Marketing Stunts That Failed Miserably In The Past Years
No company wants to see its name in the headlines for marketing failures, yet some disasters still manage to unfold.
What’s the actual reason? Is this the urge to capitalize on current events, or are they simply ignorant of behaviors that jeopardize their campaign?
Brands often neglect the term “Trust” these days.??
They think gaslighting their audiences is more handy than showing actual morals, empathy, and values.?
The marketing world is undoubtedly filled with competitors, and standing out among others has become quite a challenge. But it still doesn’t allow marketers to go crazy and try to be overly bold and ignorant with their ideas.?
It certainly has the capacity to smack brands in the face. Some of the biggest brands have had marketing disasters, and we are going to discuss four of them below.
Audi aired a commercial of the bride and groom taking their vows, but the mother of the groom came in and started inspecting the groom. She squeezes her nose, pulls back her ears, and checks the inside of her mouth.?
The couple signs in relief as the old lady gives a nod of approval.?
Then, the real masterpiece comes in the tagline that says: “An important decision must be made carefully.”
Unfortunately, the ad comes as severely distasteful to the audience for wrongfully objectifying women. Their idea of telling people to check a car before they buy met with huge nods of disapproval and criticism from audiences.??
2. Kraft’s “Send Noods” Campaign
A family mac n’ cheese company tried to be painfully funny when they launched a campaign called “Send Noods,” and apparently, it met with a hell of rage from moms on Instagram.?
The company faced extreme criticism for sexualizing mac ‘n’ cheese and being inconsiderate towards children, as they were one of their target audiences.?
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The campaign emphasizes “Sending Noods” to your loved ones during the pandemic to provide comfort and make them smile. Kraft’s funny marketing campaign did not bring any chuckles to customers as most of them said it was wildly “inappropriate” for being a “family company.”?
3. Aldi’s “Poorest Day Challenge” Campaign
Here is another well-meaning marketing attempt that faces the waves of absolute rejection. It's one of the attempts where marketers fail to read the room correctly.
Aldi grocery store launched Aldi’s “poorest-day challenge” campaign in which it partnered with influencer to refer to January 24th as the poorest day of the year, following post-holiday expenditure.?
The campaign features an influencer challenged to feed her family on a limited budget. However, Aldi’s good intentions of showing how you can stretch your dollar in their stores left a sour taste in the mouths of many people. It comes as a bit harsh to families who are already struggling to make a living on smaller budgets.?
Many people claim that the campaign trivializes the real-life struggles and hardships faced by those with financial difficulties.
4. Pepsi’s Ad Featuring “Kendall Jenner”
Pepsi's ad features Kendall Jenner casually joining an ongoing protest, awkwardly smiling in a tense situation, high-fiving protesters as if she's at a bar, and then handing a Pepsi to a security guard—without facing any confrontation from official authorities.
The ad, intended to promote global unity, peace, and love, was met with widespread backlash. Viewers criticized it as tone-deaf, especially in the context of significant movements like Black Lives Matter. The ad came across as more of a celebratory protest than a genuine response to real issues.
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Takeaways From These Marketing Fails
Every business is chasing virality; even big brands become victims of the appeal of attention-driven trends. While no brand sets out to face backlash, their lack of attention to detail, market research, and cultural responsibility makes them a predator to marketing failures.?
At Market Pro, we know how to create marketing campaigns that connect with your audience, drive results, and avoid any missteps along the way.