As the May 2017 marketing trends reveal, brands are increasingly resorting to more deceptive means in order to get their point across. Whether it is an obvious joke or something a little more sneaky, marketing is not as straightforward as it used to be.
One of the most clever marketing tactics brands are adopting is to challenge consumers on what they think they like. For instance, Tim Hortons recently opened a fake cafe called 'Perfectly Uncomplicated Lattes' to show consumers that great lattes don't need to come from an expensive coffee shop. Similarly, Suave Professionals created a minimalist label for its shampoo to fool millennials into thinking it was an up-and-coming brand. Both examples demonstrate how brands are resorting to more deceptive means to make consumers think more about why they buy certain products.
In contrast to some of the more deceptive tactics, the 2017 marketing trends also reveal brands using more obvious jokes to promote their products. Examples of this humorous approach include KFC Canada's voice-activated chicken buckets and Duolingo's fictional emoji language course.
Top 75 Marketing Ideas in May
From Deceptive Shampoo Campaigns to Voice-Activated Chicken Buckets:
Katherine Pendrill — May 28, 2017 — Marketing
75
Boutique Designer Gyms
Dsquared2's Ceresio 7 Gym and Spa is for the Fashionably Fit
74
Bikini Uniform Coffee Shops
The Bikini Beans Espresso Coffee Shops Boast Baristas in Swimwear
73
Musical Tech Festivals
Moogfest 2017 Serves as the Synthesis of Music, Art, and Technology
72
Deceptive Shampoo Campaigns
Suave Professionals Has Released a Creative Ad to Market Its Shampoo
71
Pet Adoption Photography Campaigns
The World For All Series Sends a Message with Optical Illusions
70
Experiential Tech Stores
Toronto Will Become the Home of the Next Samsung Experience Store
69
Coveted Luxe Streetwear Pop-Ups
A New Louis Vuitton and fragment design Collection Was Released
68
VIP Pizza Boxes
Domino's Loyalty Program for Customers Turns Them into Shareholders
67
Deceptive Coffee Shop Menus
Tim Hortons Opened a Fake Cafe Called 'Perfectly Uncomplicated Lattes'
66
Tech Brand Vodka Gifts
The Google Campus Warsaw Offers Complimentary Vodka for Visitors
65
Hawaiian Airline Cabins
Hawaiian Airlines' New Cabin Design Incorporates Cultural Details
64
Lifeguard Tower Hotels
This Beachside Hut in Tel Aviv is Now a Luxury Pop-Up Hotel
63
AI Beauty Assistant Apps
Dior Insider's Technology is Available Through Facebook Messenger
62
Late-Night Meal Deliveries
With Door Dash, Jack in the Box is Offering Night Meal Delivery
61
Swedish Furniture Shop Restaurants
Ikea Standalone Cafes Could Soon Be in City Centers Worldwide
60
Germy Petri Posters
This Soap Ad Campaign Features Enormous Petri Dishes Full of Live Bacteria
59
Replacement Crayon Campaigns
The Crayola Who's Leaving Countdown Celebrates the Brand's New Color
58
Fire Safety Simulators
'Escape My House' Stresses the Importance of Having a Fire Escape Plan
57
Mini Fitness Festivals
Virgin Sport Teased the Hackney Festival of Fitness with a One-Day Event
56
Springtime Sakura Parties
Japan's Kirin Brewery Offers Indoor Cherry Blossom-Viewing Events
55
Concept Car Spa Soirees
This Buick Style Event Boasted Manicures in Honor of the Buick Avista
54
Cryptic TV Billboards
These Mysterious TV Ads Celebrate the Return of David Lynch's Twin Peaks
53
Surprise Rewards Programs
Kimpton Hotels Offers Spontaneous 'Karma Credits' to Guests
