These memorable examples of social media marketing range from smartphone scavenger hunts to immersive bar events that were promoted with viral hashtags or web-based contests. When examining the realm of experiential retail, notable examples include JCPenny's in-store Pinterest walls that invited shoppers to share their experience via the platform while simultaneously promoting the brand's recent Mother's Day campaign.
When looking at top examples from the food and beverage spheres, standouts include crowdsourced soda flavors -- Mountain Dew's newest flavor was determined with a viral Twitter poll -- along with fan-promoted restaurant openings -- KFC's 'Social Opening' campaign was marketed with a #ViteUnKFC hashtag and invited fans to tweet in order to speed up the grand opening of a specific restaurant location.
Additional examples from the world of entertainment include digitized superhero billboards like an AR-powered Batman vs. Superman advert that allowed fans to transform into their hero of choice while inviting them to share their custom photo with friends online.
30 Memorable Social Media Campaigns
From Smartphone Scavenger Hunts to Instagrammable Bar Events:
Jana Pijak — Jul 25, 2016 — Social Media

30
Unisex Fragrance Container Pop-Ups
This Experiential Activation in London Launched the New CK2

29
Social Media Museum Renditions
These Museum Instagrams Show Off Paris' Art Collections Creatively
28
Experiential Beach Events
The Interactive 'Facebook Beach' Was Set Up at Cannes
27
In-Store Mood Board Ads
This JC Penney Campaign Involved the Use of Life-Size Pinterest Boards
26
Street Party Dessert Launches
Magnum Launched Two New Ice Creams with a London Street Party
25
Storied Tasting Competitions
This Immersive Dining Event Was Hosted in London by Burger & Lobster
24
User-Generated Furniture Ads
West Elm's New Facebook Carousel Ads Feature User-Generated Content
23
Cinematic Face-Swapping Apps
The Hollywoody Photo Platform Lets Consumers Add Themselves to Films
22
Political Cartoon Geofilters
The New Snapchat Hillary Geofilter Features Clinton and Sanders
21
Social Film Festivals
This Short Film Competition is Being Hosted by TIFF and Instagram
20
Social Media Sandwich Promotions
This Chain is Exchanging Tweets for Free Breakfast Sandwiches
19
Social Media Vehicle Teasers
The New Volvo XC40 was Teased by the Brand on its Snapchat Channel
18
Social Media Photo Contests
The 'Grammaster' Contest Rewards Instagram Users with a Job at Netflix
17
Branded Airline Geofilters
Virgin America's Geofilter Frames Selfies with Tinted Airplane Windows
16
Social Media Movie Previews
The 'Spectre' Channel on Snapchat Shares Behind-the-Scenes Snippets
15
Pop-Up Granita Bars
This Promotional Bar from Fiat Kicks Off the Launch of the Fiat 500 Model
14
Ghoulish Social Media Filters
The Ghostbusters Film is Using a Snapchat Filter to Get Tickets Sold
13
Social Media Billboards
The First-Ever Instagram Advertising Campaign is Launching in France
12
Graffiti Brand Activations
Street Artists are Painting the Town for a Heineken Party
11
Branded Social Media Quizzes
This Hyundai Instagram Campaign Follows a Crowdsourced Approach
10
Restaurant-Saving Campaigns
#DineForBussels Looks to Boost Restaurant Economy Post Brussels Attack
9
Sports Coverage Collaborations
The NFL is Creating a Snapchat Discover Channel
8
Messaging App Music Videos
Beecher's Fault's Snapchat Music Video Makes Use of Popular Filters
7
Digital Superhero Posters
These AR Posters Transform People into Batman or Superman
6
Fan-Powered Restaurant Openings
KFC's #ViteUnKFC Helped Fans Accelerate Construction
5
Branded Beverage Filters
Mac's Snapchat Filters Promote the Iced Froster Convenience Store Drinks
4
Crowdsourced Soda Flavors
Mountain Dew Let Fans Vote for Flavor Return in the 'DEWcision' campaign
3
Smartphone Scavenger Hunts
Samsung Launched a Scavenger Hunt Across the UK for the Galaxy S7
