The top April 2016 commercials are hyper-targeted towards extremely specific demographic groups. This includes Millennial-targeted popcorn ads, family-friendly furniture commercials, as well as insurance ads that use the language of "bros." In order to stay relevant, many advertisers are making the most of YouTube influencers, emojis and political commentary.
As a rejection of traditional commercial advertisements, some playful brands are even experimenting with interactive pre-roll ads and fast-forwarded commercials. Two commercials that truly reject established norms include Trolli's 'Inside Inside Inside James Harden's Head' and a series of ads from e-payment provider Klarna that show how "smooth" its service can be with off-the-wall visuals and messaging. As ever, humor is a large part of what makes commercials of this style a success.
Top 35 Commercial Ideas in April
From Costumed Adoption Campaigns to Hairy Pollution PSAs:
Laura McQuarrie — Apr 23, 2016 — Pop Culture
34
Quirky ePayment Commercials
Klarna's Offbeat Ads Communicate How Smooth Payments Can Be
33
Family-Focused Furniture Ads
The New Leon's Ads Emphasize the Role of Furniture in People's Lives
32
Reminiscent Candy Campaigns
Zedd and Aloe Blacc Team Up to Celebrate The M&Ms 75th Anniversary
31
Male-Targeted Insurance Ads
This Geico Insurance Ad Uses 'Brocabulary' to Speak to Bros
30
Hairy Pollution PSAs
This Ad by 'WildAid China' Conveys the Dangers of China's Air Polluttion
29
Email Subject-Generating Services
Adobe Campaign Helps Marketers Select High-Impact Subject Lines
28
Iconic Skate Brand Milestones
The Story of Vans Campaign Celebrates 50 Years of Off the Wall
27
Quirky Candy Ads
Janes Harden Stars in a Mind-Bending New Ad from Trolli
26
Lie-Detecting Test Drives
Smart Has People Test Drive a Vehicle While Taking a Lie Detector Test
25
Female-Targeted Sports Ads
This Ad for Dick's Sporting Goods Caters to Fitness-Minded Women
24
Uplifting Sportswear Ads
Sport Chek's Newest Workout Commercial Connects with Female Yogis
23
Community-Building Cocoa Videos
KitKat's Influencers Explore Sustainable Chocolate Production
22
Empowering Emoji Campaigns
The #LikeAGirl Campaign Demonstrates the New for More Diverse Emojis
21
Bro-Focused Food Commercials
This Jack in the Box Commercial is Designed to Appeal to Millennials
20
Cereal Brand Bee-Saving Initiatives
Honey Nut Cheerios Wants to Help You #BringBackTheBees
19
Costumed Adoption Campaigns
This Stunt Dressed Up Stray Dogs as Purebreds for Halloween
18
Expressive Automotive Ads
This Chevrolet Ad Explores the Facebook Emojis with 'From Like to Love'
17
Millennial-Targeted Popcorn Ads
This Smartfood Campaign is the First Major Effort from the Brand
16
Artistic Teen Campaigns
Autumn de Forest Stars in this Empowering Nordstrom Kids Commercial
15
Boy Scout Milk Campaigns
This Cookies and Milk Campign Pairs Girl Guide Cookies & Boy Scout Milk
14
Backtracking Earth Hour Ads
This Earth Hour 2016 Ad Shows a Woman in 2090 and Backtracks to Today
13
Adventurous Astronaut Commercials
Dos Equis Sends the Most Interesting Man in the World to Space
12
Fast-Forwarded Insurance Ads
Geico's Newest Pre-Roll Ads Do the Skipping for Viewers
11
Comforting Fast Food Commercials
This KFC Commercial Emphasizes the Importance of Comfort Food
10
Comforting Insurance Commercials
AAA's Auto Insurance Ad Reveals How It Improves Overall Life
9
Humorous Health Insurance Ads
United Healthcare's 'Our Song' Ad Depicts a Romantic Day Gone Wrong
8
Dubbed Superstore Ads
This Ad for Kohl's Uses Voice-Overs of Oscar-Winning Acceptance Speeches
7