52
Progressive Female Representation Campaigns
Dove and Mindshare Joined to Redefine Beauty Standards
51
Virtual Dinner Dates
Deilveroo's 'Milan on the Thames' Connects Diners in London and Italy
50
Athletic Fairy Tale Footwear
New Balance Created Beauty and the Beast Shoes for Women and Girls
49
Polluted Art Galleries
This Pop-Up Gallery Exclusively Features Art Made with Air Pollution
48
Life-Sized Soda Spouts
The Dr. Pepper Fountain Was Created by the Company for a Loyal Fan
47
Adaptable QSR Uniforms
McDonald's New Fast Food Uniforms Were Created by Fashion Designers
46
Clever Animal Adoption Campaigns
This Pedigree Campaign Prompts Parents to Get a Shelter Dog
45
Health Assessment Posters
These Cancer Research UK Posters Offer a Free Breathing Test
44
Cereal Character Competitions
Weetabix and Cartoon Network are Encouraging Play with Food
43
Energetic Escape Challenges
The Red Bull Mind Gamers Partook in the Escape Room World Championship
42
Gamified Checkout Systems
Consumers May Win Prizes In-Store and Online with Luckycycle
41
AR Easter Egg Games
British Land Launched a Virtual Easter Egg Hunt Game
40
Beacon Technology Services
Conichiwa Provides On-Demand Services for Many Different Industries
39
Promotional V8 Ringtones
Ford's 2018 Mustang GT Ringtone Shows Off the Muscle Car's New Features
38
Voice-Activated Chicken Buckets
KFC Duped Consumers with 'The Bucket' on April Fool's Day
37
Chat-Based Loyalty Programs
The Coach WeChat Account Offers a Membership Program
36
Inked Pollution Murals
These Awareness-Raising Billboards Were Made with Air-Ink Technology
35
Price Point Soccer Jerseys
Fluminense de Feira Has Invented a Creative Way to Earn Ad Revenue
34
Memorializing Advisory Labels
Studio Brussel Created a Purple Parental Advisory Label for Prince
33
In-Store Tuxedo Showrooms
Nordstrom is Teaming Up with The Black Tux to Offer Tuxedo Rentals
32
Pop-Up VR Bars
The House of Peroni Event Featured Immersive Works of Art
31
Emoji Language Courses
This App for Learning Language Teased an Emoji Course for April Fool's Day
30
Marijuana Protest Pop-Ups
The Crave Collective Set Up a Grow Room in Australia to Make a Statement
29
One-Day Festival Previews
Bestival Teased the Experience Offered at Its Full Four-Day Event
28
Atypical Tourism Ads
These Bizarre Illinois Travel Posters Encourage Chicago Residents to Explore
27
Air Filtration Billboards
Toyota's "Eco-Billboard" Removes Nitrogen Dioxide from the Air
26
Fantasy Story Sneakers
These Limited-Edition Asics Sneaker Packs Celebrate Disney's Newest Film
25
Concept Pub Crawl Beers
These Beer Bottles Were Inspired by the Famous Otley Run
24
Violence-Exposing Photo Booths
Terre Des Femmes Created the Shocking Bruise Automat Campaign
23
Cage-Cleaning Animal Experiences
Guests Pay to Scoop Polar Bear Dung At Wuhan Haichang Ocean Park
22
Car Company Webisodes
Chevrolet's 'Small Talk' Webisodes are Designed for Millennial Drivers
21
Augmented Investigation Apps
The 'Archer, P.I.' App Integrates AR and Printing Technology
20
Team Jersey Air Fresheners
KIA Motors' Automotive Air Fresheners Boast NBA-Themed Scents
19
Expanded Basketball Figurine Collections
GoDaddy is Offering New Itty Bitty Ballers Figures
18
Smartphone-Shaped Landscape Frames
This Phone Advertisement Shows the Galaxy S8's Large Screen
17
Fairy Tale Sock Collections
Stance's Fun Disney Socks Feature Themes from Beauty and the Beast
16
