There’s huge competition when it comes to brokerages and trading, and companies turn to adverts to help them stand out from the crowd. Due to their huge pull, sportspeople are often the go to talent. Here are some of the best (or worst) ads we’ve found.

Finance Ads, the Good (?), the Bad and the Cringe

Now, there’s no such thing as bad publicity and a cheesy advert could work just as a well as a great one, but then … that’s a fine line. I’m no marketing Marketing Marketing is defined as the business process of identifying, anticipating and satisfying customers' needs and wants.This is a crucial element of any operation or brokerage in the financial services space. Well-funded marketing campaigns are instrumental to the survival and longevity of these companies in an increasingly competitive industry.Within the forex space, marketers perform a wide range of functions to help procure, secure, or retain clients.In particular, newer forex brokers also have t Marketing is defined as the business process of identifying, anticipating and satisfying customers' needs and wants.This is a crucial element of any operation or brokerage in the financial services space. Well-funded marketing campaigns are instrumental to the survival and longevity of these companies in an increasingly competitive industry.Within the forex space, marketers perform a wide range of functions to help procure, secure, or retain clients.In particular, newer forex brokers also have t Read this Term or forex Forex Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Read this Term expert, but if you’re talking about it, or laughing about (or at) an ad, then hasn’t it done the job? Whatever you might think, José was definitely taking it seriously.

Conor McGregor for XTB

Well. If that’s what a trader looks like… I don’t know. In strolls Conor, demands a haircut, saying he wants to look like an investor. Everyone chips in, chats about commodities vs stocks, et cetera. Nobody looks like a trader. And then at the end, in comes the old school guy in pins and bracers. Let’s all have a laugh. Conor’s awful acting aside, it gets the point across.

Invast Global (26 Degrees) and Australian Women’s Sevens

This is just funny. It’s cringe worthy, but it’s also funny. Man announces sponsorship of women’s rugby team. Woman flattens man. And by the sound of the air leaving his body, she wasn’t messing about.

John McEnroe and Pepperstone

This is my personal favorite. Taking “Mac”’s legendarily foul temper on the court and turning him into a punishing tennis coach is great. Just remember the important message underneath – security is everything in trading

José Mourinho for XTB

XTB strike again. This has to be the cringiest of the lot. You know that Mourinho’s taking it seriously. The end result is just awful.

It’s Not Just Finance Ads that Go Wrong

OK, it’s all fun and games, and yes, trading and brokers can be cool. But, it’s not just brokerages or finance firms that get it all wrong.

Before we turn to a truly great ad, here’s a wonderful example of a really odd, high budget ad featuring a sportsperson. I present Fernando Torres, advertising a Samsung fridge by making cupcakes:

A True Great

And, I’ll leave you with this, just to prove that ads featuring sportspeople can be good. The Brazilian national team playing football in an airport for Nike in 1998.

For more finance-adjacent stories, check out our Trending section. There's also our ongoing series of marketing in the digital age, the Mindhack.