There are some companies that have been in a friendly competition for as long as they have been in existence. It’s no secret that these companies are trying to steal a competitor’s thunder and when these rivalries are exhibited in the form of a campaign or video poking fun at one another, it’s fun to see who will win the game of one-upmanship.
There are tons of examples of how to steal customers with witty campaigns. One standout campaign is one from McDonald’s that involved simply changing the names of its WiFi networks to entice nearby people in to its restaurants with exclusive deals, since it noticed customers at rival businesses were stealing free access to the Internet.
Another involved an elaborate ‘Phone Swap,’ which had people at a music festival trade their phones when they ran out of battery for a temporary trial run of a brand new Sony Xperia. Again, tons of incentives were given when people made this trade and some lucky winners got to keep their new phones at the end of the festival.
Of course, a company doesn’t have to be in direct competition to steal a bit of thunder from another company. A prime example of this is a hi-tech billboard by British Airways was cleverly parodied in a low-tech way by Domino’s Pizza.
19 Friendly Competition Marketing Strategies

18
Cheeky Competitor-Costumed Ads
In This Halloween Ad, a Can of Pepsi Dresses Like a Scary Red Soda

17
Faux Apple Promotion Sites
The Scoopertino Website Parodies Fake Apple News and Products
16
Apple-Mocking Campaigns
This iPhone 4 Parody Features a Series of Ads Playing Off Brand Slogan
15
Rival Company Coversation Posters
'Brandversations' Illustrates Discourse Between Competing Brands
14
Mocking Mac Advertisements
The Bryan Evans ‘apple-Fied’ Campaign Mimics Classic Imager
13
Ironically Blurred Brand Shirts
This Ironic Nike Shirt Has a Blurred Out Brand Logo
12
Unbranding Parody Graphs
This 'Starbucks to the Future' Chart Pokes Fun at Logo Downsizing
11
iPhone Mocking Ads
The Samsung Galaxy S Ad Plays on the iPhone 4 Reception Problem
10
Tech-Mocking Cider Ads
This Ad for Somersby Cider Takes Unsubtle Shots at Apple Product Launches
9
Portly Cereal Icons
Fat Tony the Tiger by Ron English Warns Against Sugary Breakfasts
8
Chicken Car Commercial Parodies
This Hilarious Jaguar Ad Makes Fun of Mercedez' Chicken Commercial
7
Epic Viral Holiday Spoofs
Delov Digital Spoofs Volvo's Epic Split with a Chuck Norris Version
6
Self-Spoofing Ads
Mac Half Life 2 '1984' Teaser Parodies the Classic Apple Ad
5
Competitor-Mocking Tablet Ads
This Microsoft Windows 8 Ad Makes Fun of Apple’s Renowned Feat
4
Incentivized Phone Trades
Sony Enticed Attendees of 'Way Out West' with a Free Phone Swap
3
Customer-Attracting WiFi Campaigns
Mcdonalds Uses Funny WiFi Network Names to Attract Customers
2
Fake Product Pranks
Upwell Installed Its Own Multifunctional Light Switch in IKEA
1
Cult-Mocking Ads
Hacienda Restaurant Stirs Up a Controversy with Kool-Aid Cult Billboards
Related Ideas
Food Pairing Campaigns
Trigger the Taste Celebrates Beloved Heinz Matchups
Cleverly-Disguised Fountain Cups
Pepsi's Latest Campaign Stunt Introduced 'Undercover Cups'
Playful Billboard Campaigns
Dreamies Treats Unveil a Show-Stopping 3D Billboard Campaign
Merit-Based Shareable Chocolates
Cadbury's Made to Share Packaging Rewards Acts of Kindness
Humorous Brand Campaigns
The Ikea Rewards Program Embraces Its Late Arrival with Humor
Reimagined Smartphone Campaigns
The 'Pixel In The Clutch' Campaign Highlights AI Phone Features
Hockey Rivalry Burger Menus
McDonald’s Canada Teamed Up with Hockey Legends on Its Showdown Menu
Nostalgic Kitchen Campaigns
Frigidaire is Running the Cheeky 'Daire to Expect More' Campaign
Halloween-Inspired Pretzel Campaigns
Snyder’s of Hanover Debuts the 'Pretzelface' Campaign
Irish Stout Campaigns
Guinness Unveiled its St. Patrick’s Day Campaign
Familiar Free-From Snack Products
