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
Spontaneous Summer Picnics
Absolut Vodka & Sprite's HANGOUT-OF-HOME Inspires Unplanned Gatherings
Escapism-Inspired Candy Campaigns
Skittles Works with Creed Bratton on the 'MFFLP the Rainbow'
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
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
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Uplifting Social Media Campaigns
Optimism Your Feed Helps Social Media Users Retrain the Algorithm
Viral Social Shopping Apps
The Claim App Helps Gen Z and Brands Authentically Discover One Another
Digital-First Scavenger Hunts
Chipotle Opts for Influencer Marketing for its Giveaway Promotion
Personalized Digital Playgrounds
Pringles Poptopia is an Immersive, Engaging Experience for Fans
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
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
Employee Fragrance Campaigns
Lidl's Fragrance Campaign Features Local Talent with Celebrity Names
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Star-Studded Tech Campaigns
Jewellery Pros and Music Talent Promote the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Fridge-Decorating Social Trends
Bed Bath & Beyond Participated in 'Fridgescaping' Trend
Humorous Payment Campaigns
Paypal's Latest Campaign Features Actor Will Ferrell
Personalized In-Flight Ads
United Airlines Kinective Media Offers Curated Travel
Gamer-Centric Fast Food Campaigns
Burger King's Gaming Campaign to Rewards “Burger-to-King” Goals
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Seasonal Phone Booth Activations
Spotify's Q4 is Calling Urges Brands to Start Holiday Advertising
Fandom-Friendly Campaigns
WhatsApp & Netflix Unite for a Squid Game Fandom Celebration
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Multichannel Retail Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' 'Happy Lolidays' Campaign is Engaging
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Heated QSR Anniversary Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Celebrates Milestone with a New Campaign
Social Movement Medals
The Openness Medal by Samsung Invites Gen Z to Share Challenges
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Nature-Reconnecting Outdoor Campaigns
Mammut Encouraged People to Reconnect with Nature
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
UK Beauty Summer Pop-Ups
Mecca Cosmetica is Hosting a Summer Pop-up in London and Manchester
Data-Driven QSR Campaigns
Burger King's BK Unwrapped Reveals Customers' 2024 Ordering Preferences
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
Star-Supported Animated Character Campaigns
Hello Kitty and Bruno Mars Commemorate an Anniversary
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Immersive Entertainment Venues
Netflix Houses Feature Eateries, Experiential Activities & More
Cross-Category Refreshment Campaigns
Sprite and Pringles Hot Have Teamed Up for a New Campaign
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Active Lifestyle-Supporting Campaigns
Kellogg's® Vector® Launches the Become Your Player Campaign
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Live Shopping Flagships
Outlandish's Santa Monica Location Supports Live Social Media Shopping
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
Local Restaurant Campaigns
PEPSI X Kelly Rowland Present the Local Eats Better With Pepsi Program
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
Social Commerce Apps
GIST is an App-Based Social Platform for Sharing Purchases with Friends
Gamified In-Airport Activations
Haribo's Mobile Games Gives People of All Ages the Chance to Win
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
Shoppable CPG Ads
Instacart-Powered Shoppable Video Ads are Coming to YouTube
Rebranded Food Delivery Apps
Skip Revamps Its Brand Identity to 'Skip to the Good Part'
Interactive Cosmetics Retail Stores
Watsons Upgrades its Stores for Gen Z and Gen Alpha Consumers
Gen Z-Focused Coachella Campaigns
Pinterest Partners With Coachella to Connect With Gen Z
Authenticity-Promoting Social Media Apps
The Viberse App Emphasizes Authenticity and Spontaneity
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
Custom Inspirational Quotes
Muse Combines Quotes with Creative Themes for Social Media
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Virtual Pub Museums
Heineken Pub Museums Spotlight Important Cultural Locations
Branded Dating Experiments
Whirlpool's Care Profiles Had Daters Share Photos of Doing Chores
Fall-Ready Denim Campaigns
Pacsun Launched Its Interactive Better in Baggy Denim Campaign
Super Bowl Drive-Thru Commercials
Taco Bell Debuts Its Live Más Drive-Thru Cams Campaign
Shoppable Travel Storefronts
Expedia Travel Shops Make It Easy to Book Recommended Getaways
Immersive Virtual Pop-Ups
Benefit Launches Virtual 'Benemart' Concept for Holiday Shopping
Viral Video Databases
Viral Ideas Offers Inspiration for a Content Creator's Next Big Video
AI Advertisement Additions
Meta Introduces a New Suite of AI-Powered Advertising Tools
Color Infusion Paint Campaigns
vitaminwater's Paint Your Rent Brightens Lives & Living Spaces
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Footballer-Backed Global Campaigns
Pepsi Unveils the 'Where There's a Ball There's a Way' Campaign
Music-Inspired Retail Campaigns
Macy’s is Launching Its Summer’s Greatest Hits Campaign
Stylish Soda Pop-Ups
Poppi World Enticed Health-Conscious, Fashionable Visitors During NYFW
Influencer-Led Virtual Shops
Walmart Launches the New Walmart Realm Digital E-Commerce Experience
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
Social Shopping Apps
Locker Helps Users Organize, Share, and Earn from Online Wishlists.