Telecom Hotspot Onesies
The T-Mobile 'ONEsie' Offers Unlimited Coverage for April Fool's Day
15
Personalized Meal Boxes
KFC India's 'I-Box' Provides a Printed Selfie in One's Likeness
14
Miniature Burger Pranks
McDonald's Launched 'The Micro Mac' for April Fool's Day
13
Exclusive Concert Events
Gorillaz and T-Mobile Launched a Secret Gig for Fans
12
Fictional Tech Company Plug-Ins
The Pipey Browser Extension Pays Homage to Microsoft's Clippy
11
Non-Branded Fast Food Ads
These Mindy Kaling Commercials for McDonald's Never Feature Its Name
10
Promotional Photo-Op ATMs
This Attack on Titan ATM Encourages Photo-Taking Nearby
9
Voice-Activated Burger Spots
Burger King's Google Home Ad Makes the Device Talk About the Whopper
8
Augmented Reality Table Lamps
Lampix will Change the Way Users Work and Play
7
Crayon Farewell Tours
The Celebrate Dandelion Campaign Encourages Crayola Fans to Say Goodbye
6
Burger-Flavored Toothpastes
Burger King's Fun Toothpaste Flavor Mimics the Taste of the Whopper
5
Sarcastic Healthcare Ads
North Memorial's Commercials Show How Frustrated US Patients are
4
Down Syndrome Awareness Ads
'Not Special Needs' Aims to Break Barriers for Those with Disabilities
3
Adversarial Airline Ads
The New Emirates 'Friendly Skies' Spot Highlights United's Recent Troubles
2
App-Inspired Laser Tag Games
This Event Brought Bubble Witch 3 Saga to Life Through Laser Tag
1
Civil Unrest Ad Spots
Pepsi and Kendall Jenner's New Commercial Uses Activism to Sell Soft Drinks
Related Ideas
Horror-Themed Phone Campaigns
Samsung's Join the Flip Side Takes Cues from 90s Horror Movies
AI-Generative Chocolate Campaigns
KitKat Takes a Break and Taps Marketing Advice from AI
AI-Driven Dreamy Fashion Campaigns
ETRO's Spring 2024 Ad Campaign Uses Artificial Intelligence
Playful Pet Accident Campaigns
IKEA Unveils the Don't Worry, You Can Afford It Campaign
Food Waste Sneakers
Hellmann's Canada Launched 1352: Refreshed Sneakers with Food Waste Items
Anti-Consumption Natural Ads
The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' Ad Aims to Reducing Consumption
AI Product Image Generators
Google Product Studio Uses Generative AI to Create Product Images
Invisible Furniture Capsules
IKEA's Invsbål Campaign and Capsule are a Playful April Fool's Joke
AI-Generated Fashion Campaigns
Casablanca Spring/Summer 2023 Conveys a Hopeful Future
Sun-Framing Billboards
Minute Maid's New Billboards Help Passersby Get a Daily Dose of Vitamin D
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Kid-Powered Imagination Campaigns
Lunchables' A.I. vs K.I. Proves Kids' Limitless Creativity
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Ketchup Dispenser Billboards
'Smack for Heinz' Helps Fans Complete Meals with a Favorite Condiment
Non-AI Beauty Campaigns
The Code by Dove Fights Beauty Standards Manufactured by AI
Eco-Minded Millennial Ads
Coors Seltzer's 'Call to Inaction' Campaign Aims to Save Water
Distorted Burger Campaigns
Burger King's A.I.LLOWEEN Features Unsettling People Eating Burgers
Age-Appropriate Skincare Campaigns
Dove's #TheFaceof10 Addresses Unsafe Gen Alpha Skincare
Modernized Coffee Product Branding
Nescafé Branding Has Been Overhauled for a Refreshed Profile
Employee Fragrance Campaigns
Lidl's Fragrance Campaign Features Local Talent with Celebrity Names
Hug-Activated Marketing Machines
UNIQLO France and The Pull Launch the Hug to Unlock Ad
Break-Focused AI Campaigns
