There are some companies that have been in a friendly competition for as long as they have been in existence. It’s no secret that these companies are trying to steal a competitor’s thunder and when these rivalries are exhibited in the form of a campaign or video poking fun at one another, it’s fun to see who will win the game of one-upmanship.
There are tons of examples of how to steal customers with witty campaigns. One standout campaign is one from McDonald’s that involved simply changing the names of its WiFi networks to entice nearby people in to its restaurants with exclusive deals, since it noticed customers at rival businesses were stealing free access to the Internet.
Another involved an elaborate ‘Phone Swap,’ which had people at a music festival trade their phones when they ran out of battery for a temporary trial run of a brand new Sony Xperia. Again, tons of incentives were given when people made this trade and some lucky winners got to keep their new phones at the end of the festival.
Of course, a company doesn’t have to be in direct competition to steal a bit of thunder from another company. A prime example of this is a hi-tech billboard by British Airways was cleverly parodied in a low-tech way by Domino’s Pizza.
19 Friendly Competition Marketing Strategies
18
Cheeky Competitor-Costumed Ads
In This Halloween Ad, a Can of Pepsi Dresses Like a Scary Red Soda
17
Faux Apple Promotion Sites
The Scoopertino Website Parodies Fake Apple News and Products
16
Apple-Mocking Campaigns
This iPhone 4 Parody Features a Series of Ads Playing Off Brand Slogan
15
Rival Company Coversation Posters
'Brandversations' Illustrates Discourse Between Competing Brands
14
Mocking Mac Advertisements
The Bryan Evans ‘apple-Fied’ Campaign Mimics Classic Imager
13
Ironically Blurred Brand Shirts
This Ironic Nike Shirt Has a Blurred Out Brand Logo
12
Unbranding Parody Graphs
This 'Starbucks to the Future' Chart Pokes Fun at Logo Downsizing
11
iPhone Mocking Ads
The Samsung Galaxy S Ad Plays on the iPhone 4 Reception Problem
10
Tech-Mocking Cider Ads
This Ad for Somersby Cider Takes Unsubtle Shots at Apple Product Launches
9
Portly Cereal Icons
Fat Tony the Tiger by Ron English Warns Against Sugary Breakfasts
8
Chicken Car Commercial Parodies
This Hilarious Jaguar Ad Makes Fun of Mercedez' Chicken Commercial
7
Epic Viral Holiday Spoofs
Delov Digital Spoofs Volvo's Epic Split with a Chuck Norris Version
6
Self-Spoofing Ads
Mac Half Life 2 '1984' Teaser Parodies the Classic Apple Ad
5
Competitor-Mocking Tablet Ads
This Microsoft Windows 8 Ad Makes Fun of Apple’s Renowned Feat
4
Incentivized Phone Trades
Sony Enticed Attendees of 'Way Out West' with a Free Phone Swap
3
Customer-Attracting WiFi Campaigns
Mcdonalds Uses Funny WiFi Network Names to Attract Customers
2
Fake Product Pranks
Upwell Installed Its Own Multifunctional Light Switch in IKEA
1
Cult-Mocking Ads
Hacienda Restaurant Stirs Up a Controversy with Kool-Aid Cult Billboards
Related Ideas
65 Cases of Downbranded Products
From Literal Packaging to Blank Bottle Branding
Miniature Vagabond Residences
The Nomad Micro Home is for Wandering Spirits
Apple Fanatic Docks
Designer Bostjan Majcen Creates a Dock Based off MacBook Pro
iPhone User Infographics
The '7 Types of iPhone Users' Celebrates the launch of Verizon iPhones
Archetype-Condemning Ads
'No One Deserves to Die' Posters Send Complex Message About Lung Cancer
Fainting Forest Fairy Photography
Parker Fitzgerald Captures Intimately Desolate Moments in Nature
Vulgar Cute Kitten Tees
These Cheeky T-Shirts Tell You the Downside of Cats
Artful Fast-Food Packaging
These Painted French Fry Containers Reference Pop Culture Iconography
Faux Candy Bar Shops
The 100 Percent Chocolate Cafe Will Make Your Mouth Water
Artistic Intentions Tees