Simply Snacks is Debuting Four New Product Varieties
College-Targeted Food Pop-Ups
Uber Hosts 'The One Shop' Across University Campuses
Humorous Menswear Ads
Men’s Wearhouse Goes Full Funny with its 'Love the Way You Look' Campaign
Cheeky Burger Billboards
The Habit Burger & Grill Humorously Calls Out Five Guys
Anti-Theft Phone Cases
JOAN London Created an "Unsnatchable" Phone Case to Deter Thieves
Friendly Rival Burgers
Burger King and KFC Created the Limited-Edition BFF Burger Together
Comedic E-Commerce Brand Spots
Instacart Unveiled a Teaser for its Super Bowl Commercial
Sniffable Deodorant Billboards
Sure's Out-of-Home Campaigns Invites Passersby to Take a Whiff
Heartwarming Bank Campaigns
Chase's Next Thing You Know Campaign Captures a Full Life
Thematic Super-Villain-Inspired Makeup Campaigns
NYX Launches the 'Who Stole Halloween?' Campaign
AI-Integrated Soda Campaigns
Pepsi 'The Sweetest’ Campaign Puts Pepsi Zero Sugar in the Spotlight
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
Exercise-Themed QSR Promotions
Chipotle x Strava: The City Challenge is Arriving for the New Year
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Airline Highlight Advertisements
Spirit Airlines 'More Fly' Campaign is A Fresh Take on Travel
Late-Night Text Campaigns
The IKEA "U Up?" Stunt Reached Sleepless Social Media Users
Individuality-Focused Brand Campaigns
Adidas Originals' New Campaign Champions Timeless Classics
Gamer-Centric Fast Food Campaigns
Burger King's Gaming Campaign to Rewards “Burger-to-King” Goals
Humorous Payment Campaigns
Paypal's Latest Campaign Features Actor Will Ferrell
Affordability-Focused Game-Day Campaigns
Kroger Offers Discounts on Snacks, Beverages & Foods
Product Review-Centered Campaigns
Kitchenaid's 'Love the Racks' Campaign Was Written by a Customer
Charming Christmas Advertisements
Sainsbury’s Christmas Ad 2024 Evokes Childhood Nostalgia
Re-Energized Snack Campaigns
J.M. Smucker Co Introduced the ‘Speakie Snackie’ Campaign
AI-Assisted Business Ads
Google Workspace's 50 States, 50 Stories Shares Small Businesses Using AI
Dynamic Basketball-Informed Marketing Campaigns
March Madness' New Campaign Features NCAA Athletes
Cheeky Coffee Ads
Starbucks' New Ads Celebrate Personal Connections Through a Modern Twist
Customer-Driven Holiday Campaigns
Amazon's Holiday Campaign is Inspired by 5-Star Reviews
Delivery Driver-Centric Pizza Ads
Pizza Hut's New Commercial is Cheeky and Playful
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Anti-Shrinkflation Pizza Campaigns
Domino's MOREflation Will Offer More Food for the Same Price
Football Fan-Addressing Soda Commercials
Pepsi's Launches the Football Always Wins Campaign
Cheeky Bar-Focused Campaigns
Heineken Advocates for Financial Support for Bars with Starring Bars
Experiential Marketing Campaigns
MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES, and Marvel Team Up for Campus Tour
Ice Cream Stick-Inspired Campaigns
KFC Brazil Gets Creative with Its 'Prize on a Bone' Campaign
Video Game-Based Prize Packages
This KRAFT Mac & Cheese x Nintendo Collab Boasts Game Elements
Battle-Style Art Events
Secret Walls Relaunches its 'The Art of Competition' Tour
Data-Driven QSR Campaigns
Burger King's BK Unwrapped Reveals Customers' 2024 Ordering Preferences
Trainer-Collaborative QSR Campaigns
JD and Wingstop UK Join to Launch a Nationwide Giveaway
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Creative Auto Campaigns
The Electric Capri Campaign Revives a Legend with Modern Flair
Valentine's Coffee Promotions
Ziggi's Coffee Launches Ten-Day Rewards Campaign
Restaurant-Focused AI Marketing Platforms
Birdeye Strives to Help Restaurant Increase Engagement
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Nostalgic Sports-Focused Grocery Campaigns
Instacart Debuts a Campaign in Kansas City
Soccer Star-Fronted Soda Campaigns
The Pepsi MAX® Thirsty For More Campaign Stars David Beckham
