Playlists, crosswalk signs, scavenger hunts and emoji decoders are just a few of the ways the top July 2015 interactive marketing examples drive interaction. In addition to popping up in unusual places, many brands are going out of their way to make advertisements particularly hard to find, such as with campaigns that are covert or ephemeral in nature. This is exactly what Les Paul did with a challenge that asked elite music fans to prove they were worthy of winning one of its legendary guitars, using Shazam as a judge.
In addition to mobile advertising being extremely popular, advertisers are taking this idea literally by amping up marketing efforts using vehicles. For instance, Amazon is driving around discounted goods on its Treasure Truck, while gum company Dentyne has a vehicle that follows food trucks in order to promote fresh breath post-meal.
At the heart of it, these are all great examples of memorable experiential marketing.
Top 50 Interactive Concepts in July
From Immersive Horror Videos to Underwater Radio Stations:
Laura McQuarrie — Jul 25, 2015 — Marketing
49
High-Tech Retail Hubs
Harvey Nichols' Newest Retail Store Design Boasts Engaging Details
48
Workout-Advertising Robots
Nike's Billboard is Supported by a Robot Constantly Doing Chin-Ups
47
Social Shopping Pop-Ups
Tanger Outlets Celebrates Its New Location with Fun Pop-Up Stations
46
Covert Adoption Campaigns
Priceless Pets Unravels Bias and Advocates for Abandoned Animal Adoption
45
Breath-Freshening Food Trucks
This New Initiative Reminds Consumers to Chew Gum After Eating
44
Immersive Whiskey Simulators
Jim Beam's Virtual Reality Simulator Puts You in the Place of Whiskey
43
On-Demand Ice Cream Trucks
The 'Good Humor' Ice Cream Trucks Can Be Summoned with a Single Tweet
42
Interactive Storytelling Ads
This Volkswagen Commercial Lets Viewers Craft a Custom Story
41
Mobile Discount Stores
The 'Treasure Truck' Will Drive Around Seattle Selling Discount Goods
40
Awareness-Raising Text Lanes
Antwerp's Text Walking Lanes Inform Pedestrians About Public Safety
39
Engaging Brand Concerts
The Honda Stage Experience Helps Fans Connect with Music Live and Online
38
Virtual Reality Brewery Tours
'Meantime' Brewery is Creating Virtual Tours for Festivals & Events
37
Social Good Currency
UNICEF Promises That Its Unicoin is the 'First Currency Dedicated to Do Good'
36
Engaging Activity Shops
The Upper Canada Mall's New Pop-Up Retail Space Promotes Recreation
35
Emoji Analysis Campaigns
Old Navy's Emoodji Reveals Insights Based on Popular Emoji Use
34
Senior-Engaging Social Media Campaigns
Vodafone's The Sunday Grannies Makes an Impact on Elderly
33
Social Media Magazines
Ballantine has Launched an Interactive Whiskey Magazine on Instagram
32
Immersive Horror Videos
This Promotional Game Lets User Choose Their Own Terrifying Adventure
31
Challenging Guitar Campaigns
The 'Les Paul Skill Check' Asks Musicians to Show Their Skills
30
Comforting Tissue Stunts
Kleenex Employs Experiential Brand Marketing to Create Ease
29
Voice-Activated Beer Fridges
Molson's Clever Fridge Only Unlocks with Voice Translation
28
Subway Fare Books
L± Pocket Encourages Reading on the Subway with Books That Double as Tickets
27
Consumer-Targeting Billboards
OfferMoments Creates Custom, Targeted Advertisements
26
Dad-Celebrating Coupons
Samsung UK Helps Twitter User Sent Out Comical Father's Day Wishes
25
Mindful Salt Shakers
Fundacion Favaloro Brings Awareness to Salt Consumption with Color
24
Soda-Inspired Speakers
Pepsi Challenges Fans to Capture the 'Beats of the City'
23
Messenger Music Services
The LINE Music Service Gives Mobile Users Listeners Freedom of Choice
22
Urban Survival Competitions
Mercedes-Benz Challenged 3,000 People to an Urban Hunt in Zurich
21
Mid-Mission Army Recruitment
Sweden is Utilizing Video Conferences to Inform Interested Candidates
20
Entertaining Sign-Up Forms
CANAL+ Turns Mundane Subscription Forms into a Source of Amusement
19
Social Mortgage Campaigns
SA Home Loans' #TweetDreams Lets Users Help to Drop Interest Rates
18
Traffic Coffee Dispensers
Nescafe Doles Out Coffee and 'Instant Connections' at a Crossing Light
17
Eye-Tracking Donation Sites
Eye Click Donation Only Lets People Donate to ALS Using Their Eyes
16
Compelling Donation Posters
Public Transport Victora Urges Commuters to Donate to the Homeless
15
Spirited Scavenger Hunts
