The best startup ads of 2022 | Video Production Award Winner

The Art of Startup Seduction: A Look Back at the Best Video Ads of 2018

There was a time when startup “ads” meant sly Facebook posts or email newsletters that gently nudged the unsuspecting reader towards a product or service. But as we know, startups rarely settle for subtle. In 2018, they went full Hitchcock, deploying video ads that were kooky, baffling, and beautifully befuddling. This article takes a trip down memory lane to revisit these mini-masterpieces of marketing that screamed, “Look at me!” more loudly than a san francisco street performer during lunchtime rush.

Why Video Ads? A Glimpse into the Psyche of Startups

In the world of ADHD marketing, where attention spans are shorter than TikTok's average video length, startups had to think outside the box—pun intended—by crafting ads as diverse as the cultures of New York's boroughs. So why lean into video? Well, consider the multitasking human in today's society, juggling a bagel in one hand, a phone in the other, and a wild ambition to run a marathon on weekends. For them, video is easily digestible—like an L.A. juice cleanse but without the unfortunate side effects.

“Video is not just about capturing attention. It's about holding it hostage until your message is delivered,” says Priya Gupta, a digital marketing specialist for Silicon Valley's buzzing tech scene. “In 2018, startups mastered this craft—sometimes to the point where we wondered if we were watching an advertisement or an avant-garde film.”

The Best of the Best: Startup Video Ads of 2018

It's said that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. In this context, it means how one perceives creativity—are these video ads visionary? Or simply a bit out there? It's a thin line even thinner than the plot of your favorite reality show.

1. Dollar Shave Club: “Our Blades Are F***ing Great”

Shaving is serious Business—unless you're Dollar Shave Club. In 2018, this startup embraced their inner quirky spirit with an ad featuring a bear, a ventriloquist dummy, and enough humor to make New Yorkers riding the subway crack a smile. The brand's irreverent tone made waves, reminding the world that facial grooming doesn't have to be as dry as a stockbroker's weekend in San Diego.

2. Casper: “Tomorrow Changes—from A Comfortable Mattress”

How do you sell sleep? By making it ridiculously aspirational. Casper's 2018 video ad wasn't just about a mattress; it was a lifestyle—like yoga retreats in Austin, but without the mosquitoes. With visuals cradling viewers into a dreamy world, this ad played right into the hands of any Denverite dreaming of the mountains while stuck in traffic on I-70.

3. Slack: “So Yeah, We Tried Slack…”

If you've ever worked in an office, you understand that communication tools are usually about as exciting as watching paint dry. Yet, Slack's 2018 ad turned the mundane into the magnificent. It was a bit of digital confetti tossed over an otherwise drab Tuesday afternoon meeting. Imagine a tech pitch in San Francisco with a hint of Broadway flair, and you get Slack's vibe—collaboration felt less like work and more like a team-building exercise in a swanky L.A. lounge.

A Touch of Edge: The Breakdown of 2018's Hits

Startup video ads in 2018 spanned a variety of styles, all united by their boldness and creativity.

• Humor: Think stand-up comedy in a boardroom. Whether dry, slapstick, or clever, humor was the secret sauce. It's like when you ask a New Yorker for directions and get a side of unsolicited advice on life.
• Emotion: Ads that tugged on heartstrings, like a reunion scene in a Lindsey Lohan movie. This was a common choice—especially among startups aiming to capture a demographic less impressed by logic and more wooed by feels.
• Edgy Visuals: Telling stories without words, as one might do attempting to order coffee in Paris without speaking French… or with similar results.

The Role of Chic Creativity and Tech Savviness

In a fashion show of ideas, 2018's startup ads were undeniably runway-ready. These companies understood that, in a world where sleekness conquers all, technology has to look good while being forward-thinking. Consider the ad from Everlane, the Silicon Valley startup that pitched sustainable fashion with a visual feast that was less commercial and more art gallery exhibit.

“Startups in 2018 showed incredible tech savviness by using visual storytelling to digitally drench viewers in what felt like lush cinematic experiences,” states Luca Bastiani, a tech analyst from Milan, blending his passion for fashion with a keen eye for technological trends. “It's as though the ad itself whispered: ‘you're not buying a product; you're buying an experience.'”

How These Ads Resonate in Today's Market

While the video landscape has shifted dramatically since 2018, with TikTok redefining consumer engagement and Instagram Stories unshackling traditional formats, the creativity from that era remains unforgettable. These ads set the gold standard, serving as blueprints for present-day marketers.

The lessons learned from 2018 transcend time and trend, similar to that Napa wine I swear was just grape juice until it surprised me with its longevity. Here's why the spirit of these ads continues to pivot with times:

1. Incite Curiosity: A sense of intrigue permeates successful ads as they stir up curiosity like a well-kept secret in a bustling café in downtown San Diego.
2. Brand Storytelling: Connecting with audiences requires narrative richness, much like the juxtaposition between quintessential denim and downtown New York street wear.
3. Authenticity: Transparency prevails in an era where savvy audiences abandon pretense like outdated fashion in a glorious resale revolution.

Future Outlook: Innovating Beyond 2018

As the marketing landscape continues to evolve, the video ads of yore primarily play as reminder playlists. Yet, they compel today's creatives to put forth content that bakes in legacy and gives—like San Francisco's renowned startups—shape and meaning for future pioneers.

Bold Moves and Even Bolder Campaigns

Going forward, expect to see innovations that echo these ads while forging statuses anew:

• Interactive Narratives: A space where viewers dictate entire ad arcs, akin to a streaming platform delightfully cut with the unpredictability of an L.A. improv troupe.
• AI-Personalized Experiences: Advancement has started to affect each consumer differently, like personalized city maps by local startups that remember your coffee orders and detest rush hour on the Brooklyn Bridge.
• Integration with Augmented Reality: Bringing products to life in as technicolor an experience as arriving in Austin and finding yourself magically welcomed by a live country-music fest.

Humorous Headlines that Didn't Make the Final Cut

Shaving Secrets Recovered—Dollar Shave Club Reveals All.

Ever wondered what went on behind those clean-shaven faces and rug-cozy slippers in Dollar Shave Club's viral video? Set within an alternate reality where smooth chins unite against prickly adversity, Dollar Shave Club delivered a comedic anthem lighting the way for beard-burn weary folk everywhere. And let's be honest, mixing ‘business growth' with ‘barber-grown prowess' is a stroke of genius, much akin to those accidental puns Silicon Valley geniuses often stumble upon after their seventh espresso.

How Casper Tucked In Sleepless America—One Mattress at a Time.

There's nothing quite like the promise of a perfect night's sleep to make productivity soar like hopeful startups. In an incredible feat of marketing reminiscent of a comfort cloud descending upon an unwitting city, Casper's mattress undertakings showcased how thorough comfort can be. Who would have guessed the mattress advocacy movement could create sleepless anticipation, even during the most picturesque sunsets along San Diego's scenic coastline?

Slack's Secret Sauce: Discovering the Joy in Digital Drudgery!

Office communication shouldn't feel like reliving traumatic high school group projects. Yet, for once, a software lifted the plague from planet productivity with Slack's clever, belly-laugh-inducing promotional efforts. By showing us teamwork gloved in vivid stickers and jealous emojis, Slack transported us, temporarily and gladly, from pressing spreadsheets to a joy-ride through vibrant, dynamic channels. Imagine if every workplace embraced giggle-fueled inspiration because, let's face facts—the closest we'll get to a chemical-free giggle surge might be a frothy mocha latte in tech-centric coffee havens worldwide.