The Best Ads of Q4 2024: Inspiring Campaigns That Redefined Creativity — As Chosen By Digital Marketers
Welcome to round two of GeistM’s quarterly “Best Ads of 2024” series!
Once a month, the GeistM team gathers to highlight the most impactful ads we’ve seen. We share our top picks “from the wild,” and then vote on the one that inspires us the most.
Every day, we’re immersed in campaigns that redefine innovation, storytelling, and strategy. And as marketers, we’re always on the lookout for standout ads that elevate our creative game.
We’re thrilled to reveal our top picks for the Best Ads of Q4 2024! Keep reading to discover the ads that not only caught our attention but sparked fresh ideas, pushing the boundaries of what marketing can achieve…
Our Favorite Ads From October 2024
First up for Honorable Mentions: Turbo Tax
This one caught our attention because it’s so bad, it’s… good? When an ad is so poorly executed that it sparks a Reddit thread on r/badad, it’s no longer a ‘bad ad’— it’s a conversation starter. This Redditor perfectly captures how we felt about it:
“I don’t understand, is this poorly photoshopped low-res bald guy with a mustache from 2012 supposed to be giving me confidence that my taxes will be done correctly? Did some autogenerated image algorithm decide this pic gets the most clicks? Was it made using Fiverr for actually $5? Did the marketing person’s nephew make it?”
Whether it actually led to conversions for TurboTax, we’ll never know. But it did get us laughing!
Our Runner-Up For Best Ad Of October 2024: Aquaphor x Moo Deng
This ad is our October runner-up because it ingeniously connects their brand to a viral meme as well as an online skincare trend. By featuring the internet’s favorite hippo, Moo Deng, and associating her with the ‘slugging’ skincare trend (applying a thick layer of moisturizer to lock in hydration), Aquaphor taps into the relatable, cute factor that resonates on social media — all while reinforcing their product’s effectiveness for deep moisturization.
Our Winner For Best Ad October 2024: Green Light
We love this ad as marketers because it cleverly arranges popular songs to spell out a funny and relatable sentence, while promoting Green Light, making the message both fun and memorable. It’s a subtle, creative approach that speaks directly to the audience without feeling like an overt sales pitch, which is a win in digital marketing.
Our Favorite Ads From November 2024
Our November Honorable Mention: Vim – Prison Cleaner
This is a throwback from 2005 that we stumbled across online, but had to share. It brilliantly highlights Vim’s unique selling point: it makes cleaning so easy that it “frees” you from spending hours on end cleaning or feeling trapped in a dirty home. By humorously dramatizing the mundane but relatable chore of cleaning as someone being imprisoned, the ad transforms an everyday frustration into a memorable and entertaining story. In the end, Vim saves the day by being a fast and effective cleaning solution.
Our November Runner-Up: Ryanair
Ryanair has built a bold, cheeky brand voice that resonates with younger audiences who love brands with a sense of humor. This ad perfectly reflects that personality by using a meme and a clever caption that’s easy to understand, share, and in turn, go viral. It playfully references the popular trend of traveling to Turkey for hair transplants, using a character with exaggerated baldness as a subtle but hilarious nod — making it feel like an inside joke without directly saying it.
Our Best Ad Of November 2024: Calm’s 30 Seconds of Silence.
What makes this ad so brilliant is its simplicity and disruption. Shown during the high-stress, noisy environment of the presidential debates, it offered viewers exactly what they needed: a moment of silence. It was unexpected and grabbed attention effortlessly. It broke the noise, forcing people to notice and remember the brand while embodying its product in real-time.
Providing instant relief amid the chaos perfectly aligned with Calm’s core promise. The ad brought peace and mindfulness to its viewers, so they could feel the benefits of Calm before even downloading the app.
Our Favorite Ads From December 2024
First up for Honorable Mentions: iOS for Gemini Release
This ad stands out with its minimalist design, using bold, repetitive text to make sure the Gemini app’s release on iOS is impossible to miss. The clean look and simple typography match Google’s modern, polished branding perfectly. Showing a hand passing a bag through a car window adds a creative, relatable touch.
Best Ad December 2024 Runner Up: Curry’s Samsung Laptop
This video does a great job of mixing humor with promotion to keep things fun and memorable. It kicks off with a playful back-and-forth of water bottle kicking, which grabs attention right away.
The interruption by the other Curry’s staff member, and then the sudden shift to highlighting the Samsung laptop’s features, communicates the product message without feeling too forced. The funny ending wraps things up with a clear message: “Head on down to Curry’s now.” It’s entertaining, lighthearted, and gets the point across.
Our Best Ad WINNER For December 2024:
This ad works so well because it pulls you in with a mix of heart and humor. The line, “He’s 6’1″, but he still looks up to me,” is warm, relatable, and highlights the special bond between a parent and child. It feels personal and authentic, and the call to action, “Adopt a teen. You can’t imagine the reward,” is simple yet powerful. Combined with the heartfelt imagery, it’s an ad that not only captures your attention but also leaves a meaningful impression.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed GeistM’s roundup of the best ads from Q4 2024. Be sure to check back next month for a new selection of top ads from 2024!