This T-Shirt States 'I Just Want to Drink Coffee Create Stuff and Sleep'
Customized Furniture Artwork
Samuel Treindl Turns IKEA Furniture into Something More
Faux Apple Promotion Sites
The Scoopertino Website Parodies Fake Apple News and Products
Typographic Treat Packaging
Abracadabra Chocolate Branding is Too Tasty for Words
Advertising Parody Blogs
'Things Real People Don't Say About Advertising' Spoofs
Wicked Western Film Posters
David O'Daniel Illustrates Popular Film Posters in Wild West Style
Punny Political T-Shirts
This Funny Graphic Tee Features a Political Party in Progress
Scratch-Proof Phone Films
The BodyGuardz Protector for the iPhone 4 Has You Covered
Sci-Fi Propaganda T-Shirts
These Mighty Fine Star Wars Tee Designs are Reminiscent of World War II
Honest Laundry Day Tees
The ‘Last Clean T-Shirt’ Brings Humor to Laundry Day
Curvy Underbelly Cars
The Jaguar XKX Concept is Inspired by the '60s E-Type Model
Stripped-Down Superhero Emblems
These Minimalist Avengers Posters Simplify Heroes Into Avatars
$35,400 Golden iPhones
Victoria Beckham's Golden Stuart Hughes iPhone Redefines Luxury
Fast Food Customer Portraits
People You Meet at McDonalds by Nolan Conway Shows Diverse Patrons
Galactic T-Shirt Collections
The Ovidius Psychedelia and Elysium Tees Feature Visionary Imagery
Minimalist Movie Art
The Matt Owen Movie Posters Say a Lot With Little Detail
Upscale Fast Food Cafes
This Fast Food Restaurant Design Encourages Lounging
Disturbing Shockvertising
The Romanian Police Child Helpline Billboard for Child Violence
Unbranding Parody Graphs
This 'Starbucks to the Future' Chart Pokes Fun at Logo Downsizing
Cartoon Character Logo Mashups
These Cartoon Logos by Stefan Asafti Turns Characters into Brands
Alarming Outdoor Ads
Sioux Falls Fire Department Shuts Down Smoking Billboard
Effective Eatery Re-Brandings
The Wienerwald Restaurant Gets a Bold New Look
Exceptional Electronics Infographics
This Infographic Details Some CES 2013 Products
Pop Culture Plushies
Funko Turns Your Favourite Pop Culture Icons into Cuddly Friends
Soda Junkie Fashions
The Nice Cans Crop Shirt from Nasty Gal Celebrates Unhealthy Beverages
Chocolate Chart Graphics
The 'Fat or Fiction' Website Illustrates Nutritional Sins
Indestructible Mobile Holsters
Jon Eicher's Military Grade iPhone Case Will Take It All
Alien Invasion Phone Commercials
This Sony Xperia Commercial Brings Gaming to Life
Big Mouth Advertising
The Colgate Pizza Box is an In-the-Box Advertising Campaign
Airborne Jetpack Advertising
The Skydive Dubai/Go Fast! Billboard Features a Flying Man
Hi-Tech Water-Resistant Mobiles
Get the Full Mobile Phone Experience with the Xperia Z Smartphone
30 Examples of Lightweight Mini Mobiles
Inspired by the iPhone Nano Rumors on the Web
Sweet Nectar Packaging
This Abella Honey Branding is Tasteful and Delectable
Avian Logo Mashups
Yakushev Grigory Combines Popular Logos with 'Angry Birds' Characters
Sleek Apple Tablets
The iPad 2 Rumors That You're Dying to Know
Spy-Inspired Sports Cars
The Lyonheart K is the Ultimate in British Luxury Mobiles
Inspiring Postmortem Politician Posters
Stuart Thursby's 'Jack Layton's Words' Pays Tribute
Literal Literature Clothing
Litographs Uses Literary Classics and Puts a Book on Your Shirt
Punny Rectal Ads
The Tampa Proctology Billboard Will Crack You Up
Translucent Fast-Food Clowns
The Ron English X-Ray Mc Super is Incredibly Creepy
Exuberant Smartphone Covers
The New Sony Xperia Covers Feature Japanese Streetwear Brand Designs
Quirky Quacking Branding
Cute Lucky Duck Wine Labels Are Made for Casual Drinkers
Waterproof Wireless Tablets
The New Sony Xperia Tablet Resists Both Water and Dust
Arched Silver Stands
The New Twelve South BookArc Stand for the Macbook Air
Pop Icon Parody Galleries
The Ron English 'Season in Supurbia' Exhibit is Ripe With POPaganda
