There’s nothing worse than spending countless hours brainstorming a new marketing campaign only to have it flop. But thankfully, your clients probably never had a marketing disaster as big as these. Recently, Reddit users put together a list of the worst marketing mistakes of all time, and I’m sharing some of the top ones with you.
1. EA’s Godfather II Campaign
In celebration of the release of EA’s new video game “The Godfather II,” the gaming company sent fans pairs of brass knuckles. The only problem is brass knuckles are illegal in most states.
2. Lipton Tea’s Coupon Promo
In an effort to get more prospective customers, Lipton Tea launched a marketing campaign which unintentionally gave customers an endless loop of free tea. Because every package of tea included a coupon for a free pack of tea, the company quickly learned they were giving away too much tea.
3. Vanderbilt’s New Slogan
It’s always great to release a new, inspiring slogan for your team. However, it’s best to make sure there’s no potential for inappropriate hidden meanings first. Vanderbilt football learned this lesson the hard way with its “We Don’t Need Your Permission” tagline.
4. KFC’s Incorrect Translation
Kentucky Fried Chicken made a mistake during its translation process in a big way. When the company opened its stores in China, it accidentally translated “Finger Lickin’ Good” to “Eat Your Fingers Off.”
5. M&M’s Product Placement Refusal
The famous movie “E.T.” apparently asked M&M’s to give permission for the movie to use the candy during filming. The company refused, and the movie went on to use went on to use Reese’s Pieces, a then brand-new candy from Hershey’s, for the shoot. Reese’s popularity grew wildly, and M&M’s was left regretting its mistake.
