The ten worst slogans ever?
We first brought you the ten best, now here are what could be the ten worst slogans ever. What do you think?
“You can never be too thin” (Pretzels)
Reading this slogan, your initial thinking would be that this Pretzels campaign was what you might find in the ad’s section of a 1960’s issue of Good Housekeeping. In fact, it was only in 2010 when Pretzels fat-shamed the population with an ad series that included slogans such as, “You can never be too thin” and “tastes as good as skinny feels”. Nobody ate it up and they soon had to pull the plug. Maybe they should’ve tried a slogan generator instead.
“Probably the Best Beer in the World” (Carlsberg Beer)
How you would hope to sell some Carlsberg when you’re just not sure how good the beer is beats me. I think a potential customer’s thoughts would be: “It probably isn’t, so I think I’ll buy something else” Fail!
“Make 7-Up Yours” (7-Up)
Really? Nothing against 7-Up personally but the phrase “up yours” is generally thought to be on the rude side. How many people nodded their heads when this suggestion was made and how the heck did it get through to publication?
“Food for the Fun of It” (Frito Lay)
Consumers generally don’t need to be reminded that snacks are not nutritionally rich, not when you are trying to sell them more of your product anyway. Being so frightfully honest is not too common in the snack peddling business but there you go, hats off to Frito Lay for being honest.
“Dieting doesn’t work, Weight Watchers does.” (Weight Watchers)
I am not convinced whoever came up with this slogan really put their heart into it. Mention Weight Watchers and people will automatically think “dieting” so how you would expect to dissociate the two is beyond me.
“What beer drinkers drink when they’re not drinking beer” (O’Doul’s Malt Beer – Anheuser-Busch)
Beer drinkers love beer and when they’re not drinking beer they would rather be drinking beer. This slogan fails at trying to convince certified beer drinkers there is room for some non alcoholic, beer impersonating beverage. No chance.
“More Doctors Smoke Camels than Any Other Cigarette” (Camel)
Okay, this is an old one but I can’t see it ever working. Not to mention the fact it’s tragically misleading too.
Drive One (Ford)
Is this the best the executives at Ford could come up with or they were not that bothered? Even a kindergarten kid could do better.
“Cheat on your girlfriend, not your workout” (Reebok)
Reebok’s 2012 campaign was removed after complaints were made for their distasteful slogan, “Cheat on your girlfriend, not your workout”. The brand campaign was launched in Germany but received global backlash. The sports brand later apologized, saying the company does not advocate “cheating … in any way.”
“Travel should take you places” (Hilton Hotels)
Well, duh! Why point out the bleedin’ obvious! Rumour has it Paris came up with this one all by herself. Here’s a little suggestion for the Hilton Branding team (everyone else can scroll on), find yourself a new copywriter. Preferably one with some creative edge.
If there’s a lesson to be learned from these slogans, it’s that brands should hire only the best copywriters to avoid future embarrassment. Strong writing skills, whether for crafting slogans or delivering compelling speeches, often require formal training and expertise. For professionals looking to refine their messaging, exploring speech writing services can provide invaluable insights into effective communication and creative expression. After all, the power of words can make or break a brand’s image in the public eye.”