Goose Island Beer Co.'s Wild Goose Chase is a City-Wide Search for Prizes
14
Animal Shadow Posters
The Johannesburg Zoo Used Creative Cutouts to Advertise Night Tours
13
Oral Health Challenges
Listerine is Trying to Reverse Early Gum Disease and Promote Their Product
12
Crowdsourced Beer Branding
Rhinegeist Brewing Asked for Creative Beer Names for Its New IPA
11
User-Generated Stock Photos
This Company Will Allow Brands to Use Image Content from Consumers
10
Cry-Proof Mascara Ads
L'Oreal Waterproof Mascara was Tested on a Theater of Crying Women
9
Helpful Parking Billboards
Fiat's Interactive Billboard Delivers Parking Assistance
8
Educational Air-Purifying Kits
Volkswagen Teaches Students in China to Create a DIY Air Filter
7
Underwater Radio Stations
Neutrogena's Sea Radio Station Only Plays Underwater Music
6
Crowdsourced Sleep Playlists
The Good Night Drink Asked People to Share Soothing Music for Sleep
5
Upcycled Airplane Objects
KLM's 'Plane to Product' Inspires Kids to Repurpose Used Items
4
Distance-Minding Auto Ads
Volkswagen Puts Its Adaptive Cruise Control to Work on the Back of a Bus
3
Auto-Printing Crime Campaigns
Missing Person Posters Automatically Print in Nearby Homes
2
Musical Glassware Concerts
Suntory Hall Hosts a 'Glassical Concert' with Unusual Instruments
1
Compassionate Soccer Campaigns
Sport Club Internacional's 'Side by Side' Reduces Sports Rivalry
Related Ideas
Luxury Bag Pop Ups
Hermès Debuted a Designer Bag Installation Pop Up in Manhattan
AI-Driven Dreamy Fashion Campaigns
ETRO's Spring 2024 Ad Campaign Uses Artificial Intelligence
Experimental Film Motels
The Mountain Dew Borderlands Motel Brings the Video Game to Life
AI-Lead Car Ads
Ford Launched an AI Campaign Dubbed 'Be Surreal, Be Ford'
Immersive 3D Fashion Exhibits
Portal:M x Virtual Fashion Exhibition Host a Phygital Experience
Generative AI Candy Campaigns
The Starburst 'Different Every Time' Campaign is Interactive
Hands-Free Car Innovations
Ford Partnered with the British Deaf Association to Launch an Ad
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
Groundbreaking AR Posters
Wall's Out-of-Home Ads Make AR Experiences Unmissable with WinDOOH Tech
Digital Debit Card Campaigns
Interac Introduces 'The Lost Wallet Board' Installation in Toronto
Personalized Digital Playgrounds
Pringles Poptopia is an Immersive, Engaging Experience for Fans
In-Game Billboard Advertising
Gameloft Enables Partners to Advertise Natively in its Games
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Icon-Led Travel Experiences
Airbnb Icons Offers Experiences Hosted by Icons in Music, Film, & More
Star-Studded Tech Campaigns
Jewellery Pros and Music Talent Promote the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Humorous Payment Campaigns
Paypal's Latest Campaign Features Actor Will Ferrell
Personalized In-Flight Ads
United Airlines Kinective Media Offers Curated Travel
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Youth Metaverse Advertising Initiatives
Roblox Announced an Advertising Partnership with PubMatic
Seasonal Phone Booth Activations
Spotify's Q4 is Calling Urges Brands to Start Holiday Advertising
Interactive In-Store Ads
Visibubble Brings Mobile Messaging Capabilities to Store Shelves
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Box-Office-Themed Travel Pop-Ups
Intrepid x TIFF Host an Experiential Travel Activation
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Provocative AR Campaigns
NotCo's 'Not So Happy Animals' Presents Food Logos in a New Light
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Ice Cream Sandwich Pop-Ups
Chips Ahoy! Pop-Up to Serve Free Ice Cream in NYC
Film-Inspired Cocktail Experiences
Absolut Vodka Hosted a Wicked Cocktail Event in NYC
Nature-Reconnecting Outdoor Campaigns
Mammut Encouraged People to Reconnect with Nature
UK Beauty Summer Pop-Ups
Mecca Cosmetica is Hosting a Summer Pop-up in London and Manchester
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Interactive Skincare Labs
Cetaphil Launched an Educational Pop-Up Experience in Downtown Toronto
Immersive Multimedia Experiences
Sony Pictures' Wonderverse is an Engaging Entertainment Stop
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Immersive Gondola Displays
ColourPop is Getting a New Immersive Makeover at ULTA
Immersive Entertainment Venues
Netflix Houses Feature Eateries, Experiential Activities & More