Kit Kat is Encouraging AI Tool Breaks to Boost Their Optimization
AI-Generated Soup Can Art
The Campbell’s 'pAIntings' Initiative is Inspired by Artistic Greats
Gen Z Hotline Campaigns
Simply Spiked's 'Peach Responsibly' Campaign Addresses Generational Gaps
Lazy Cereal Campaigns
SURREAL Cereal Cheekily Pokes Fun at New Year's Resolutions
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Fast Food-Inspired Beachy Campaigns
Leo Burnett Italia Unveils a New Summery McDonald's Campaign
Candid Furniture Campaigns
Life is Not an IKEA Catalog Shows a Different Side of Home Products
AI-Backed Pizza Campaigns
Pizza Hut's 'Your Mood, Your Pizza' Campaign Uses AI to Suggest Items
Interactive In-Store Ads
Visibubble Brings Mobile Messaging Capabilities to Store Shelves
Curious Whiskey Campaigns
Four Roses' Don't Mention It Campaign Targets Younger Whiskey Drinkers
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Heated QSR Anniversary Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Celebrates Milestone with a New Campaign
Coded Snack Campaigns
Takis is Launching at Aldi in the UK with Drop Codes
Provocative AR Campaigns
NotCo's 'Not So Happy Animals' Presents Food Logos in a New Light
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
Dynamic CGI Mascara Campaigns
Maybelline New York Unveils an Activation with a Giant Mascara
Experiential Mental Well-Being Events
Batiste's Refresh & Reflect Events Connect & Uplift Students
AI-Created Burger Ads
Burger King Had ChatGPT Generate a Poster to Clap Back at a Competitor
AI Travel Campaigns
Away's Extraordinary Is Out There Uses AI to Show Real-World Destinations
Architecture-Inspired QSR Ads
This New McDonald’s Campaign Encourages Eating at Home
Suggestive Spread Campaigns
The Marmite First Timers Campaign Targets Gen Z
Mental Health-Protective Films
Dove's Cost of Beauty: A Dove Film Protects Teen's Mental Health
Empowering Clean Beauty Campaigns
Babe Original Celebrates Individuality with 'Originally You'
Inclusive Fragrance Campaigns
The 'Where Will They Take You' Campaign Highlights Influencers
Cartoon Underdog Soda Campaigns
Tractor Beverage Company Launches a Moving New Campaign
AI-Powered QSR Campaigns
allplants Leverages AI To Transforms Fast-Food Ads
Smile-Reflecting Toothpaste Campaigns
Colgate & Oglivy Create the #FreeYourSmile campaign
Short-Form Soap Operas
Unilever and TikTok Created a Content Series to Target #CleanTok
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Illusory Yogurt Billboards
Müller Yogurt is Relaunching a 90s Favorite with a Gen Z Twist
Tech Rebellion Campaigns
Lush is Continuing Its Big Tech Rebellion for Black Friday
Secret Salon Campaigns
Salon X Lets Consumers Experience a Secret Product Line
Artisan-Inspired Summertime Cafe Menus
This New Dunkin’ Menu Offers New Twists on Classics
Celebrity-Fronted Fashion Campaigns
The New Calvin Klein Campaign Features Many Celebrities
Illusory Fry Billboards
KFC is Promoting Its Fing Fing Cajun Chips with a Clever Billboard
AI-Powered Marketing Tools
This E-Commerce Tool Uses Customer Data to Project Reward Impacts
Travel-Focused Marketing Guides
TikTok Debuts a Playbook for Travel Marketers to Foster Engagement
Reinvigorated Cognac Campaigns
Larsen Cognac Challenges Traditional Images & Outdated Views
Burger-Inspired Mystery Mockumentaries
McDonald's Finland Presents The Icon Mockumentary
AI-Generated Pizzerias
Pizza Hut is Bringing the Pepperoni Hug Spot to Life in Toronto