2
Interactive Injustice Sculptures
This Blood Donation Awareness Stunt Advocates for Gay Men
1
Educational Fast Food Campaigns
The #RecognizePotential Campaign Encourages Teens to Graduate
Related Ideas
Modern Festival Activations
American Express will Offer Card Members a Unique Coachella Experience
Sensory Outdoor Posters
Billie Introduced its Scratch-and-Sniff OOH Campaign
Connection Platform Experiences
Facebook Debuts at Stagecoach to Target Younger Audiences
Humorous Brand Campaigns
The Ikea Rewards Program Embraces Its Late Arrival with Humor
Time-Specific Marketing Campaigns
Ikea’s ‘u up?’ Campaign Targets Late-Night Scrollers
Localized Post-Apocalyptic Campaigns
Max Channels the Theme of The Last of Us into Ad Spaces
Positive Social Media Campaigns
The New Tumblr Campaign Champions Community Over Controversy
Immersive 3D Fashion Exhibits
Portal:M x Virtual Fashion Exhibition Host a Phygital Experience
Modern Newsstand Skincare Pop-Ups
Neutrogena x AIRE Health Hosted a Thematic Event
Creative Online Social Networks
BuzzFeed Introduces the New BF Island Social Network
90's Archival Footwear Pop-Ups
Dr. Martens Hosted a 'Buzz Bus' in NYC
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
Viral Social Shopping Apps
The Claim App Helps Gen Z and Brands Authentically Discover One Another
Major Fan-Centric Candy Campaigns
Skittles Debuts the Playful Skittles Obsessed Initiative
Digital-First Scavenger Hunts
Chipotle Opts for Influencer Marketing for its Giveaway Promotion
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
Beauty Hack-Inspired Campaigns
Vaseline Launched 'Vaseline World' Based on Social Media Content
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Customizable Retail Experiences
M&M'S® Debuts New Personalized Offerings to Delight Consumers
Influencer-Driven Consumer Insight Tools
Brilli™ is a New Tool That Disrupts Food Research
Star-Studded Tech Campaigns
Jewellery Pros and Music Talent Promote the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
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
Seasonal Phone Booth Activations
Spotify's Q4 is Calling Urges Brands to Start Holiday Advertising
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Multichannel Retail Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' 'Happy Lolidays' Campaign is Engaging
Re-Energized Snack Campaigns
J.M. Smucker Co Introduced the ‘Speakie Snackie’ Campaign
Social Movement Medals
The Openness Medal by Samsung Invites Gen Z to Share Challenges
Nature-Reconnecting Outdoor Campaigns
Mammut Encouraged People to Reconnect with Nature
Interactive AR Storefronts
Spotselfie AR Meta Stores Tie Real-World Places to Virtual Storefronts
Star-Supported Animated Character Campaigns
Hello Kitty and Bruno Mars Commemorate an Anniversary
Vibrantly Comedic Travel Campaigns
The 'Booking.yeah' Campaign Features The Muppets
Dynamic Basketball-Informed Marketing Campaigns
March Madness' New Campaign Features NCAA Athletes
Imperfect Cooking Campaigns
Knorr's #EffortIsEverything Campaign Celebrates Kitchen Mishaps
Cheeky Bar-Focused Campaigns
Heineken Advocates for Financial Support for Bars with Starring Bars
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Community-First Beauty Hubs
The Immersive Club MAC Retail Concept Features Experiential Zones
Data-Driven QSR Campaigns
Burger King's BK Unwrapped Reveals Customers' 2024 Ordering Preferences
Social Media App Campaigns
Snapchat Promotes Creators in a Bold Campaign Amid TikTok Uncertainty
Experiential Marketing Campaigns
MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES, and Marvel Team Up for Campus Tour
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Live Shopping Flagships
Outlandish's Santa Monica Location Supports Live Social Media Shopping
Elevated In-Store Experiences
Bath & Body Works Adapts its Store Designs to Appeal to Gen Z
