Top YouTube Ads Worth the Interruption

Not all YouTube ads make you want to pull your hair out. There have been a few gems throughout time where viewers have actually enjoyed the interruption. So much so that in 2014, four of the top ten videos ranked on YouTube came from brands.

Marketing companies are increasingly finding ways to appeal to today’s entertainment-crazed generations. Here are a few YouTube ads that broke through annoyed looks and caused viewers to crack smiles instead.

The Old Spice Commercial

Old Spice took the possibility for a typical, and overdone, cologne commercial and crushed it. They reinvented cologne advertising by inserting a funny and iconic character that would appeal to Millenials. This ad made other marketing companies jealous at the buzz it received. Due to its success, Old Spice continued to use the same theme throughout many more of their product advertisements. This is one brand that continues to make viewers smile at its interruption rather than send them into an irritated scowl.

Wren First Kiss Ad

A common clothing store launched a not so common ad in 2014 that featured complete strangers kissing for the first time. The video captured all of the raw awkwardness that comes with a first kiss, refusing to cut out any of the strange interactions. The commercial had over 40 million views in the first week of its release. Set in black and white and featuring the clothing from Wren’s new line, the ad appealed to those who regularly watch YouTube. It had an artistic flair that was so surprising it made viewers stop and watch.

Geico Family Unskippable

Geico took an even more unusual route, playing on the common knowledge that ads are annoying. Their 15-second ad featured a family at dinner with a voice proclaiming, “You can’t skip this Geico ad, because it’s already over.” Considering that Adweek says 94 percent of pre-roll gets skipped within the first five seconds, Geico was smart to eliminate that possibility.

The humor balanced with a quick message attracted the attention of today’s short attention-span YouTube watchers. Not all YouTube ads have had the same level of success. But these ads showcase what marketing companies can do with a clever idea and an understanding of today’s viewers.

Shauna Holdaway writes for Fusion 360, an advertising agency in Utah. She writes for many other clients as well.

*Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, YouTube, YouTube, and YouTube