In this article, I am going to give the best examples of social media marketing which has been able to grab the focus of the audience and create a lot of engagement.
From the heartfelt ad campaigns of Dove, such as ‘Real Beauty Sketches’ to the chipotle’s #LidFlip viral challenge, this demonstrates the ability of creativity , narrative and leverages of platforms to boost brand awareness and engage with audiences.
Key Points & Best Examples of Social Media Marketing List
| Platform | Campaign | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | BuzzFeed x Friskies: Dear Kitten | Humorous and engaging cat videos in partnership with Friskies, blending entertainment with product promotion. |
| Apple: “Study With Me” | A relaxing and productive live-streaming series showcasing Apple devices, appealing to students and professionals. | |
| eBay: Modathon | A creative campaign celebrating DIY culture, featuring tutorials and user-submitted content. | |
| Spotify | Interactive stories and engaging graphics tied to the Spotify Wrapped campaign, encouraging user participation. | |
| Freeform | Leveraging Instagram Stories to promote original shows and engage with younger audiences. | |
| Hulu Originals | High-quality teasers and exclusive behind-the-scenes content to generate hype for new shows. | |
| Bobbie | A mom-centered formula brand creating relatable, community-driven content on Instagram. | |
| Planet Fitness | Hosted live-streamed workouts and interactive Q&A sessions to engage members during the pandemic. | |
| Busch | Seasonal campaigns such as giveaways and sweepstakes, engaging outdoor-loving beer fans. | |
| Planters | Memorable content such as the #BabyNut campaign to sustain relevance in the snack industry. | |
| TikTok | Chipotle Mexican Grill | Viral trends like the #ChipotleLidFlip challenge and collaborations with influencers to attract younger demographics. |
| State Farm | Engaged with users through humorous content featuring “Jake from State Farm” and creative TikTok trends. | |
| FOX Entertainment | Engaging with live audiences during show premieres, using hashtags and interactive polls. | |
| #InItTogether campaign encouraging professionals to share career stories, boosting community interaction. | ||
| Verizon: #NotDone | Inspirational content focusing on perseverance and achievements, resonating with career-driven audiences. | |
| YouTube/Facebook | Dove – “Real Beauty Sketches” | A heartwarming campaign addressing self-perception, sparking conversations about beauty standards. |
20 Best Examples of Social Media Marketing
1.YouTube
The use of YouTube as a platform for social media marketing involves entertaining campaigns such as BuzzFeed x Friskies’ “Dear Kitten” which includes humor with product integration.
Live time productivity streams have been provided by the audience’s engagement vertical for Example Apple’s “Study With Me” , but Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” can be seen to connect on a more emotional level. Platforms like eBay and GoPro utilize UGC for promoting audiences’ self-interest with engaging and effective reach.
Features YouTube
- Video Information: Users can upload and share videos on YouTube, ranging from a few seconds to full-length movies.
- Live Video Streaming: With live video content, users can interact with viewers through comments and other types of engagement in the same time frame.
- Ways to Earn Money: The appearance of ads, memberships, Super Chats, and sales of any own products brings income to creators.
- Video Suggestions and Playlists: The users experience better through recommended videos and playlists.
- Channel Management Features: Channels can be styled with banners, logos, and about pages for more effective branding done by creators.
2.BuzzFeed x Friskies: Dear Kitten
BuzzFeed x Friskies’ “DEAR KITTEN” illustrates how to expertly utilize social media as a marketing tool through the power of narrative and humor, well, at the same time advertising Friskies cat food.
In the video, a kitten receives practical lessons from an older cat about nurturing a little one and closes the story by promoting the brand’s products.
It was fun to watch and pet owners loved sharing and viewing the clips which made the campaign a success. It helped to establish the place of Friskies in the market as millions of them were able to witness the campaign and brand.
Features BuzzFeed x Friskies: Dear Kitten
- Humor and A Cat’s View of the World: A story behind a campaign is based on a very funny story involving a kitten who is taught by a senior cat how the world works.
- Product endorsement: Throughout the story, cat food Friskies is definitely in use, without obscuring the action.
- Relatable Content: Thanks to the humor and the tone, the content especially touches the hearts of pet owners, ct lovers in particular.
- Viral effect: The overwhelming shareability of the video translated to an immense amount of social media influence which boosted the brand’s recognition and visibility.
- Editing: The video is professionally created, additionally voicing the script allows for smooth transitions making the storytelling much more effective and interesting.