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
Playful Hotel Campaigns
BWH Hotels Launches a Campaign to Reclaim Stolen Treasures
Adventurous Roadtrip Retail Campaigns
The Pilot Flying J 'See You Out Here' Campaign is Relatable
Vintage Camera Experiences
Nikon’s Vintage Pop-Up Diner Teases the Past at Yorkdale Mall
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
Gamified In-Airport Activations
Haribo's Mobile Games Gives People of All Ages the Chance to Win
Fandom-Friendly Campaigns
WhatsApp & Netflix Unite for a Squid Game Fandom Celebration
Anti-Digital Social Campaigns
Heineken Partners with Joe Jonas for 'Socials Off Socials'
Hands-Free Driving Campaigns
Ford UK's Social Campaign Shares Merch for the "Passenger Princess"
Exclusive Social Shopping Snacks
Like Air is Launching Limited-Time Flavors on TikTok Shop
Rebranded Food Delivery Apps
Skip Revamps Its Brand Identity to 'Skip to the Good Part'
Authenticity-Promoting Social Media Apps
The Viberse App Emphasizes Authenticity and Spontaneity
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 Summer Pop-Ups
McDonald's Mexico Launched a Summer-Themed Activation in Mexico
Hyper-Targeted Shoppable Posters
Glossier and Shop Launched Posters with Geo-Gated Location Tech
Experiential Retail Sampling Programs
Dollar General and Recess Partnered for a New Campaign
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Immersive Cereal Cities
Kellogg's Town Welcomes Virtual Visitors in a Breakfast World
Cinematic Dance-Driven Campaigns
DoorDash's 'Your Door to More' Campaign Highlights its Offerings
Fall-Ready Denim Campaigns
Pacsun Launched Its Interactive Better in Baggy Denim Campaign
Flea-Market-Inspired Brand Experiences
CASEKOO Hosted a DIY Experience in Beijing
Immersive Virtual Pop-Ups
Benefit Launches Virtual 'Benemart' Concept for Holiday Shopping
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Color Infusion Paint Campaigns
vitaminwater's Paint Your Rent Brightens Lives & Living Spaces
Social Content Creators
SmilesFlow Lets You Create Unique, Interactive Content for Sharing
Stylish Soda Pop-Ups
Poppi World Enticed Health-Conscious, Fashionable Visitors During NYFW
Authentic Skincare Campaigns
We are Social France Spotlights Avène’s New Anti-Blemish Cream
Cinematic Travel Campaigns
Marriott Bonvoy Debuts the 'You are the Greatest Souvenir' Campaign
Custom Inspirational Quotes
Muse Combines Quotes with Creative Themes for Social Media
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
Super Bowl Drive-Thru Commercials
Taco Bell Debuts Its Live Más Drive-Thru Cams Campaign
In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions
Social Shelf® Has a Novel Approach to Customer Engagement
Delivery Mishap-Inspired Campaigns
Knorr Launched its #DeliverBetter Campaign to Promote Cooking
Nostalgic Branded Pop-Up Events
AriZona Iced Tea Launches a New York City Pop-Up Event
French Wine Region-Focused Campaigns
Bordeaux Wines Boasts Its #JointheBordeauxCrew Campaign
Pop Culture Bars
Basic is Building a Sports Bar for Pop Culture Fans
Emotional Mothers Day Ads
Apple's Mother’s Day Campaign Showcases Spatial Video's Emotional Power
Social Media Fridge-Decorating Trends
Lynzi Judish Released Several Viral 'Fridgescaping' Videos
Intimate Customized Denim Events
Mars the Label Brings its Friends with Mars Event to London
Visually Appealing Food Campaigns
Celestial Seasonings Launches the Taste Our World Campaign
Local Eatery-Elevated Soda Campaigns
Pepsi is Running Immersive Experiences for the Super Bowl LIX
Pet Play-Centric Campaigns
Pet Valu Debuts the Multi-Faceted Playtime Campaign
Peeling Cheese Packaging Billboards
This Babybel Billboard is Inspired by the Product's Packaging
Thoughtful Ice Cream Campaigns
DOVE® Ice Cream's #MiniWinMonday Emphasizes Minor Accomplishments
Football-Focused Sofa Campaigns
Pepsi Presents the Refresh the Game Campaign with Icons
