Advertising agencies are always trying to outdo themselves, so it’s no surprise that digital ad spend is projected to reach $876.1 billion by 2026.
And insurance companies are stepping up their ad game too. Since people tend to find insurance drab and boring, the ads are an opportunity to step up and show people that the industry has a heart.
GEICO is the best example of insurance ads done right. Plus, their mascot is a beloved icon; it doesn’t get better than that.
It’s true that not every insurance ad can be like GEICO’s, but you could get close.
The key is to package your insurance-related message creatively. And video ads are a great way to do that.
Here are two insights from our video marketing statistics that shed light on why that’s the case:
- 77% of our respondents said that they would watch an ad if they found it relevant.
- 63% of consumers said that video keeps brands top of mind.
Now, let’s kick back and look at some of the best insurance ads ever made! It’ll give you ideas for your company, too.
Caveman at the Airport – GEICO
GEICO has been working with The Martin Agency since 1995 to produce its insurance commercials.
The video shows that a caveman is traveling through the airport until he stops to read a GEICO ad line, “So easy a caveman could do it.”
Why we love it:
- The humor in GEICO ads is always on point
- The message is clear even if the sound’s off
- It features a background song by the Norwegian electronic band Royskopp
Precious Few – Lincoln Financial
This ad makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Lincoln Financial partnered up with FCB New York for this commercial.
Why we love it:
- The black and white cinematography and editing tugs at our heartstrings
- It also features a cover of “Love Me Tender” along with powerful narration
Hot Tub – State Farm
The ad shows a group of friends sitting together in a living room when suddenly a window breaks. The insured friend sings State Farm’s magic jingle to make his agent appear.
State Farm collaborated with the Translation ad agency to produce this commercial.
Why we love it:
- The catchy jingle will have the viewers singing along
Fun fact:
The ad went viral after its release. It spawned a series of parodies and song remixes.
Read more: The Best GEICO Commercials and Why They’re So Effective
Teenage Girl in Pink SUV – Allstate
A supposed teenage girl in a grown man’s body driving a pink SUV into another car and then going “oopsie” is the best thing we’ve seen in a while.
Allstate partnered with Leo Burnett to come up with this gem of a commercial.
Why we love it:
- The premise is so ridiculous—in a good way
- Dean winters saying ‘oopsie’ made us snortle
Fun fact:
Dean Winters posed as different characters for this commercial series, and Dennis Haysbert lent his voice as a narrator.
Dad Insurance – American Family Insurance Company
Produced by BBDO New York, the ad shows a young boy acing his judo classes to get his hands on a flamenco dancer kit as a gift from his father.
.
Why we love it:
- The powerful storyline and acting
- Impressive production value
- Inspirational message
Also read: 10 Best Sports Commercials of All Time
Sonic – Progressive
Progressive collaborated with Arnold Worldwide Boston to produce this ad. It features Sonic the hedgehog running around looking for savings.
He gets stopped by Progressive’s agent who explains how to compare auto rates faster.
Why we love it:
- Watching Sonic made us nostalgic for the good old days
- The animation is impressive
Gorilla Attack – Farmers Insurance
Of all the bad things you could imagine happening to your car, a giant inflated gorilla collapsing and destroying it probably isn’t one of them. For producing this fast-paced ad, Farmers Insurance worked with.
Why we love it:
- It all happens so fast, that we almost get whiplash
- We’d love JK Simmons to be our insurance agent
Fun fact:
The video has over 5 million views on YouTube.
Beatrice – Esurance
Produced by Leo Burnett, the ad shows that Beatrice likes to do things differently, but her friends are there to tell her that there are better and simpler alternatives.
Why we love it:
- It’s to the point and funny
- Beatrice is insufferable yet adorable
Giant Baby – Nationwide
McKinney produced the ad and it shows a man going above and beyond to take care of a giant baby. And the twist?
It’s actually not a baby, but a car.
Why we love it:
- Who wouldn’t love a giant, adorable baby?
- It gives a nod to the fact that people often treat their vehicles like babies
Final thoughts
Brands have been producing creative, funny, and emotional insurance ads for a long time, and will continue to do so. The question is, are you going to create something memorable or not?
Experimenting with video ads could also allow you to strike gold for your brand.
If you’d like to give an insurance video promo/ad a go, get in touch with our production team. We’d love to help bring your project to life.