loader from loading.io

Why That Worked #17: Annoying Ads—The Dumbest Campaigns That Won Your Attention and Made Millions

Marketing Made Simple

Release Date: 04/30/2025

StoryBrand Podcast #38: BIG NEWS—Introducing The StoryBrand Podcast show art StoryBrand Podcast #38: BIG NEWS—Introducing The StoryBrand Podcast

Marketing Made Simple

Welcome to the first episode of The StoryBrand Podcast (formerly Why That Worked), where we’re doubling down on what actually grows businesses: clear messaging. Most business owners are too close to their own work to explain it clearly. They tweak and refine, but your customers still don’t “get it.” That’s why we’re hitting reset on this podcast and going back to the foundation of great messaging.    In this premier episode, Kyle Reed and Donald Miller kick things off with a full masterclass on the StoryBrand framework so you can stop confusing customers and start winning...

info_outline Why That Worked #37: Slate—Why This $20K Truck Is Getting All the Attention (RE-RELEASE) show art Why That Worked #37: Slate—Why This $20K Truck Is Getting All the Attention (RE-RELEASE)

Marketing Made Simple

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.   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)...

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

Marketing Made Simple

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.     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...

info_outline Why That Worked #35: Annie F. Downs—The Strategy Behind Her Breakthrough Personal Brand (RE-RELEASE) show art Why That Worked #35: Annie F. Downs—The Strategy Behind Her Breakthrough Personal Brand (RE-RELEASE)

Marketing Made Simple

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.     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 exactly why we’re rereleasing...

info_outline Why That Worked #34: Magic Spoon—How One Tagline Dethroned Sugar and Disrupted a $65B Industry (RE-RELEASE) show art Why That Worked #34: Magic Spoon—How One Tagline Dethroned Sugar and Disrupted a $65B Industry (RE-RELEASE)

Marketing Made Simple

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.     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 exactly why we’re rereleasing...

info_outline Why That Worked #33: Snipd—What Your Brand Name is Really Saying to Customers (RE-RELEASE) show art Why That Worked #33: Snipd—What Your Brand Name is Really Saying to Customers (RE-RELEASE)

Marketing Made Simple

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.     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 exactly why we’re rereleasing...

info_outline Why That Worked #32: Southwest—The Genius of ‘Bags Fly Free’ and What Happened When It Changed (RE-RELEASE) show art Why That Worked #32: Southwest—The Genius of ‘Bags Fly Free’ and What Happened When It Changed (RE-RELEASE)

Marketing Made Simple

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.     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 exactly why we’re rereleasing...

info_outline Why That Worked #31: Airbnb—The Brilliant Strategy Behind Their New Messaging Campaign (RE-RELEASE) show art Why That Worked #31: Airbnb—The Brilliant Strategy Behind Their New Messaging Campaign (RE-RELEASE)

Marketing Made Simple

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.     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 exactly why we’re rereleasing...

info_outline Why That Worked #30: AI with Jay Owen—How Smart Businesses Use It Without Losing the Human Touch show art Why That Worked #30: AI with Jay Owen—How Smart Businesses Use It Without Losing the Human Touch

Marketing Made Simple

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.   We’re only sharing these episodes in the former Marketing Made Simple feed for a limited time! Catch them early every Monday by subscribing to the  or following  wherever you listen to podcasts.   Now, enjoy this week’s episode...

info_outline Why That Worked #29: Infomercials—What OxiClean & Shamwow Can Teach Us About Messaging That Sells show art Why That Worked #29: Infomercials—What OxiClean & Shamwow Can Teach Us About Messaging That Sells

Marketing Made Simple

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.   We’re only sharing these episodes in the former Marketing Made Simple feed for a limited time! Catch them early every Monday by subscribing to the  or following  wherever you listen to podcasts.   Now, enjoy this week’s episode...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Exciting news, Hero Makers! We’re sharing a new episode of Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, with Donald Miller back in the host seat. This new show uncovers why certain ideas, brands, and strategies succeed—so you can think differently and apply those insights to your business and life.

 

We’re only sharing these episodes in the former Marketing Made Simple feed for a limited time! Catch them early every Monday by subscribing to the StoryBrand YouTube Channel or following Why That Worked wherever you listen to podcasts.

 

Now, enjoy this week’s episode of Why That Worked!

 

--

 

 
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.

 

--

 

Unlock the power of a framework that works—the StoryBrand Framework at StoryBrand.ai. It's like having the world’s best copywriter create high-converting marketing whenever you need it. Start your free 7-day trial at StoryBrand.ai.

 

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!