Magazine-Integrated QR Features
ARCADE Launches the ELLE x Clarks Shoe Visualiser and Experience
Auto Brand Golf Experiences
The Genesis Invitational 2024 Featured an Immersive Media Experience
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Adventurous Roadtrip Retail Campaigns
The Pilot Flying J 'See You Out Here' Campaign is Relatable
Smart Shopping Cart Ads
Instacart Unveiled Ads for Its AI-Powered Caper Carts
Gamified In-Airport Activations
Haribo's Mobile Games Gives People of All Ages the Chance to Win
Iconic Vacation Itineraries
Intrepid Travel Launches Epic Vacays Inspired by Blockbuster Films
Hands-Free Driving Campaigns
Ford UK's Social Campaign Shares Merch for the "Passenger Princess"
Shoppable CPG Ads
Instacart-Powered Shoppable Video Ads are Coming to YouTube
Interactive Cosmetics Retail Stores
Watsons Upgrades its Stores for Gen Z and Gen Alpha Consumers
Hydration-Branded Ice Cream Trucks
Liquid I.VV.® Debuts Its Ice Cream Truck Tour
Hyper-Personalized Playlists
Spotify is Using Advanced AI to Create a Connection Through Playlists
Humorous Automotive Campaigns
Hyundai’s 'Where Have You Been?' Ad Merges Nostalgia and Branding
College-Inspired Haircare Pop-Ups
Monday Haircare Hosted an Interactive Pink Truck
Advanced Adaptive Retail Experiences
Walmart Unveiled New Retail Technologies at CES 2024
QSR Summer Pop-Ups
McDonald's Mexico Launched a Summer-Themed Activation in Mexico
Immersive Virtual Pop-Ups
Benefit Launches Virtual 'Benemart' Concept for Holiday Shopping
AI-Powered Marketing Tools
This E-Commerce Tool Uses Customer Data to Project Reward Impacts
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
In-Game Advertising Services
StackAdapt Offers Engaging Game Advertising for its Clients
Luxury AR Packaging Solutions
Mytheresa Released App-Controlled Innovative Product Packagings
Holographic Health Concierges
Immertia Created an AR Assistant for One A Day's Packaging
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Car-Specific Video Commerce
Audi and Bambuser Make a Significant Evolution in Business Strategy
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Immersive Hybrid Billboards
Meta's Halloween Thrillboards Tease Immersive Meta Quest 3 Experiences
Interactive Connected Packaging
Asahi Beverages Philippines Debuts a New Experience
Streaming Service Expansions
Spotify Launched an In-house Creative Agency, Spotify Creative Lab
Gamified Eyecare Campaigns
LensCrafters Debuts Blinky's Eye Odyssey with Adventure & Eye Care
Co-Branded Custom Ads
Lexus and Universal Pictures Partner for the 'Experience OZmazing' Spot
Extraterrestrial Influencer Campaigns
MoonPie's Alien Acquisition Shares Ads for Extraterrestrials
Gameshow-Style Pop-Ups
The Jo Malone Christmas Special Attracts Visitors with a Prize Wheel
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions
Social Shelf® Has a Novel Approach to Customer Engagement
Integrated Influencer Marketing Platforms
SocialTalk Helps Users Discover, Track, and Connect
AI-Powered Music Remixing Apps
Sprite is Reprising its Limelight Music Platform for Consumers
Record-Breaking AR Mirrors
Maybelline New York & FFFACE.ME Debuted a Large Interactive Experience
Pop Culture-Inspired Rentals
Airbnb Unveils the New 'Icons' Experiences for Short-Term Guests
Experiential Giveaway Pop-Ups
The Moment Shop Helps AIR MILES Members Bring Experiences to Life
Generative AI Interpreter Campaigns
Samsung's 'The Next Big Thing Is You' Highlights Translation
Immersive Virtual Television Experiences
Television for Apple Vision Shapes the Future of TV
Advanced In-Store Media Solutions
Ephex Aims to Enhance the Retail Experience Through Technology
Playful Interactive Galleries
PLAY by American Express Platinum Reimagines Toys as Art Pieces
Human Connection-Centric Campaigns
Etsy's New Ad Campaign Wants to Keep Commerce Human
Intimate Customized Denim Events
Mars the Label Brings its Friends with Mars Event to London
Automotive Brand Vinyls
The Iconic Playlist Celebrates Mercedes-Benz's Place in Pop Culture
Sensory Explorative Art Exhibitions
Chromasonic Presents the Making Sense of Color Exhibition
Peeling Cheese Packaging Billboards
This Babybel Billboard is Inspired by the Product's Packaging
E-Commerce Advertising Solutions
Reddit is Enhancing its Reach with the New Dynamic Product Ads
Brand-Boosting Social Media Contests
