These concept ads related to child-protection are very disturbing. But so is the subject matter.

Domestic violence is a serious issue that can leave a child scarred for life. This ad campaign, with realistic… [More]

5. Controversial Support Bra Ad - Running Free (GALLERY)

This is a controversial ad campaign that has sparked much debate. It’s an ad for Running Free support bras. It needs to be noted that they were not actually created by Running Free. DDB had pitched the… [More]

6. Self Defence Public Awareness Ads - Pepper Spray (GALLERY)

These creative public awareness ads from Thailand relay an important message. Girls & boys, always have a pepper spray ready in dangerous places.

The campaign smartly plays on the tag line “When they… [More]

7. Spartan Soccer Warriors - 300 Dutch Football Team Ads (GALLERY)

Super talented photographer Erwin Olaf was commissioned by AD newspaper to capture the Dutch football team for their Euro Championship special in an intense, visually captivating ‘300’ themed spread.… [More]

8. Fake Urban Holes - HP Guerrilla Photopaper Campaign (GALLERY)

In one of the most innovative ads we’ve featured, HP organized a guerrilla marketing campaign for its photo paper.

The urban installations were created by Publicis of Malaysia and were comprised of “holes"… [More]

9. Unmasking Celebrities - Shakira, Hilton & Jolie Without Plastic Surgery (GALLERY)

The Xiomara Coronado Beauty Center wants you to know that ‘Nobody is younger than you,’ as long as you get plastic surgery. To illustrate that, they created these images of what they think famous celebrities… [More]

10. Glow in The Dark Ads - Child Abuse Ads Show Hidden Images (GALLERY)

Such a powerful ambient campaign that catches you off-guard. These Children and Adolescents Reference Center ads are printed in fluorescent ink as to appear normal with a child playing or innocently laying… [More]

11. Gruesome Shockvertising - Sony PSP Retry Ad

I am certain that soldiers, fighters and armies all over the world would love this retry feature. The “Retry” Ad for Sony’s PlayStation Portable player gives you a gruesome visual with limps and organs… [More]

12. Shockvertising - Does It Work? Jury Still Out (GALLERY)

Can displaying a shocking, disturbing image be worth it to the public good? Shockvertising is reaching new highs, or lows, depending on your opinion.

Industry experts say public-service ads are becoming… [More]

13. Disney Fairytale (Part III) - Year of a Million Dreams With Gisele, JLo, Jessica Biel (GALLERY)

Disney has teamed with celebrities before to produce a series of photo shoots in which the famous faces dress as fabled Disney characters from classic stories. The campaign was shot by renowned fashion… [More]

14. New Diesel Fashion Campaign - Live Fast (GALLERY)

Diesel is launching a new ad campaign called Live Fast. With creative shots of models performing actions like changing baby diapers while running or working out on the treadmill while praying, it offers… [More]

15. Plastic Surgery Obsession Ads - Chevrolet Jabs (GALLERY)

Chevorlet is certainly not trying to impress or get the business of plastic surgery obsessed LA and Hollywood. “If it’s not fixed by the one who made it, it probably won’t work.” That’s the new campaign… [More]

16. Victoria Beckham Naked for Cancer - Protect the Skin You’re In Tees

After Marc Jacobs SS 2008 campaign, Victoria Beckham appears uncovered on top for the project “Protect the skin you’re in”.

The T-shirts are being sold this week at select Marc Jacobs boutiques… [More]

17. Mystery Flavors - Doritos: The Quest

Doritos are engaging consumers once again with Mystery flavors. Last year Doritos launched an all black bag named X-13D that tasted like… wait for it… cheeseburger.

Well this year Doritos has a new… [More]

18. Bathroom Blood Dispensers - Clue Guerrilla Campaign

Picture this: you go into a public washroom at a restaurant or bar and unassumingly squeeze liquid soap onto your palm from a seemingly normal dispenser. Oh it’s red, must smell like strawberries… You… [More]

19. Top 65 Japanese Pop Culture Posts + Tokyology (SUPER GALLERY) (VIDEO)

Japan has a whole realm of sub-cultures that seem utterly bizarre to foreigners. Tokyology is a recently released documentary that covers some of the most unique aspects of Japanese pop-culture, with a… [More]

20. Extreme Advertising - Coke Zero’s Tongue-Piercing in Brazil (VIDEO)

Coke Zero has launched in Brazil an extreme guerrilla marketing campaign using people’s tongues.

Several shops in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre and Salvador give free piercings with the brand… [More]

21. 77 iPhone Innovations (and iPhone Worship) (SUPER GALLERY)

Whether you like Apple’s iPhone or not, there is no denying it started a revolution that has forever changed phone design. It was an iPod, an Internet device, and a phone without having buttons.

From… [More]

22. Sexy Ads Upset the Pope - Racy Equinox Fitness Ad (VIDEO)

Sex has been used to sell for decades, but in recent years, some companies have really cranked up the raciness in their ads, raising a lot of controversy. That’s the whole point of ads though; if it gets… [More]

23. Hot Fashion Hues - Pantone Spring 2008 Fashion Color Report (GALLERY)

If you get the fashion color right for your wardrobe you are golden. Pantone is the recognized authority on predicting which colors are hot.  The Pantone Spring 2008 Fashion Color Report has just been… [More]

24. Ronaldo Races Bugatti - Nike Mercurial Vapor IV Viral (VIDEO)

This video, which appears to be made by amateurs, features Cristiano Ronaldo racing a Bugatti. It needs to be mentioned right off the bat that the Portuguese soccer stud is wearing blaze orange Nike Mercurial… [More]

25. Controvertising - Hanes: Nigg*r, Fagg*t, Pak! (GALLERY)

In this shocking ad, Hanes conveys the concept of the Original Tagless Comfort underwear through the idea that the, “world gives you enough tags.”

The concept of tags might be a smart idea, playing… [More]

26. Designer Lookbooks - Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2008 (GALLERY)

If you’re looking for tips on what to wear this summer, look no further than Dolce & Gabbana’s new Spring/Summer 2008 Lookbook which offers an explosion of style and eye-candy.

The lookbook features models… [More]

27. Truckvertising - Clever Campaigns on Wheels (GALLERY)

We see trucks with advertisements on them all the time, but most don’t get a second look. These trucks, however, are so clever, creating illusions that force the eye to look back at least once more. Trucks… [More]

28. First Person Advertising - Guy Richie’s Nike Ad Takes It To The Next Level (VIDEO)

Famous director Guy Ritchie brings his unique style to the latest film advertisement for Nike, starring Wenger, Fabregas, Gallas, Ronaldo and Rooney.

The minute long film entitled, Take It To The Next… [More]

29. Catfight Ads - Next Top Model : Battle Begins (GALLERY)

The ads for Finaland’s Next Top Model portray what probably happens when the cameras are off. A full fledged catfight! From hair pulling to WWF wrestling and martial art moves. I think it’s a genius play… [More]

30. Controversial TV Campaign - Bush is American Psycho (GALLERY)

Saatchi & Saatchi, New Zealand has created a controversial campaign to promote the TVNZ premiere of the cult thriller, American Psycho. One of the ads show a close up on American President George W. Bush… [More]

Also note that some of the edgiest ads don’t even make this list… You’ll have to explore them here:

Top 30 Naughty Trends, Innovations and Ads in 2008 H1

Our naughty trends category includes the most controversial ads, naughtiest innovations and sexiest posts in 2008.  Be warned that these 30 Naughty Trends push the limits.  So don’t click this list unless… [More]