Most Creative and Viral Ad Campaigns of 2010

They're cheesy, sentimental and straight to the point. 2010 was the year of the YouTube ad campaign, and the digital media world saw a surge of clever internet campaigns. Whether you love them or hate them, you can't deny that they're unforgettable. Here are our three favorite viral ad campaigns of 2010.

Old Spice: "Smell Like a Man"

"Hello, ladies, look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me. Sadly, he isn’t me, but if he stopped using ladies scented body wash and switched to Old Spice, he could smell like he’s me."

Cocky, conceited, hilarious - but genius. Old Spice hit the jackpot with Isaiah Mustafa. The Old Spice "Smell Like a Man" campaign went viral with over 25 million views. Mustafa is recognized as "the Old Spice guy" everywhere and believes it's because of how relatable the character is. This guy says what men are thinking and although he is full of it, he embodies the ideal man. Sales jumped 107% in the past year to prove it.

Google: "Parisian Love"

If this campaign doesn't make you feel warm and fuzzy, blame it on the black hole where your heart used to be. The Google campaign airing during the 2010 Superbowl in January shows a user looking up search items in the Google search engine. From start to finish: study abroad paris, cafes near the louve Louvre, translate tu es très mignon, impress a french girl, chocolate shops in Paris, what are truffles, who is Truffaut, long distance relationship advice jobs in Paris, AA120 (checking a flight), churches in Paris, then finally how to assemble a crib. This campaign pulls on your heart strings in a memorable and clever manner insinuating that Google has changed this man's life, and it can change yours too by giving the information you need to fulfill your dreams. It's clever, it's sentimental, and it makes even the most hardened people feel something. Bravo, Google. Now pass me a box of tissues?

Nike: "Rise"

"Should I make you laugh? Should I read you a soulful poem? Shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, but still like air, I will rise. Should we just clear the decks and start over? What should I do? Should I be who you want me to be? Just do it."

"Rise," which could also be called the many talents of Lebron James, features the two-time NBA MVP assessing his choices (especially the controversial decision to join the Miami Heat) and the pressures he faces. James received criticism from not letting go of the Cleveland controversy soon enough, but this viral ad shows him in a different light. You see the actor, the comedian, the basketball player, and most importantly you see the man who is Lebron James. Nike reiterates it's "Just do it" catch phrase by telling people to be who they want to be aside what people tell you.