15 Legendary Marketing Fails

By Stefanie Grieser in Funny | 13 comments

These marketing fails deserve a double facepalm

Back by popular demand we have rounded up the best of the worst marketing fails.
If you haven’t already, check out this past ‘epic marketing fail’ post for some entertainment. We also post a weekly marketing fail to our Facebook page every Monday to start your week off with a smile.
15 Epic Marketing Fails
Today’s categories:

• Genius or Fail? When marketing fails are so horrible, you wonder if marketers did it on purpose. And if they did, does the phrase “Any publicity is good publicity” really ring true?
• Grammar & Spelling Fails. I am no Grammar Nazi, but when something is representing your brand or marketing your product, please, please remember to double check your work.
• Ad Placement Fails: When one ad meets another and causes chaos. When Marketers pay good money and then editors screw it up.
• Miscellaneous Marketing Fails: These can’t be categorized – except maybe with the word WRONG.

Genius or Fail?

She takes a what, where?

These marketers clearly did this on purpose. Pro: They got people talking about their ad. Con: They compared their product to “sheet.” So is it a fail? Or did they succeed in making this ad go viral?

Come a little closer

What do you think, marketing genius or marketing faux pas? Are these marketers going a little too far?
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#susanalbumparty

So Susan Boyle’s Album Release Twitter HashTag was one big mistake…but hey, publicity is publicity, right?
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Grammar & Spelling fails

Apostrophe please

What is the spelling on the actual cake going to be?
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Free Joining Fee

Loves me a free fee? Wait, what? I have to pay?
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Ad Placement Fails

Shameless Tricks

Shameless Tricks? Well, Mr. Editor-in-Chief, you should be ashamed. Please make sure you look at BOTH sides of the fold before you approve the magazine for print.
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QR Code Fail

Of course I will climb down onto the track and step over the railing to launch my QR Code scanner. Let me get right on that… Death wish anyone?
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Laughing so hard right now

Laughing at you. Not with you.
Dear Editor-in-Chief, Please remember where you place an ad is just as important as the ad itself. Sincerely, Marketers everywhere
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Father’s Day Fail

This really makes you want to “treat him.”
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Miscellaneous Marketing Fails

Strong Call-to-Action

This call to action was so strong, someone took it to heart.
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I Spy With My Little Eye…

Aan advertising executive clearing their desk
We’re putting the ball in your court. What exactly is wrong with this ad?
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Today is the Day…

We fire the marketing team. Please, remember your audience.
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Celebrity Endorsement Fail

Common Oprah. I had higher expectations coming from you.
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Sexual Innuendo Fail

Hmmm. Not sure if this is an ad for a touchless faucet or…
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Racist Fail

Word on the street is that this may be fake. But still.
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About The Author

Stefanie Grieser
Stefanie is a recent entrepreneurship graduate from the University of Victoria who is passionate about marketing strategy, integrated marketing communications and social media. Having worked in the marketing departments of some of the largest companies in Canada, she decided new school marketing for a startup was more her style.
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