For many beginners, ad copywriting can become challenging and dreadful. It may not be easy to write clever or witty ad copy that many people will love. But over time, with practice, copywriting may become a breeze. And if you need inspiration when writing for your ad campaign, here are the 20 best copywriting ads of all time. Plus, we even include five tips to improve your copywriting skills too!
20 Best Copywriting Ads
1. Away
The ad headline by Away makes one wonder how “getting out of a country” makes you a better citizen. But when you read the ad copy, you will better understand why leaving the country, especially on a major federal holiday, will make you more empathetic and nationalistic. It’s one subtle way to promote travel without overtly advertising your product.
2. Signal
Signal wrote some of the best copywriting ads of all time. Not only did they shed light on Facebook’s deceitful ad practices, but they also gave the public an idea of how Facebook is doing it. Plus, Facebook denied running their ads, too, all the more fueling Signal to warn the public and be careful of using the social media platform and its other products.
3. Patagonia
Image credit to The Drum
Sometimes to raise awareness on an issue, you will have to shock people. That’s what Patagonia did on one of their print ads. Instead of writing a promotional ad, they wrote a poem. At first, you wonder how bleak and dark it sounds. But it tells you to read it bottom up, which will make their stance about climate change clearer. And it will make you open your eyes and associate Patagonia as one that wants to combat climate change.
4. Chipotle
Chipotle emphasizes that short is sweeter (or spicier), and that’s what they did for their billboard ad (sort of). Of the 16 words in their ad copy, only four are highlighted to show why Chipotle is better than its competitors. It’s one way you can be creative in writing your ad copy.
5. Spotify
Spotify has been successful with its marketing and advertising campaigns. And they earned recognition for best copywriting ads for their campaign about users’ streaming habits. Sure, it seems terrifying to know that the streaming service is calling you out. But they spun the streaming habit into something funny and personable, making you want to go and listen to some of the songs they included on the ads.
6. L’Oreal
When writing ads, you’re constantly reminded to write for your audience. But L’Oreal dismissed that notion for one campaign to talk to the men. And they were upfront about it. The headlines of their ad copy mention that the ads are for men. It’s to enlighten them about equal pay, which is a situation that’s still talked about today. Plus, they even used make-up tools to present data. And that’s why many consider this some of the best copywriting ads of all time.
7. Twitter
You may think Twitter is lazy for not coming up with their ad copy. But honestly, it was genius letting trending tweets BE the ad copy. User-generated content is one way to make your ad read by the public. And you can learn how they utilized this strategy in creating ads for your business.
8. Nike
During the pandemic, most brands and businesses raised awareness of social distancing, hand washing, wearing masks, and staying inside. One of the best ad campaigns during the pandemic was Nike’s. It encourages people to stay inside and even inspires people to become athletic at home through exercise and to stay fit. Plus, you’re considered a team player by staying at home because you’re not endangering others.
9. Meatless Farm
Not all of the best ad copywriting ads have to be inspirational or enlightening. Sometimes, to make it into that elite list, you can give people a chuckle, like Meatless Farm. The ad copy implies that they may be swearing. But, when you think about it, M F stands for Meatless Farm. It’s a witty way of injecting humor into your ads.
10. Hyposwiss Bank
Image credit to: Bite-Sized Marcomms
“Honesty is the best policy.” And while you don’t see that often in ads, Hyposwiss Bank does that and makes us laugh. They may seem greedy, but of course, as a bank, they only want what’s best for you: protect your money.
11. Opel
Typographical errors on ads are NO-NOS. But to get your message across, you might have to do it, like this ad by Opel. Their ad is to remind us not to text and drive. It’s not because you’ll have typos, but of course, you want to be safe on the road.
12. Virgin Australia
Sometimes you don’t have to write too many words in an ad. A few words or letters would suffice. Here’s an example from Virgin Australia of how you can do that. In only three letters and an arrow, you’ll get the gist of the copy. It’s simple yet effective.
13. Verizon
Image credit to Jordan Nerison
Verizon shows us that their plans don’t fit each individual. Not all add-ons or features will be useful to one person or a family, and that’s what Verizon reminds the public. But it’s not just the copy that makes this great. The ad design also makes it seem that it’s cropped. It further emphasizes their “one size does not fit all” ad campaign.
14. Burger King
Food and beverage companies are notorious for hitting their competitors where it hurts. But Burger King chose to put that aside to promote other companies during the pandemic. Instead of posting delicious burgers, they stated that they’d promote other food products for free. It’s a heartwarming gesture from a big brand.