Social Soda Mixer Campaigns
Level Up With 7UP Inspires Gen Z and Millennial Consumers
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
Mobile Collagen-Branded Trucks
Revive Collagen Boosts Engagement with Branded Mobile Truck
Social Shopping Networks
Stage TEN Empowers Creators to Build Their Own Live Shopping Channel
Familial Meal Kit Campaigns
HelloFresh, Hello Dinner Spotlights the Uniqueness of Households
Enhanced E-Commerce Customer Services
Fluent Enhances Customer Experience for Online Shoppers
Excellence-Focused Bourbon Campaigns
Maker’s Mark Launches the Perfectly Unreasonable Campaign
Socially Supportive Retailer Promotions
Wawa 'Buy a Kids Meal, Make an Impact' is Supportive
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Saucy High-Definition Screen Campaigns
Zaxby’s is Leveraging the Busy Black Friday Shopping Period
Customer-Exclusive Brand Trips
Cocokind is Hosting a Customer Brand Trip to Napa Valley in 2025
Next-Generation Mall Campaigns
Simon's Meet Me @themall Targets Gen Z Shoppers
Large-Scale Digital Signage
TouchSource & Centennial Have Collaborated on a New Marketing Project
Consumer Review Platforms
Discover Real Brand Experiences with DapplePot’s Community Insights
Retro Snack Cake Campaigns
Vachon's Rosettes Campaign Stirs Nostalgia in Gen X and Millennials
Feel-Good Financial Campaigns
Ally Financial's Banksgiving Supports Customers in Need with Funds
All-Inclusive Pop Culture Trips
Klook Debuts a Campaign to Highlight ANZ's Top Asian Culture Fans
Global Storytelling Initatives
Vans Announces its Narrative-Centric Always Pushing Campaign
Hard-To-Read Health Campaigns
A Specsavers Campaign Encourages Movie-Goers to Check their Sight
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
AI Creator-Centric Campaigns
The Spirit of London Campaign by Beefeater Embraces the City's Energy
Language App Pop-Ups
Duolingo Hosted an Interactive Street Society Event in Soho
Marketing Social Advocacy Tools
Nut Tree Helps Smaller Brands Boost Their Presence
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
Frozen Pizza-Centered Campaigns
Dr. Oetker Debuts the Frozen Pizza Publicist Campaign
Brand Discovery Platforms
SmartCustomer by Sitejabber Helps Customers Find New Favorite Brands
Interactive Unboxing Activations
Peperami Created a Dynamic Chicken Tikka Skewers Experience
Appetizer-Themed Holiday Campaigns
Summer Fresh® Debuted 12 Days of Appetizer Recipes
Inclusive Romance-Inspired Activations
Generation Love Presented the Giving Love Campaign
Real-Time Sharing Apps
MomentsHub Lets You Discover And Share Nearby Experiences Instantly
Advanced Retail Campaign Kiosks
Freeosk and Place Exchange Partnered for Integrated Campaigns
Gamified Shopping Experiences
Browse Booster Rewards Coupons for Product Views
Music-Centric Branding Initiatives
BACARDÍ Rum Partnered with the MTV Video Music Awards
Meaningful Relationship-Encouraging Campaigns
Iceberg Vodka Debuts 'Foraging Deeper Connections'
Breakfast Brand Digital Platforms
Kellogg’s Town Engages Fans in an Entertaining and Personal Way
Local Event Planners
Knowhere Helps You Discover and Attend Local Events With Friends
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Party-Centric Quick-Commerce Campaigns
Flipkart Launches 'Everything for Every Party Animal'
Reflection-Encouraging Edible Oil Campaigns
Simply Fresh Marks the New Year with a New Campaign
Self-Service Event Promotions
Industry Dive Adds Self-Service Offerings to Include Event Promotion
Intellectually Stimulating Social Media
Maven Goes Back to Basics with Traditional Algorithms
Employee Advocacy Tools
Sharekitt Simplifies Employee Advocacy for Product Launches and Events
Elevated Social Media Visuals
SocialScreenshots Creates Stunning Visuals for Online Sharing
Social Media Visibility Boosting
Instagram hashtags is a Free Service to Enhance Your Instagram