Comprehensive Email Marketing Services
iCubes Helps Brands Conceive and Execute Email Campaigns
6
Political Marshmallow Campaigns
This Digital Campaign Pits Peeps Candy Against the Groundhog
5
Family-Focused Toy Store Ads
The Toys "R" Us Holiday Ad Focuses on Family Rather Than Products
4
Anti-Processed Food Campaigns
This Dairy Company Declares War on Big Food with Its New Ad
3
Soulful Holiday Duets
This Apple Holiday Commercial Features Stevie Wonder and Andra Day
2
Targeted Marketing Software
Square Marketing Varies Email Promotions Based On Customer Categories
1
Sci-Fi Holiday Campaigns
This Target Holiday Commercial Targets Star Wars Fans
Related Ideas
Exotic Wooden Cars
The Splinter Car is Made Out Of 275 Pieces of Wood
Curated Sportswear Boutiques
Bandier Offers Style-Focused Fitness Wear from Top Tier Brands
Japanese Surf Apparel
Vans Has Teamed Up with Yusuke Hanai for a Surf-Inspired Collection
Monstrously Tuned Cars
This New Camaro Values Performance Over Fuel Economy
Clasically Inspired Sportscars
This Duesenburg Sportscar Concept is Inspired By Cars Of Yesteryear
Oversized Billiards Promotions
This Citroen Event Showcased the Brand's New Airbump Technology
Internet-Obsessed Clothing Ads
This 'Diesel' Line is Promoted with Bizarre Social Media References
Social Fast Food Geofilters
McSnaps Were Special Geofilters Accessible Only at McDonald's Stores
Retro Multi-Sensory Soda Events
Coca-Cola Hosted a Memorable #TastetheFeeling Event in Toronto
Multi-Sensory App Activations
The Candy Crush Castle is a Scented Bouncy Castle for Adults
Customer Profile Marketing Services
Benchmark Email Allows Companies to Fine-Tune Campaigns
Holiday Menswear Pop-Ups
The BESPOKEN x TRNK Activation Targets Fashion-Forward Urbanites
Viral Style Clips
Advertisements and Pop Culture are Embracing the 'Damn, Daniel' Meme
Enchanting Automobile Ads
The New Lexus RX Car Commercial Marries Cultural Stories with Vehicles
Beacon-Powered Soup Tours
This Knorr Food Truck Used Beacon Tech to Connect with Consumers
Festive Candy Campaigns
Nestle's Quality Street Christmas Event is a Multi-Sensory Experience
Personalized Valentine's Day Spreads
These Personalized Marmite Jars Make a Tasty Valentine's Gift
Pattern-Enriched Furniture Ads
Target's 'All Squared Away' Commercial Highlights Plaid Home Decor
Immersive Auto Advertising
This Volvo Ad Allows Cinema-Goers to Enjoy a Virtual Test Drive
Multi-Sensory Candy Events
The LCO Performed Cadbury Dairy Milk's 'The Sound of Flavourites'
Animalistic Skater Shoes
The Latest Vans Spring Collection Features Exotic Animal Print
Video Game Anniversary Stunts
An Army of Pikachus Took Over NYC for the Pokemon 20th Anniversary
Japanese Booze-Infused Candies
The Latest KitKat Candy Bar is Flavored with Japanese Sake
Two-Person Yoga Mats
The Pogamat XXL is an Extra Thick Exercise Mat with Space for Two
Bite-Sized Digestive Biscuits
This Popular Cookie Now Comes in Bite-Sized Pieces for Easy Snacking
Patriotic Slip-on Sneakers
The 'American Freedom' Printed Vans Celebrate America's Heritage
Pro-Bono Basketball Campaigns
Sport Chek Gives Free Basketballs in Toronto for All-Star Weekend
Youth-Focused Furniture Ads
This RH Teen Commercial Promotes the Brand's Newest Product Range
Mindful Fitness Campaigns
New York Sports Clubs' Latest Ads is Actively Encouraging
Empowering Youth Dolls
These Diverse Dolls Aim to Inspire, Educate and Empower Young Girls
Persuasive Email Marketing Solutions
The 'Persado Go' Platform is a Persuasion Automation Solution
Dippable Cookie Devices
The Dunking Buddy Beverage Cup is Designed for Adding Snacks to Drinks
