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34 Shocking Billboard Ads

From Hairy Stripper Billboards to People-Hanging Campaigns

— May 31, 2013 — Marketing
With the thousands of different advertisements we see each and every single day, it takes something truly inventive and unique to catch our attention, and these shocking billboard ads are some great examples of marketing techniques taken to the extreme.

Gone are the days when companies marketed their products by simply showcasing an image of it in a commercial or print ad. Nowadays ad agencies have to create more of a concept and message behind a product or idea in order to catch the attention of those passing by. From suggestive TV show ads to controversial animal testing billboards, these shocking campaign tactics are meant to engage the viewer and make them take a minute to stop and look at this piece of advertisement.

While you may disagree with a few of these often vulgar marketing tactics, there's no question that these billboard ads will certainly catch your attention when you walk by.
5.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
33
Dirty Billoard Ads
Dirty Billoard Ads
Advertising Agency JWT Makes Soiled Artwork
<
32
Live Cockroach Billboards
Live Cockroach Billboards
The Terminix Billboard by Publicis Dallas Will Make Your Skin Crawl
<
31
Ex-Governor Exploiting Billboards
Ex-Governor Exploiting Billboards
Ashley Madison Calls Out Mark Sanford With Its Latest Ads
<
30
Suggestive Show Ads
Suggestive Show Ads
The New Vampire Diaries Billboards Urge Fans to "Catch VD"
<
29
Hairy Stripper Billboards
Hairy Stripper Billboards
Interbest Promotes Free Space With Scantily Clad Subjects
<
28
Legislative Loophole Art
Legislative Loophole Art
The GE Gallery Graffiti Art in Sao Paolo Gets Around Red Tape
<
27
Banned Bobby Billboards
Banned Bobby Billboards
The Controversial New Zealand Police Recruitment Advertisement
<
26
Cheeky Cancer Ads
Cheeky Cancer Ads
The Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada Bus Ad Gets Straight to the Point
<
25
Singed Sauce Ads
Singed Sauce Ads
The 'Taystee Chilli Sauce: Burned Billboard' is Too Hot to See
<
24
Airborne Jetpack Advertising
Airborne Jetpack Advertising
The Skydive Dubai/Go Fast! Billboard Features a Flying Man
<
23
Convertible-Making PSAs
Convertible-Making PSAs
Colorado State Patrol Ad Reminds Drivers to Keep Their Heads
<
22
Reflective Auto Ads
Reflective Auto Ads
This BMW Advertisement by 'Serviceplan' Doubles the Attention
<
21
Winged Rodent Translators
Winged Rodent Translators
The Bat Billboard Transliterates Bat Talk in Real Time
<
20
Trash-Talking Ambient Advertising
Trash-Talking Ambient Advertising
Kvallspressen Impact Suggests an Alternative Marketing Method
<
19
Barely-Legible Ballet Ads
Barely-Legible Ballet Ads
The Josip Kelava Ads for Australia's Melbourne Dance Company
<
18
Inappropriate Dating Service Billboards
Inappropriate Dating Service Billboards
Cougar Life Has a Controversial Ad on Sunset Blvd. in L.A.
<
17
Controversial Animal Research Ads
Controversial Animal Research Ads
RAT-HER Billboard Asks Who You Would Rather See Live
<
16
Cult-Mocking Ads
Cult-Mocking Ads
Hacienda Restaurant Stirs Up a Controversy with Kool-Aid Cult Billboards
<
15
Anti-Discriminatory Adverts
Anti-Discriminatory Adverts
Ads for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Remind Us of His Triumph
<
14
Out-of-Reach Awareness Billboards
Out-of-Reach Awareness Billboards
The Salvation Army 'The Dignity Project' Campaign is Poignant
<
13
Monumental Startup Stunts
Monumental Startup Stunts
The Tremendous Square Times Square Billboards
<
12
Cunning Contraceptive Campaigns
Cunning Contraceptive Campaigns
Manchester City Council Promotes 'Any Plans Tonight' Website
<
11
Unimpressed Large-Scale Ads
Unimpressed Large-Scale Ads
The Powder Mountain Resort Campaign Says Size Matters
<
10
Solar-Activated Billboards
Solar-Activated Billboards
Nivea Sunscreen Advertisement Can Only be Seen With Sunlight
<
9
People-Hanging Campaigns
People-Hanging Campaigns
Don't Drink and Drive Billboards in Russia are Bloody Gruesome
<
8
Gender Discriminating Ads
Gender Discriminating Ads
The Facial Recognition Billboard is a Highly Interactive Campaign
<
7
Miniature Block Billboards
Miniature Block Billboards
The DLKW Lowe LEGO Mini Billboards are Adorable and Effective
<
6
Badass Soccer Ads
Badass Soccer Ads
Portland Timbers Billboards Prove There's "No Pity in Rose City"
<
5
Emotional Inclusive Billboards
Emotional Inclusive Billboards
Peter Fuss Wants to Change World's Stereotypes About Religion
<
4
Disturbing Shockvertising
Disturbing Shockvertising
The Romanian Police Child Helpline Billboard for Child Violence
<
3
Self-Conscious Billboard Ads
Self-Conscious Billboard Ads
The Dove 'Girl Outdoor' Ad Has a Girl Hiding Using the Ad Itself
<
2
Phone-Enabled Violence Campaigns
Phone-Enabled Violence Campaigns
Interactive Billboard by NCDV Allows Texters to 'Drag Him Away'
<
1
Vandalized Billboard Branding
Vandalized Billboard Branding
The Chill 'Les Man' Campaign Puts Hair on Your Chest
<