Communication-Based Immersive Exhibitions
Intuit Mailchimp and Design Museum Present Email is Dead
Adorable Holiday Campaigns
Burberry's Holiday Campaign Spotlights Dogs and Ducklings
Humorous Natural Deodorant Campaigns
The Every Man Jack 'Still Smell Good' Campaign is Catchy
Gen X Candy Campaigns
Klondike's Bar-cade Campaign Engages Gen X Consumers
Squeezable Sauce Rebrandings
Kraft Sauce is Launching its Creamy Sauces Line to the Roster
Sustainable QSR Litter Adverts
McDonald's Malta Presents New Captivating Eco-Centric Campaigns
Ketchup Obsession Campaigns
'It Has to Be Heinz' Spotlights Fans' Intense Love of Heinz Products
Tongue-In-Cheek Soda Campaigns
Pepsi Jokes at Coca-Cola in It's Tastes Better Campaign
Reformulated Skincare Rebrands
Bath & Body Works Underwent a Large-scale Shift to Cleaner Products
Shoppable Luxury Fashion Films
Tom Ford Allows Consumers to Seamlessly Shop Its Spring 2024 RTW
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Premium Kitchen Pranks
IKEA Invented "Eureka Spiritis" to Showcase Its Quality Furnishings
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Nutrition-Focused Protein Product Branding
The New Pure Protein Branding is Bold and Eye-Catching
AI Travel Campaigns
Trivago is Using AI to Replace Spokespeople & Simplify Productions
Inspiring Daily Bodycare
method's Unleash Your Inner Shower Celebrates Personal Transformations
Tongue-In-Cheek Grilling Ads
Hellmann's Canada Ignites Grilling Season Early with "May-0" Petition
Immersive Digital Experiences
Kraft and Nexus Studios Join on the Immersive Mayoverse
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
Refreshing Festival Activations
The Mitchum Fresh Factory Shares Experiential Sampling
AI-Generated Shopping Campaigns
Sandton City's Latest Campaign Integrates Smart Technology
Conversational Campaign Creators
Creating Google Ads Campaigns is Simpler with AI Chat Features
Bathing-Inspired Pop-Ups Bars
The #DoveDeluxeBar Shares Sensorial Cocktails & Mocktails
Senior-Focused Meal Kit Campaigns
Parsley Box is Emphasizing its Value to the Stay-at-Home Family
Orange Branding Updates
Minute Maid Launches a New Global Brand Identity for its Orange Products
Dressed-Up Breakfast Campaigns
Joe & the Juice Invites Customers to Get Chic for Breakfast
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Miniature Collectible Campaigns
The World’s Smallest Lines are the Focus of Influencer Marketing
Empowering Car Ads
CarMax's New Ad Campaign Takes a Witty Approach
Kindness-Promoting Marketing Campaigns
Once Upon a Coconut Launches 1 Million Acts of Kindness
Cinco de Mayo Campaigns
Cuervo with Haley Lu Richardson on a Celebratory Campaign
BBQ-Themed Soy Sauce Campaigns
The Kikkoman 'Fire Up the Umami' Campaign Encourages Creativity
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
AR Pizza Menus
Hungry Howie's Uses AR to Promote a Secret Pizza Menu
Condiment-Celebrating Hot Dog Ads
HEINZ Just Launched the 'Hot Dogs are Not a Contest' Movement
Irreverent Ethical Soap Campaigns
Pure Rush Soap's New Ad is a Fresh Take on Sustainable Branding
Novela-Inspired Liqueur Ads
Kahlúa's Spots Bring Excitement to Everyday Occasions
Australian Yogurt Campaigns
Yoplait Launches a New Platform and Marketing Campaign with AJF
Hyper-Local Gym Ads
GymBox's Made for London Life Ads Juxtapose City Living and Gym-Going
First-Taste Burger Boxes
McSpicy x Frank's RedHot Released "the Hottest Drop"
