#36: Annoying Ads—The Dumbest Campaigns That Won Your Attention and Made Millions (RE-RELEASE)

The StoryBrand Podcast

StoryBrand.com

Marketing, Story, Bmsu, Businessmadesimple, Brand, Business, Bms, Storybrand, Entrepreneurship, 474622, Storytelling

4.8 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 8 September 2025

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Hopefully you're getting a chance to recharge this summer—but that doesn't mean you have to lose momentum. Fall is just around the corner, and before you know it we'll be heading into the final stretch of the year. That's why (for just a couple more weeks) we're rereleasing several of our high-impact episodes— designed to give you clarity, sharpen your message, attract the right customers, and ultimately drive more revenue, so you're not stuck playing catch-up when it matters most!

Most people try to make their marketing polished, clever, or inspirational. But in the end, clarity beats creativity every time. In fact, some of the most "annoying" ads in history made hundreds of millions of dollars simply because they were impossible to ignore. They weren't beautiful, they weren't clever, but they were unforgettable. So why do so many businesses avoid this approach? Because we assume our customers want sophistication, when what they really need is a message that's crystal clear and easy to remember. If your ad gets ignored, it doesn't matter how gorgeous it is.

In this week's episode, hosts Donald Miller and Kyle Reed discuss the genius behind annoying marketing campaigns like HeadOn, Chia Pet, and the George Foreman Grill. You'll learn why these seemingly ridiculous ads worked, how they used repetition and simplicity to dominate attention, and what you can take away to sharpen your own message. Tune in to learn how to make your marketing stick no matter how simple (or obnoxious) it may seem.

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Learn how to make your marketing and messaging work using a proven framework in the updated book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0. Order it now on Amazon or wherever you buy books!

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the Why That Work podcast presented by storybrand.a.I.
0:07.7	If you've ever wondered why certain brands, trends, or cultural phenomena find success while others don't, you're in the right place.
0:13.9	Every week we unpack why something worked, then give you actionable insights that you can use in your own life.
0:19.5	Now let's dive in with your hosts,
0:21.1	Donald Miller and Kyle Reed. Welcome back to the Why That Worked podcast where we look at
0:27.8	messaging campaigns that worked, why they worked, and how you can apply those ideas to your
0:32.4	business. Today, we are talking about weird, annoying marketing campaigns.
0:38.3	That worked. That worked. Like this one, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha. Do you remember that? Oh, how could you forget? Have you ever bought one? No, which is a great regret. I think I bought one. I think I bought one. As a kid, I was like, if only. They're fun stocking stover. There's two kid. You're right. It's a great kid stocking stover.
0:55.8	And I really wanted an ant farm, but that's not what we're talking about. I just thought an ant farm was cool. Now that I'm a parent, I get the whole like, let's leave the ants outside. Yeah, let's leave it outside, which makes total sense. But you brought one up to me. I'd never heard of. you kept saying it to me.
1:08.8	I was like,
1:09.0	what are you talking?
1:09.6	Apply it to the head.
1:10.7	Head on.
1:11.3	I had to look it up and I've got to play it for people who,
1:14.0	you know.
1:14.2	Now that, me I'd never heard of. You kept saying it to me. I was like, what are you talking? Apply to the head. Head on. I had to look it up and I've got to play it for
1:13.1	people who, you know. Now this is going to be one of those things. You're going to play it. And if you're older than about, how old are you? 38. Yeah, if you're older than like 43, I'm guessing If your birthday falls, you know, in the 70s, you'll get this.
1:27.7	If it's...
1:27.9	I think it's like a 20...
1:28.9	I think it was like 25 years ago.
1:30.1	It looks like that.
1:30.9	And you guys... guessing right in there. If your birthday falls, you know, in the 70s, you'll get this.
	...

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