Male-Targeted Insurance Ads
This Geico Insurance Ad Uses 'Brocabulary' to Speak to Bros
Drive-In Car Campaigns
This Drive-In Movie Promotion Included a Romantic Screening and Test Drives
Photo-Based Insurance Apps
'Cover' Has Users Take Photos of the Items They Want Insured
Female-Empowering Fitness Campaigns
This Girl Can is a Powerful Campaign by Sport England
Holiday Cookie Cereals
The Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Cereal from General Mills is Festive
Democratic Airline Stunts
JetBlue's 'Reach Across the Aisle' Encourages People to Come Together
Health Insurance-Analyzing Platforms
Collective Health Offers a Way to Manage Healthcare Plans
Cookie Cocktail Recipes
These Double-Stuffed Oreo Jello Shots are a Yummy New Year's Eve Treat
Teen Culture Platforms
'MTV Voices' is a Platform with Youth-Targeted Pop Culture Content
Transactional Email Services
The 'Mandrill' Tool from 'MailChimp' is Meant for Personalized Emails
Submerged Easter Egg Stunts
The Latest Cadbury Stunt is an Installation at Loch Ness
Insurance Claim Smartphone Apps
The Club Care App Makes Making an Insurance Claim Simpler
Celebratory Checkered Sneakers
Vans is Celebrating its 50th Birthday with Cool Patterned Kicks
Kitchen Rental Services
'The Food Corridor' Includes Commercial Kitchens in the Sharing Economy
Teen Festival Communities
The DigiTour Fan Club Shares Social Media and Music Festival Updates
Electric Automotive Tours
Tesla's 'Meet Model X' Brings the Car to 30 Locations in North America
Political Beer Ads
Seth Rogen and Amy Schumer Star in the Bud Light Super Bowl Commercial
Special Edition Black Vehicles
The 2016 Chevrolet Trax Midnight Edition Features Chic Finishes
Bespoke Footwear Pop-Ups
The Jack Erwin Holiday Pop-Up Featured Leather Shoes for Men
Bunny Adoption Pop-Up Spas
Beauty Brand 7th Heaven Hosted a Bunny Spa at Covent Garden
Self-Expressive Decor Ads
Wayfair's 'You Make the Rules' Ad Celebrates Creativity
Indulgent Vegan Ice Creams
These Dairy-Free Frozen Desserts Come in Classic Ben & Jerry's Flavors
Competitive Email Search Engines
Notablist Gives Email Marketers a Distinct Competitive Edge
Engaging Marketing Booths
The SocialBox Photo Booths Facilitate Brand Engagement Via Email
Deep Learning Marketing Services
The Persado Email Marketing Service Increases Messages Opened
P2P Car Insurance
Guevara Lets Groups Share Insurance in Order to Keep Claims Low
On-Demand Transportation Apps
The zTrip App Provides Safe and Reliable Transport During SXSW
Smartphone Parking Lot Ads
This Mobile Parking Map Encourages Co-Workers to Share a KitKat
Satirical Supermarket Commercials
This Parody Ad for 'Way North Foods' Pokes Fun at Nunavut Prices
Familial Yoga Retreats
World Family Yoga Offers Fun and Kid-Friendly Wellness Programs
Protective Mobile Insurance
AT&T's Open Enrollment Gives Existing Phone Owners Access to $8 Plans
Quirky Candy Ads
Janes Harden Stars in a Mind-Bending New Ad from Trolli
Boy Band Break Bars
KitKat is Selling Special Edition Chocolate Bars for the One Direction Break
Festive Beverage Pies
This Christmassy Eggnog Pie Recipe is a Festive Holiday Dessert Option
Chaotic Christmas Ads
Sainsbury’s Holiday Ad Tells the Tale of Mog's Christmas Calamity
Uplifting Sportswear Ads
Sport Chek's Newest Workout Commercial Connects with Female Yogis
Comforting Christmas Commercials
This McDonald's Holiday Ad Shows Us the Importance of a Hug
Two-Piece Baking Mixes
The 'Shaker' Baking Product Separates Wet and Dry Ingredients
Candy E-Reading Incentives
'Candy Reading' is a Joint Initiative from Amazon Brazil and Nestle