Gut-Friendly Kombucha Campaigns
Health-Ade's Thrill Your Gut Highlights the Benefits of Kombucha
Hilarious Fandom Cheese Campaigns
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Launches First-Ever Paid Ad Campaign
No-Nonsense Cereal Campaigns
'Shreddie for Anything' Challenges Complicated Morning Routines
QSR-Backed Holiday Promotions
KFC Launches a Holiday Bucket and Merchandise Shop
Rewritten Christmas Song Ads
Burger King UK's Hijacking Christmas Will Guide You to the Drive Thru
Playful Language App Campaigns
Duolingo is Not Taking Any Excuses to Miss Learning Lessons
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
Plant-Based Cheese Campaigns
The Daiya Fromage Forgery Campaign is Dupe Culture-Inspired
Search-Hacking Campaigns
Kraft Real Mayo's Search Moist Campaign Suggested a Word of the Year
Summertime Cafe Pool Floaties
These Tim Hortons Promotional Products are Here for the Summer
Revamped Juice Overhauls
Ocean Spray Announces a Brand Overhaul with Modern Influences
Review-Based Marketing Campaigns
These Amazon Campaigns Bring Real Reviews To Life
Transparent Healthcare Campaigns
Kaiser Permanente Aims to Support the Modern Aging Consumer
Convenience Store Condiment Collections
The Cottage Delight Convenience Range is Accessible
Plant-Based QSR Campaigns
Burger King's Confusing Times Campaign is Made with DAVID Madrid
Playful Dating Experiment Campaigns
Kraft's Swipe Right for Mayo Campaign Social Experiment
Cow-Themed QSR Campaigns
Chick-fil-A Debuts a New Virtual Game and Merchandise Collection
Maple Syrup Awareness Campaigns
The Bill the Maple Campaign Promotes the Use of Real Maple Syrup
Fake Mocktail Launches
Celsius and Mamitas Collaborated on April Fool's Special This Year
Hand Sanitizing Stadium Campaigns
Shimmy Launched an OOH Campaign at Gillette Stadium
Affordable Clean-Label Groceries
Know & Love Offers Cost-Conscious, Clean Foods and Beverages
Stylish QSR-Backed Apparel
Panera Bread Unveils its New Menu-Inspired Merchandise Collection
Halloween-Inspired Retail Capsules
Target Debuts a New Private-Label Halloween Capsule for October
Happiness-Prioritizing QSR Campaigns
Dave & Buster's Launches the 'Adult Unlearn' Summer Campaign
Repositioned Deli Meat Brands
The Hormel Natural Choice Brand Debuted a Refreshed Image
Authentic Men-Targeted Campaigns
Schick Encourages Men to Follow Their Passions in New Campaign
Holiday Meal Savings Campaigns
The Dollar General 'Decked Out In Deals' Campaign is Cost-Conscious
April Fool's Lifestyle Collections
Nugget Introduced Its 'Most Trendiest - High Endiest' Line Yet
Wasp Perspective Beauty Campaigns
Boots Launches its Perfectly Imperfect Campaign Video
Subtle Marketing Pop-Ups
FOMO Nudge Encourages Users to Buy with Subtle Pop-Ups
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad
Private Label Holiday Products
Sprouts Brand Holiday Items Have a Better-for-You Formula
Hot Sauce Branding Campaigns
Taco Bell is Letting Consumers Vote for Hot Sauce Sayings
Festive Value-Minded Retail Campaigns
The Spar BIG Deal of Christmas Campaign Launches This Month
Compassionate Dietary Choices Ads
DairyTruth.ca Launches #DairyFreeToronto Campaign
Cost Savings Grocer Campaigns
These Spar New Year Offers Prioritize Value
Festive Chip Campaigns
KETTLE Chips' Christmas Campaign Features 24 Days of Prizes
Generative AI Beverage Ads
The Coca‑Cola® Masterpiece Campaign Leverages AI to Create Visual Magic