In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions
Social Shelf® Has a Novel Approach to Customer Engagement
Pop Culture Bars
Basic is Building a Sports Bar for Pop Culture Fans
Social Media Fridge-Decorating Trends
Lynzi Judish Released Several Viral 'Fridgescaping' Videos
Experiential Giveaway Pop-Ups
The Moment Shop Helps AIR MILES Members Bring Experiences to Life
Colorful Kitchen Pop-Ups
Primal Kitchen Partners with Pintrest for a Special Initiative
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
Visually Appealing Food Campaigns
Celestial Seasonings Launches the Taste Our World Campaign
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
Customer-Exclusive Brand Trips
Cocokind is Hosting a Customer Brand Trip to Napa Valley in 2025
Large-Scale Digital Signage
TouchSource & Centennial Have Collaborated on a New Marketing Project
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Gen Z Waffle Campaigns
The Belgian Waffle Co Targets India's Gen Z Community Using Palak Tiwari
Social-First Car Campaigns
Škoda's Reddit Car Share Amplified the Voices of Passionate Fans
Social Soda Mixer Campaigns
Level Up With 7UP Inspires Gen Z and Millennial Consumers
Social Marketplace Updates
Instagram Launches a Marketplace to Better Connect Brands and Creators
Minimizing Phone Usage Initiatives
Heineken's Latest Campaign Addresses Phone Use at Music Events
Familial Meal Kit Campaigns
HelloFresh, Hello Dinner Spotlights the Uniqueness of Households
Imaginative Shopping Platforms
Walmart Realm Shares Influencer-Curated Shopping Environments
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
Enhanced E-Commerce Customer Services
Fluent Enhances Customer Experience for Online Shoppers
Social Shopping Networks
Stage TEN Empowers Creators to Build Their Own Live Shopping Channel
Artistic Libation Campaigns
The Madrí Excepcional 'Paint Your Pint' Competition Challenges Fans
Socially Supportive Retailer Promotions
Wawa 'Buy a Kids Meal, Make an Impact' is Supportive
Saucy High-Definition Screen Campaigns
Zaxby’s is Leveraging the Busy Black Friday Shopping Period
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Feel-Good Financial Campaigns
Ally Financial's Banksgiving Supports Customers in Need with Funds
Next-Generation Mall Campaigns
Simon's Meet Me @themall Targets Gen Z Shoppers
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Social Justice Desert Campaigns
Ben & Jerry's 'Make Some Motherchunkin' Change' Campaign Debuted
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
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
Marketing Social Advocacy Tools
Nut Tree Helps Smaller Brands Boost Their Presence
Athlete-Centric Bingo Campaigns
The 'Share Your Bingo Moment' Campaign Spotlights Olympic Legends
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
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
Gamified Shopping Experiences
Browse Booster Rewards Coupons for Product Views
Music-Centric Branding Initiatives
BACARDÍ Rum Partnered with the MTV Video Music Awards
Mobile Collagen-Branded Trucks
Revive Collagen Boosts Engagement with Branded Mobile Truck
Appetizer-Themed Holiday Campaigns
Summer Fresh® Debuted 12 Days of Appetizer Recipes
Marketing Mentorship Platforms
Sprout Social Launches as a New Business Mentorship Network
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Nostalgic Seasonal Snack Campaigns
This Tyrrells Campaign Encourages Holiday Snacking
AI-Powered Creative Services
WePost Saga Helps Businesses Enhance Their Online Social Presence
Music-Focused Social Media
Musicboard is a Place for Music Lovers to Unite
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
Location-Based Photo Sharing
Harbor Creates Personalized Picture Albums Through location Sharing
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
Viral Baby Hotel Partnerships
The Four Seasons Hotel Partners a Viral Baby for a Weekend