Iconic Beverage Group Debuts the Iconic Agua Challenge
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Social-First Car Campaigns
Škoda's Reddit Car Share Amplified the Voices of Passionate Fans
Minimizing Phone Usage Initiatives
Heineken's Latest Campaign Addresses Phone Use at Music Events
Interactive AR Experiences
The Sendit App Engaged Gen Alpha on Valentine's Day
Imaginative Shopping Platforms
Walmart Realm Shares Influencer-Curated Shopping Environments
Interactive App-Themed Game Maps
Twitch Unveiled 'The Glitch' Brand Map in Fortnite for Twitchcon
Artistic Libation Campaigns
The Madrí Excepcional 'Paint Your Pint' Competition Challenges Fans
Shoppable Luxury Fashion Films
Louis Vuitton Delivers Resort 2024 with an Interactive Experience
Artful Illusory Ads
giffgaff's Large-Scale Illusion Artwork Challenges Inattentional Blindness
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Omnichannel Automotive Services
Automotive Mastermind has Adapted to Modern Consumer Patterns
Mobile Escape Rooms
Phone Escape: Hopeless Takes Mobile Entertainment to New Dimensions
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Gamified Yogurt Tube Campaigns
The Frubes Freeze ‘Em Campaign Includes a New Online Game
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Scannable Skincare Murals
The Ordinary's Interactive Augmented Reality Mural Promotes Bodycare
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Interactive Juice Packaging
Gulf Union Foods Launched Fun Connected Packaging for its Juices
Immersive Soccer Player Experiences
The Messi Experience Lets Visitors Interact Through AI
Resourceful Digital Platform Events
Meta will Host an Immersive Instagram Family Pop-Up in NYC
Innovative Digital Signage
Creative Realities Enhances Fan Engagement & Outcomes with New Signage
Immersive Keyboard-Focused Events
Logitech's Pop Icon Keys Event Merges Technology and Expression
AI-Powered Pain Visualization Experiences
Panadol Hosted the Art of Release Experience
AI Email Marketing Campaigns
Emotsy Creates Personalized Campaigns for Stronger Digital Connection
Adventure-Focused Social Platforms
Outside Debuts an All-In-One Experience for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Language App Pop-Ups
Duolingo Hosted an Interactive Street Society Event in Soho
Hyper-Local Gym Ads
GymBox's Made for London Life Ads Juxtapose City Living and Gym-Going
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
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
Digital Experience Gifting
Memory Crate Lets Users Gift Coupons, Experiences, or Acts of Service
Dynamic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Hyundai Promotes Its Electrical Vehicle Line-up
Advanced Retail Campaign Kiosks
Freeosk and Place Exchange Partnered for Integrated Campaigns
Music-Centric Branding Initiatives
BACARDÍ Rum Partnered with the MTV Video Music Awards
Interactive AR Galleries
Chips Ahoy's Happy By Design Campaign Spotlights Multicultural Artists
Promotional Influencer Videos
Activision Recruits Multiple Creators to Appeal to Gen Z Consumers
Interactive Image Mapping
Image Mapping Lets Businesses Create Designs Seamlessly
Connected Packaging Updates
Appetite Creative Revamps its Connected Packaging with Tetra Pak
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Advertising Demand-Side Platforms
Yahoo Launched Yahoo Creative to Help Advertisers
Engaging Customer Conversion Tools
FacePop Humanizes Customer Interactions Through Video
AI-Powered Video Advertisements
YouTube is Utilizing AI to Enhance its Advertising Approaches
Mixed-Reality Treasure Hunts
EE is Kicking Off Its Inaugural Game Day with a Special Treasure Hunt
Retailer-Backed Holiday Experiences
J. Crew Launches a New AI-Powered Holiday Experience
Streetstyle Flavor Campaigns
Old El Paso's Turn It Up Entices Gen Z to Try Its Street Vibes Range
City Exploration Apps
Concrete is a Social Exploration App Inviting Users to Discover Their City
Analytic Visitor Engagement Tools
FastSensor and SEMA Show Strive to Improve Exhibitor Experience
Cocktail-Inspired Togetherness Activations
Smirnoff's Global Connectivity Initiative Launched
Subtle Marketing Pop-Ups
FOMO Nudge Encourages Users to Buy with Subtle Pop-Ups
Self-Service Event Promotions
Industry Dive Adds Self-Service Offerings to Include Event Promotion
Branding Trivia Games
Decode the Identity is a Playful Homage to Iconic Brands