Mystery-Style Holiday Ads
Waitrose Adds Mystery to the Festive Season with ‘Sweet Suspicion’ Ad
Playful Hotel Campaigns
BWH Hotels Launches a Campaign to Reclaim Stolen Treasures
House Party-Themed Campaigns
Hiders Keepers Shows Stella Artois’ Clever Take on Party Etiquette
Food-Themed Holiday Campaigns
Kroger’s 2024 Holiday Campaign Celebrates Food and Connection
Local Restaurant Campaigns
PEPSI X Kelly Rowland Present the Local Eats Better With Pepsi Program
Healthful Grocer Wellness Campaigns
United Supermarkets 28-Day Challenge Campaign is Rewarding
Gamified In-Airport Activations
Haribo's Mobile Games Gives People of All Ages the Chance to Win
Refreshing Basketball-Themed Beverage Campaigns
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Debuts a Fan-Focused Campaign
Fan-Powered Reality Competitions
Little Caesars' Pretzel Crust Island Engages YouTube Viewers
Traveling Fashion Showcases
The Guess Bus in Sydney is an Example of Experimental Marketing
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
QSR Game-Inspired Fitness Partnerships
WithU and McDonald's MONOPOLY Make Strides in the UK
Football-Focused Sofa Campaigns
Pepsi Presents the Refresh the Game Campaign with Icons
Soda-Paired Pizza Deals
Pepsi Chase Cars Boost Pizza and Pepsi Pairings to Unlock Maximum Flavor
Cinematic Dance-Driven Campaigns
DoorDash's 'Your Door to More' Campaign Highlights its Offerings
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Reimagined Classic Beer Campaigns
Guinness Gives 'A Lovely Day' a Modern Artistic Refresh
Celebratory Musical Snack Campaigns
This Butterkist Wicked Promotion Celebrates the Upcoming Movie
Approachable Retailer Branding Updates
The Latest Walmart Brand Refresh Reflects its Legacy
Humorous Star-Studded Chip Campaigns
Pringles Unveiled its 'Call of the Mustaches' Campaign
Nostalgic Fast Food Campaigns
'cheeky Maccas' Celebrates Australian Summer with a Road Trip
Global Holiday Campaigns
David Beckham Stars in SharkNinja's 'Ninja the Holidays' Campaign
Streetside Challenge Billboards
Gymbox Start Line Encourages Passersby to Try a Short Dash
Super Bowl Drive-Thru Commercials
Taco Bell Debuts Its Live Más Drive-Thru Cams Campaign
Restaurant-Focused Beverage Campaigns
Surfside Introduces Its Promotional Surf N' Turf Campaign
Music Video-Inspired Supermarket Campaigns
Albert Heijn Pays Homage to Wham!'s Last Christmas
Tariff-Themed Pizzeria Promotions
The Pizza Pizza Reverse Tariff Campaign Offers a 25% Discount
Late-Night Chicken Shop Pop-Ups
Bird's Eye Launched a New Range with an Exclusive Experience
Do-Good Pizza Taste Tests
The Good Tastes Better Social Experiment Sees Purpose Impact Perception
Cost-Conscious Clothing Campaigns
The Primark 'Never Basic' Campaign Focuses on Value
All-Dark Marketing Campaigns
IKEA Introduces its Darkest Campaign Yet with Try Oslo's Help
Pumpkin-Inspired Community-Themed Campaigns
Danone North America Debuts the Tri Pumpkin Campaign
Trading-Focused Marketing Initiatives
Exness Debuts an Ambitious Global Marketing Initiative
Local Eatery-Elevated Soda Campaigns
Pepsi is Running Immersive Experiences for the Super Bowl LIX
High-Concept Brand Campaigns
The ‘Legitimate You’ Campaign Proves Every Brand Can Look Pro
QSR X-Ray Campaigns
KFC Spain Presents a Chicken X-Ray Campaign to Combat a Stigma
Canadian-Focused Campaigns
Maple Leaf Foods Sparks Pride with Its 'Look for the Leaf’ Campaign
Music Icon-Supported AI Campaigns
Music Stars Spotlight Workday's AI-Powered Enterprise Solutions
Branded Pub Crawls
The No Lay's, No Game 'Lay's Crawl' Entices Soccer Fans to Pubs
Thoughtful Ice Cream Campaigns
DOVE® Ice Cream's #MiniWinMonday Emphasizes Minor Accomplishments
Minimizing Phone Usage Initiatives
Heineken's Latest Campaign Addresses Phone Use at Music Events
Competitive Intelligence Platforms
Klue's Intelligence Platform Tracks Comprehensive Market Data