Animated Humanitarian Ads
This United Nations Ad Uses Cinema Screens to Promote Development Goals
Responsive Marketing Campaign Editors
MailChimp Inbox Preview Can Test Campaigns Across Platforms
Comedic Holiday Ads
This Old Navy Christmas Ad Video Features the Stars of Portlandia
Two-Sided Fitness Ads
This Fitbit Super Bowl Ad Shows the Benefits of Being Fit Beyond the Gym
Fruity Floral Sorbets
This Peach Ice Cream is Flavored with Sweet Notes of Rose
Motivational Running Shoe Ads
This Non-Glamorous Ad Promotes the 'Want It More' Campaign by Asics
Empowering Yoga Commercials
Penningtons' Plus-Size Yoga Video Shuts Down Stereotypes
Teen-Centric Decor Ads
This PBTeen Commercial Features YouTube Influencer MayBaby
Deathly Coffee Ads
Intuit's 'Small Business, Big Game' Super Bowl Spot Promotes a Coffee Company
Millennial-Targeted Popcorn Ads
This Smartfood Campaign is the First Major Effort from the Brand
Customized Email Marketing Software
The Boomtrain Editor Lets Marketers Deploy Custom Campaigns
Pizza Box Proposals
In the UK, Pizza Hut Helps to Orchestrate a Sweet Leap Year Proposal
Gender Neutral Toy Ads
This Toy Commercial Focuses on Eliminating Childhood Gender Stereotypes
Cultural First Job Ads
The McDonald's 'First Customer' Fast Food Commercial is Hispanic-Focused
Tween Feminism Tours
The Rookie Yearbook Four Meetup is Hosted by Tavi Gevinson and Readers
On-Demand Celebratory Dances
Uber China Hosted a Special Chinese New Year Service in 23 Cities
Festive Breakfast Risotto Recipes
This Energizing Italian Rice Dish Contains Crushed Up Cookies
Pregnancy App Collaborations
Blue Cross Blue Shield Partnered with the Ovuline Fertility App
Comprehensive Car Rentals
Express Drive's Short-Term Rentals Include Insurance and Warranties
On-Demand Test Drive Apps
Didi Kuaidi's Test Drive Supplies New and Used Vehicles On-Demand
Low-Budget Hardware Ads
This Parody Christmas Ad from Robert Dyas Became a Viral Sensation
Digital Santa Claus Selfies
UK Retailer GAME Implemented an Augmented Reality System for Shoppers
Customized Insurance Apps
The 'QuotePad' App Lets Users to Get a Personal Health Insurance Quote
Smartphone Screen Ornaments
Rethink's Modern Christmas Ornament Removes Distracting Technology
Comforting Insurance Commercials
AAA's Auto Insurance Ad Reveals How It Improves Overall Life
Humorous Health Insurance Ads
United Healthcare's 'Our Song' Ad Depicts a Romantic Day Gone Wrong
Comprehensive Email Marketing Services
iCubes Helps Brands Conceive and Execute Email Campaigns
Driving-Focused Insurance Apps
The Ajusto App by Desjardins Insurance Improves Driving Habits
Children's Cooking Programs
The Chef Upstairs Offers Kid-Friendly Food Workshops for All Ages
Political Marshmallow Campaigns
This Digital Campaign Pits Peeps Candy Against the Groundhog
Unfestive Chocolate Ads
This Christmas KitKat Commercial is Devoid of All Seasonal Motifs
Thriller Footwear Campaigns
The Christian Louboutin Spring Campaign is a Lethal Murder Mystery
Spooky Auto Marketing
This Chevrolet Trailer Targets American Movie-Goers
Christmassy Ice Cream Sandwiches
These Frozen Treats Have Feature Eggnog and Gingerbread Flavors
Soulful Holiday Duets
This Apple Holiday Commercial Features Stevie Wonder and Andra Day
Targeted Marketing Software
Square Marketing Varies Email Promotions Based On Customer Categories
Museum Yoga Classes
The San Diego Children's Discovery Museum Offers Family Yoga Classes
Web-Based Health Insurance Plans
The Ontario Blue Cross Offers an All-Encompassing Online Service
Sci-Fi Holiday Campaigns
This Target Holiday Commercial Targets Star Wars Fans