Playtime Propaganda Posters
These Mario Propaganda Posters Keep Video Game Players in Line
Fresh Processed Food Ads
The Dallas Farmers Market Campaign Transforms Burgers into Vegetables
Severed Self-Branding
Agency Der Doctor Guerrilla Promotes its Services in a Strange Way
Obsessive Vending Machine Blogs
This Blog Uploads a Picture of the Same Vending Machine Every Day
iPhone Case Stands
The Quirky iPhone 4 Tilt Case Keeps Your Phone Safe in Style
Dynamic Monochrome Objects
These Silence Television Posters Make Vectors Look Like Ink
Candy Stripe Packaging
Delectable Red and White Nolitan Hotel Branding by Marque Creative
Bronze Automotive Art
The Jaguar Advanced Design Competition Gives a Glimpse at Future Jags
Eco-Friendly Supercar SUVs
The Hybrid Lamborghini Urus Could Pack as Much as 670 Horsepower
Roped Bamboo Necklaces
Jukuka Offers This Upcycled and Luxury Accessory
Cheeky Computing Graffiti
Street Artist Jilly Ballistic Creates Thought-Provoking Work
Lightning-Fast Sports Cars
The Jaguar XFRS Sedan Goes Zero to Sixty in 4.4 Seconds
Horn-Shaped Speakers
The ArkCanary II Amps Up Your iPhone Sound
Splattered Beverage Branding
Olvi Cider Sports a Stark Bottle Adorned with Vibrant Illustrations
Minimal Predator Prints
The Shark Week 2011 Posters Hark Back to Another Generation
Manly Movember Tips
How to Grow a Moustache with Nick Offerman is Highly Instructional
Goggle Smartphone Cases
vrAse by Louise Bankhead Provides a Virtual Reality Experience
Artery-Flowing Soda Ads
The Pepsi Veins Campaign Utilizes More Subliminal Marketing Tactics
Hipster Heritage Tees
The Brian Wood Africa Vintage Logo Limited Edition T-Shirt is Cultural
Badass Soccer Ads
Portland Timbers Billboards Prove There's "No Pity in Rose City"
Customized Chocolate Bar Cases
The 'Cover Giraffe' iPhone Holder is Deliciously Designed
Phone Bandage Stickers
The ‘Antenn-Aid' for the iPhone 4 Can't Fix the Antenna P
Truck Collision PSAs
Colorado State Patrol Billboard Drives Home 'Don't Tailgate' Message
90s Nostalgia Net Ads
Microsoft’s Commercial for Internet Explorer Will Induce Tears
Naturalistic Beverage Branding
Saxton Cider Uses the Beauty of its Ingredients to Sell
Obese Fast Food Clowns
Ron English MC SUPERSIZED Figure Smiles Terrifyingly
Artistic Cartoon Renditions (UPDATE)
Year of the Fan South Park Displays Original Interpretations
Toy-Like Battery Topper
The Nokia DC-18 Portable USB Charger Looks Like a Piece of LEGO
Java Consumption Infographics
This ‘Sustainable Coffee’ Infographic Examines Coffee
Wasted Apple Beverages
Batlow Premium Cider Stems from the Australian Co-Operative
Perforated iPhone 4 Cases
Incase Hops on the Colorful Apple Accessory Bandwagon
Handy Headphone Photography
The iPhone Camera Mic App Snaps Pics on Contact
Militaristic Designer Covers
Glam Up Your Mobile With the Bathing Ape iPhone Case
Subtly Grated Storage Systems
The Thread Shelf Has a Fine Profile From Side-Long Perspectives
Retro Action Hero Ads
The Sky TV Jones! Channel Campaign Features Nostalgic Macho Actors
Apocalyptic-Provoking Billboards
'Echoes of Voices in High Towers' Makes Berlin Think Collectively
Physical Smartphone Comparison Videos
Mobile Geeks Pits Sony Xperia Z Vs Samsung Note
Elegant Feral Repackaging
Pepsi Commissioned Vern Yip to Stylize the New Diet Pepsi Can
Augmented Reality Catalogues
The 2014 IKEA Catalogue and App Virtually Display Decor
DJing Monkey Marketing
The Volt 2012 Festival Promo Mixes Primates and Synthesizers
Playful Paint-Powdered Ads
This Sony Xperia Z Commercial References Sony's Rich History in Tech
Touchless Remote Controls
The eyeSight Gesture-Based System Gives Control Without Physical Contact
Traffic Light Food Labels
The UK Nutritional Labelling System Makes Unhealthy Choices Clearer
Advanced Waterproof Smartphones
The Sony Xperia ZR Can be Submerged in 5 Feet of Water & Function