15. Ikea
Ikea is known for its winning ad campaigns. From ones that make you pee on the ad to taking a dig at some celebrities, Ikea has it all. But their Moving Day ad campaign takes the cake for the best copywriting ads of all time. Instead of having the copy on a billboard, print, or screen, the ads are on the boxes. It’s a great way to promote the holiday and provide people with cardboard boxes.
16. AirAsia
Here’s another example of the best copywriting ads of all time. Wordplay is one way to make your audience think or make them laugh. The AirAsia example is similar to Meatless Farm’s approach where swearing is involved. But instead of using the actual phrase, they promoted one of their 93 destinations and made it funny.
17. Dollar Shave Club
Image credit to: Relevantly Marketing
One other brand that excels in writing ads is the Dollar Shave Club. Known to have a male demographic, the brand decided to advertise its products to women as well. They made sure to be inclusive in the copy. And they indicated that their razors, while not pink, are cheaper and better. Plus, it makes anyone feel welcome to be part of an exclusive club.
18. Bloomberg
Image credit to: Karola Karlson
Here’s one example that uses FOMO. Bloomberg indicates that you only have a limited time to save on a subscription. And if you’re a regular reader (and hate gated content), you’ll definitely want in.
19. Blume
Image credit to: Klient Boost
A mix of a review and promo, Blume’s Facebook ad shows us that the word “free” attracts audiences. It’s also a plus that free is seen in big letters because no one will resist it. And with the added review, it can convince people to try the product for free before they purchase another jar if they find it effective.
20. Daily Harvest
Image credit to: AdEspresso
This ad by Daily Harvest makes you feel they got you covered, and you won’t have to worry about preparing your meals. Not only that, they even have a $25 promo that those who can spend more will use to make their life more convenient.
5 Tips To Improve Your Copywriting
Even if you’re not a master wordsmith, you can still have the skills to become a pro at it. Here are five tips to improve your copywriting game.
1.Learn, Read, and Take Inspiration
The best way to write better ad copy is to read. You can find lists of the best, worst, funniest, and ineffective ads, and you can start reading there. From there, you’ll know which to avoid and learn which ones got acclaim.
Aside from reading ads, read books and learn from blog posts or other educational sources. This way, you’ll further understand how great copywriters produce an excellent copy.
2. Utilize Copywriting Formulas
You can get better at copywriting by using tried and tested copywriting techniques and formulas. You will then understand why some advertising copy works. But which ones work the best?
- Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action (AIDA)
- Clear, Concise, Compelling, and Credible (4Cs)
- Problem, Agitate, and Solve (PAS)
- Picture, Promise, Prove, Push (PPPP)
- Before-After-Bridge
3. Practice By Writing Every Day
Here’s one secret to becoming part of any best copywriting ads list: practice. Sure, for some copywriters, the copy comes easy for them. But for those who want to pursue copywriting and want to do better practice every day. It doesn’t have to be great every single time. However, with practice, you can write a copy that will make other copywriters think, “I wish I came up with that.”
4. Stick to Short Copy
Shorter is sweeter, especially at this age of short attention spans. The best way to approach this is to start writing a longer copy first. Then, edit and edit and edit until you get to the finished copy. It may take some time because you may think that the chopped ones would have sounded better. But as you work on becoming a copywriter, it takes a lot of editing and practice to land on the best copy to put out there.
5. Study and Understand Your Product/Service and Audience
If you want to write a better copy, you need to understand better what you’re offering and who you’re offering it to. But it’s not just about selling your product or service. What are you trying to solve with your product or service? Plus, know your audience’s pain points. Get into that mindset and see how you can write a copy from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need writing experience to become a copywriter?
No, you don’t need prior experience. You’re never too late to become a copywriter, even if you don’t have the right degree or experience. You can start by learning how to write a copy. From there, practice writing copy, and you’ll get the hang of it.
Should I stick to one area, industry, or topic for copywriting?
There’s no rule that says you should write a copy only for one industry. Think about those who work for agencies; they have different clients. While some are experts in a particular field, remember that copywriting formulas and styles are universal. What’s different is how products or services work, and you could create copy for any topic or industry.
Can I outsource my copywriting?
Yes, definitely! Many businesses do this because they don’t have the workforce or the time to create and write ads. Your best bet is to find a content writing service that will help you with copywriting and other content for your business.
For many beginners, ad copywriting can become challenging and dreadful. It may not be easy to write clever or witty ad copy that many people will love. But over time, with practice, copywriting may become a breeze. And if you need inspiration when writing for your ad campaign, here are the 20 best copywriting ads of all time. Plus, we even include five tips to improve your copywriting skills too!