Tax-Themed Retailer Promotions
This 7-Eleven Tax Day Promotion Offers Instant Winnings
Familial Meal Kit Campaigns
HelloFresh, Hello Dinner Spotlights the Uniqueness of Households
TV Game-Inspired Pizza Campaigns
Netflix and Domino's Join on Emergency Pizza Campaigns
Festive Cream Cheese Campaigns
You’ve Got a Friend in Philly Acknowledges Holiday Highs & Lows
QSR Voting Promotions
The Shake Shack Showdown Will Offer Patrons Free Food
Saucy High-Definition Screen Campaigns
Zaxby’s is Leveraging the Busy Black Friday Shopping Period
Expanded Technology Marketplaces
Best Buy Has Plans to Launch a New Third-Party Marketplace
Customer-Exclusive Brand Trips
Cocokind is Hosting a Customer Brand Trip to Napa Valley in 2025
Basketball-Themed QSR Promotions
Arby's is Launching a March Madness Promotion
Cinematic Martial Arts Promotions
Premier Foods and Sony Pictures Celebrate Karate Kid: Legends
Critical Spicy Snack Campaigns
The New Flamin’ Hot Campaign Puts Its Spice to the Ultimate Test
Budget-Friendly Airline Campaigns
Sunwing Vacations Debuts the Flynancial Advisor Campaign
Feel-Good Financial Campaigns
Ally Financial's Banksgiving Supports Customers in Need with Funds
Seasonal Halloween Marketing Promotions
Welch's Fruit Snacks Unveils its MVP Goals for Halloween
College-Football Fandom Campaigns
Fairfield by Marriott x Jesse Palmer Honor Football Fans
Cheeky Financial Stress-Alleviating Campaigns
HOPWTR Has Debuted a Creative Promotional Campaign
Post-Holiday Retail Promotions
The One Stop Big Brands Low Prices Campaign is Packed with Savings
Hard-To-Read Health Campaigns
A Specsavers Campaign Encourages Movie-Goers to Check their Sight
Social Connection Campaigns
Beavertown Brewery's Is This Seat Taken? Campaign Unites Strangers
No-Nonsense Grooming Campaigns
The Rock Face Makes Scents Campaign Pokes Fun at Marketing Cliches
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Personalized Retail Media Networks
Thrive Market Collaborates with Instacart on a New Network
Brand Discovery Platforms
SmartCustomer by Sitejabber Helps Customers Find New Favorite Brands
Modernized Retailer Campaigns
Staples Canada Has Reintroduced Its That Was Easy Campaign
Cross-Border Startup Pitching Competitions
Seoul Seeks to Ignite Global Startup Collaboration
Startup Growth Strategies
Do Things That Don't Scale Offers Startup Tactics for Growth
Auto-Centric Short Films
BMW’s 'Relax. We Care.' Campaign Turns Chaos into a Cinematic Ride
SEO Strategy Tools
MySEOHelper Provides Keyword Insights And Competitor Analysis To Boost SEO
Frozen Beverage-Focused Promotions
Circle K Has Relaunched Its Popular Froster for a Year Contest
Second-Screen Sidekicks
Pizza Hut's Hutty Turns Solo Sports Viewing into a Shared Experience
Nostalgic Seasonal Snack Campaigns
This Tyrrells Campaign Encourages Holiday Snacking
Stylistic Footwear Campaigns
Bata Launched its 'Make Your Way' Campaign with a Focus on Comfort
Food-Inspired Costume Contests
Kraft Natural Cheese Centers Its Grated Parmesan for Halloween
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Accessible Home Appliance Competitions
LG & Korean Intellectual Property Office Partner
Competitor Analysis Platforms
Competitor Research Delivers Insights with Comprehensive Reports
Competitive Intelligence Tools
Dingo Dive Centralizes Competitor Data for Ads, Blogs, and More
Athlete-Inspired Chicken Sandwiches
Big Chicken Inside The Sandwich Wars has Four Items
Startup Name Generators
Bake Your Brand Uses AI to Create Unique Startup Names and Taglines
Empowering Consumer-Centric Campaigns
Which? Launches a Festive Campaign to Empower Shoppers
Fresh Produce-Focused Campaigns
I Love Fruit & Veg from Europe Emphasizes Fresh European Produce
Humorous Losers-Focused Campaigns
Miller Lite Introduces the League Losers Billboards
Imaginative Children's Holiday Campaigns
Aretto and Hamleys Partner on an Engaging Campaign