Honesty-Inducing Cooler Ads
These Print Ads for Honesty Box Cider Ask Tough Questions
Fighter Beer Ads
Anderson Silva and Steven Segal Face Off in Budweiser 'The Great Preparation'
Time-Travelling Diva Ads
Beyonce and Pepsi Team Up in This Commercial About the Power of the Past
Interactive Furniture Lookbooks
The Ikea 2014 Catalogue Lets You Digitally Interact With Furniture
Profile-Promoting Pop Dispensers
The Pepsi Like Machine Trades Free Cans for Facebook Likes
Anatomical Peanuts Figures
Ron English 'Lucy Exposed' Shows What's Underneath the Skin
Celeb Commercial Spoofs
The Brett Favre 'What Should I Do?' Ad Pokes Fun at the Iconic Athlete
Cop Car Chicken Coops
Benedetto Bufalino's Chicken Coop Car is a Strange Home for Fowls
Hotspot-Emitting Magazine Ads
Microsoft's New 'Office 365' Ad Produces Free Internet
Shirt-Replacing Picture Frames
This Wall Frames Display Shirts Instead of Pictures
Roarin' Twenties-Inspired Treats
Bixby & Co Chocolate Bars are Organic and Nostalgic
Creative Cabinet Customizations
Superfront Provides Solutions for Updating IKEA Furniture Decor
Action-Inspiring Model Ads
Piazza Italia Role Model Campaign Enlists Help of Everyday Heroes
Interactive Wall Demolition Campaigns
The Windows 8 'Live Tile Experiment' Literally Breaks Walls
Amazing Autumn Cocktails
These Apple Cider Margaritas Help One Cope with the Loss of Summer
Meat Tracker Apps
This New Mcdonald's App Allows Users to See Where the Food Comes From
Biblical Cartoon Parodies
Last Supper in South Park Celebrates 15 Years of the Cartoon
Soda-Inspired Apple Wine
iC Cider Brands Bottles Similarly to the Iconic Coca-Cola Design
Sparkling Cider Cameras
The Lomography 20th Anniversary Champagne Edition Cameras are Cork Coated
Restaurant Viral Dance Videos
McDonalds is Used as a Spot for These Harlem Shake Videos
Mobile Phone Video Competitions
iOScars Awards Filmmakers in iOS Movie-Making Excellence
Rocker Furniture Quizzes
IKEA or Death Tests Pits Desks Against Death Metal Bands
80s Action Star Film Tributes
Chuck Norris the Movie Will Have Everything an Action Flick Needs
Action Hero Auto Ads
Jean Claude Van Damme Does the Splits in Between Two Moving Volvo Trucks
World-Exploring Furniture Commercials
The 'Start Something New' IKEA Ad Tells an Inspiring Story
Carbon-Neutral Chocolate Bars
Gru Grococo Makes Going Green Delicious
Doe-Eyed Doll Ads
These Richard Smith Promotions are Juvenile and Effective
Bleeding Apple Parodies
Funny or Die Mocks the iPhone 4 'Smile' Commercial
Sustainable Communications Agencies
Neo Helps Social and Environmental Organizations Succeed
Classic Poet Collaboration Ads
The Google Docs Demo: Masters Edition Features Nietzsche and Poe
Fake First Copy Blogs
The Tumblr Shit Rough Drafts Explores Bad Initial Ideas in a Humorous Manner
Levitating Magician Soda Ads
This Pepsi Ad of Magician Dynamo Will Grab Your Attention
Hilarious Lost Shopper Parodies
This Gravity Parody Was Set in Ikea and is Just as Dramatic
Sugary Sweet Manipulated Mascots
Ron English Creates a More Realistic Depiction of Classic Cereals
Modernized Luxe Convertibles
The Jaguar F-Type Coupe Rivals the Porsche Cayman and 911
Spreadsheet-Based Videogames
Cary Walkin Creates an RPG World from a Work Computer Program
Pointless Activity-Pushing Ads
'Time Well Mis-spent' Campaign Promotes Cadbury Wispa Chocolate
Breakthrough Linguistic Ventures
The Microsoft Speech Translator is Debuted at Asian-Based Seminar
Fruity Booze Beverage Hybrids
Joy the Baker's Hot Buttered Rum and Cider is Heterogeneous
Wildlife Crime-Fighters
Wenaha Wolf Advocates Howl for Justice With Anti-Poaching Billboard
Sultry Speed Car Commercials
The Jaguar 'F-Type' Preview Trailer Stars Damian Lewis
Cyber Bullying Browser Ads
The ‘Do You Know This Guy?’ Internet Explorer Ad Shows its