10 Classic Ads That Changed the Way We See Marketing

Advertising has always shaped public opinion and consumer behavior. Some commercials from the past had a long-lasting effect on brand interaction with their target market. Here are some iconic commercials that sold goods, changed the marketing scene, and were unforgettable benchmarks in the advertising industry.

Tricia Quitales
March 10, 2025
4 min read

10 Classic Ads That Changed the Way We See Marketing — Negative Space on Pexels

Some commercials changed the way businesses interact with consumers. These classic ads pushed boundaries, connected to emotions, and reinterpreted marketing strategies in ways still influencing campaigns today. From well-known jingles to creative visual storytelling, these ads helped shape current marketing’s trends. This article looks at how these iconic ads influenced everything including consumer confidence and brands and established advertising.

1. “Think Small” by Volkswagen

Benoît Prieur on Wikimedia

Using minimalism, Volkswagen’s “Think Small” campaign changed vehicle advertising. This advertisement stressed the car’s diminutive size and dependability instead of its ostentatious qualities, transforming an apparent drawback into a selling point. Still used in marketing courses today, this audacious strategy set a new benchmark for honest, direct advertising.

2. “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” by Coca-Cola

Olena Bohovyk on Pexels

Coca-Cola’s 1971 “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” advertisement potently brought people together in a show of peace and unity. Featuring various people singing about sharing a Coke, the ad became a global harmony anthem. It changed brand communications by demonstrating how goods can appeal to social values and emotions outside their inherent worth.

3. “Just Do It” by Nike

Adnan Habib on Pexels

Nike’s 1988 “Just Do It” campaign permanently altered the approach companies take to inspiring language. The straightforward but effective phrase inspired people to challenge their limitations regardless of their level of athletic ability. By relating personally to people, Nike built itself as a brand and a source of inspiration.

4. “Got Milk?” by the California Milk Processor Board

Got milk? on Wikimedia

A straightforward yet successful advertisement, “Got Milk!” helped milk intake become cool once more. Drawing on popular culture, it became a national catchphrase by including celebrities sporting milk mustaches. The advertisement linked products with daily life and social trends to modify how they could be sold.

5. Apple’s “1984” Super Bowl Commercial

Benoît Prieur on Wikimedia

Played during the Super Bowl, Apple’s “1984” advertisement unveiled the Macintosh computer and permanently altered tech advertising. With a gloomy future seen in the advertisement, Apple was positioned as the brand to reject uniformity and welcome innovation. With strong images and narrative to build excitement and expectation, it established the standard for the next tech commercials.

6. “Where’s the Beef?” by Wendy’s

Ceir Junior on Pexels

Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” campaign became an instant hit by parodying rivals who served less meat. Wendy’s was all about large, juicy burgers, as the clever technique matched with a memorable tagline made abundantly evident. It demonstrated how comedy and wit might be a potent weapon for marketing to set a company apart from its rivals.

7. “Think Different” by Apple

Duophenom on Pexels

Apple’s “Think Different” campaign honored legendary people like Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Einstein, establishing Apple as the brand for creative, forward-looking ideas. Perfectly complementing Apple’s corporate principles, the campaign appealed to those seeking uniqueness and embracing individuality. It strengthened the theory that advertising can inspire a movement rather than only promote goods.

8. “The Most Interesting Man in the World” by Dos Equis

Nacho on Wikimedia

The “Most Interesting Man in the World” advertisement of Dos Equis made its figure a pop cultural hero. With funny and over-the-top tales about the man’s remarkable life, the campaign made drinking beer appear like an adventurous activity. It demonstrated how humor and narrative may help a brand stand out in a market full of competitors.

9. “Have It Your Way” by Burger King

Petey21 on Wikimedia

Burger King’s “Have It Your Way” campaign stressed customizing so consumers could select how their burgers were created. This was groundbreaking for fast food at the time since it let customers influence their dining environment. The memorable slogan still shapes how other fast-food companies concentrate on consumer preferences and personalizing.

10. “Man Your Man Could Smell Like” by Old Spice

Shulton, Inc. on Wikimedia

Rebranding a product often sold to elderly men, Old Spice’s “Man Your Man Could Smell Like” ad took a bold, funny approach. Going popular on social media, the advertisement featured a charming, fast-talking spokesperson who mixed comedy with a product message. It proved that comedy and inventiveness could draw younger consumers, altering how personal care items were sold.