As we look to finish up the year and put 2013 behind us, it's always fun to reflect back on what made it all so memorable. Since year-end lists are one of the best parts of the season, I thought I'd do my own version: The top ten most memorable marketing moments of 2013.
10. Jersey Shore: Bringing it Back. Jersey Shore gave us the "comeback" story of the year, making us all so very proud ... with some boardwalk fries on the side.
9. Abercrombie & Fitch: Targeting. A&F forced us to decide if we can acknowledge the brand's effective targeting or if we simply want to walk away from what feels like bad karma.
8. Guinness: Turning the Tables. I love when a brand changes a paradigm, and that's exactly what Guinness did with its beer advertising this year. No beaches, no bikinis, no male stereotypes.
7. Cheerios: Reflecting Our Culture. Likely without realizing it, Cheerios put a stake in the ground by representing our society and sticking by it.
6. Asiana Airlines: Handling a Crisis. If there's no one thing Asiana Airlines taught us this year, it's how to handle a crisis with professionalism, care and transparency.
5. Paula Deen: Lessons Learned. On the flipside, we saw brand Paula Deen not handle a crisis so well, something we can all learn from.
4. Miley Cyrus: Twerking. This was a big year in pop music with Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Beyonce all competing for attention and downloads. No one stole the show more, from a brand perspective, than our little girl Miley.
3. Kmart: I Shipped My Pants. Kmart used simple humor to put the brand back in our consideration set. The campaign also demonstrated how online video can go mass, in a heartbeat.
2. Univision: Numero Uno. Univision showed us the sign of the times when the network went number one, beating out the big guys.
1. Prince William: The Royal Dad. The biggest birth of the century launched the brand of the world's now most famous Dad.
Ok, two more just for fun:
Honorable Mention: I've just got to give a shout out to Volvo and their Epic Split with JCVD. Super creative, especially given this was a campaign to highlight specific features in a truck!
Brand of the Year: This 100-year-old brand started out with "Dunk in the Dark" and kept it fresh all yer long ... Bravo!
What a year! Did I miss anything? What's your experience? JIM.
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
