Eight Ad Campaigns That Taught These Entrepreneurs Valuable Lessons

While they can be effective in attracting more customers, many advertising campaigns come and go, doing just enough to grab the public's attention and increase brand awareness. However, there are other campaigns that really stick with an audience, whether it's a niche group or even an entire generation. These campaigns are not only memorable, they are often part of popular culture.

Whether with their humor, emotion, or important message, these ads inspire and entertain while teaching other businesses what makes a truly effective campaign. Below, eight members of the Young Entrepreneur Council describe ad campaigns they greatly admire and the lessons they've learned about advertising and beyond.

1. "Get a Mac"

The old "Mac vs. PC" ads from the "Get a Mac" campaign with Justin Long as Mac and John Hodgman as PC were brilliant. They provided a perfect juxtaposition between the two brands which made it easy to understand the biggest differences between their products. Macs were easy. Open the box and it's ready to use. PCs were difficult. Open the box and there was tons of documentation to read. There were drivers to download, software to install, and the list went on and on. Macs were also cool. Choose your color. PCs were boring and ugly. The visuals and messaging worked together to deliver a simple yet powerful differentiating message. These ads are a perfect example of brand positioning, and they've helped Macs expand far beyond the audience of ad agencies and graphic designers they once catered to. -Jonathan Prichard, MattressInsider.com

2. "Like a girl"

There are a lot of choices, but the campaign I admire is "Like a Girl" by Always. It's a brilliantly organized campaign that triggers all the right emotions. The campaign speaks to the issues girls face and strives to engage audiences with a powerful message. The lesson learned? It's good to talk about social issues and take a stand. Just because no one is talking about it doesn't mean you shouldn't either. Campaigns like this create substantial emotional appeal, which in turn breeds endless brand loyalty. - Stephanie Wells, Terrific Shapes

3. "Find your reason"

I find Fitbit's "Find your sanity" campaign truly admirable. What made it such an amazing campaign was that Fitbit put the spotlight on its customers by showcasing their success stories. The campaign has motivated many who are really struggling to find their “reason”. It also increased Fitbit brand loyalty by putting unknown scammers in the spotlight. The lesson learned? User-generated content with good storytelling works wonders. - Jared Atchison, WPForms

4. "Just do it"

Nike's "Just Do It" campaign is an inspiration for any young person who wants to be motivated and inspired to succeed...