3.Apple: “Study With Me”
Apple’s “Study With Me” initiative is an innovative approach to social media marketing showcasing relaxing study sessions with a live video stream to drive attention and efficiency.
This centers on providing students with Apple gadgets effortlessly integrated throughout their education or business activities, which suits the younger market perfectly.
The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the campaign by promoting the peaceful genre of study-related content, establishing Apple as a brand that embodies productivity.
Features Apple: “Study With Me”
- Enhances Productivity: Apple products are underlined as devices that advance students concentration and productivity.
- Live Study Sessions: Offers a live video broadcast of study sessions and motivate viewers to get up and study with them.
- Less is More: Focuses on basic, uncluttered graphics that conform to the clean and modern look of Apple design.
- Target Audience: The student population and youths who are looking for inspiration and focus.
- Brand Integration: Apple devices are nice embedded in the videos as practical pieces in the course of the day.
4.eBay: Modathon
eBay’s ‘Modathon’ campaign focuses on encouraging creativity in its users and advocating for DIY culture as users are urged to modify things purchased from the platform. It contains how-to videos,”project” challenges, and projects sent in by users, promoting eBay as a marketplace for unique, pre-loved items.
The campaign encourages community involvement, promotes customer creativity, and presents eBay as an attractive marketplace for eco-friendly and crafty customers.
Features eBay: Modathon
- Creative Challenge: eBay is as well encouraging its users to take the items and modified them pointing towards creativity in a do and make it yourself sort of a challenge.
- Community Engagement: The community also grows out of the campaign which aims at getting people involved with the aim of being creative and environmentally friendly.
- User-Generated Content: Encourages such collaborators to post the works created for their projects which stimulate interaction and integrated content creation.
- Sustainability Focus: eBay makes the most of its fundamentals as they encourage people to practice the inert behavior of reusing products.
- Inspiring Tutorials: The videos also contain educational materials, which guide the users through the process of creating unique designs for any item.
5.Instagram
Social media marketing success can be achieved through the use of Instagram, especially with campaigns such as Spotify Wrapped, which provides an interactive story displaying user music trends, and Dove’s Self-Esteem Project
Which is an empowering initiative. Airbnb uses beautiful images to sell numerous travel ideas whereas, Glossier aims to engage its audience through content created by their fans. Instagram helps to create authentic brand engagement through building brand loyalty via visual narratives.
Features Instagram
- Image Oriented Platform: Instagram focuses on photo and video content hence it is great for visual based narratives.
- Feature Of Stories: This feature lets users share content that lasts for only 24 hours which encourages users to share spontaneously.
- Hashtags Enhance Visibility: Authors can label their posts with hashtags, exposing their work to potential followers who may be interested even if they do not follow them.
- Instagram Commerce: An advancement that allows companies to market products directly via posts and stories, making the shopping process smooth.
- Influencer Partnerships: Instagram aids in brands using the influencer marketing strategy as it helps target niche market via influencers.
6.Spotify
One of the best instances of social media marketing comes from Spotify which is known as “Wrapped”, it has a report showcasing users’ musical activities for the last year.
It has eye-catching graphics and interesting numbers with a great potential of going viral on the Internet. Exhibiting particularities of people’s listening practices together with featuring artists
Spotify makes it this worldwide event and strengthens the image of community-based enterprise while making a lot of noise on social networks such as Instagram and Twitter.
Features Spotify
- Music Streaming: Spotify gives its audience a chance to stream on-demand with millions of songs, albums and playlists.
- Personalized Playlists: It includes customized playlists such as “Discover Weekly” with music recommendations precisely tailored to the user.
- Podcasts Integration: Together with the music user can listen to different podcasts which enrich the content diversity.
- Cross-Platform Syncing: All Spotify data is synchronized which helps to change efficiently from phone to a tablet and even to a computer.
- Collaborative Playlists: Share your created playlists with other users and these are able to help you to find new songs.
7.Freeform
Freeform, in particular, stands out in social media marketing by making use of Instagram, to help in promoting its shows. Polls, quizzes, and behind the scenes footage feature as campaigns.
In hit shows such as ‘The Bold Type’ and ‘Grown-ish’, the younger generation is targeted with memes, videos, and other high quality pictures to raise interest and ensure strong engagement with the network and its programs.
Features Freeform
- Original Content: Freeform saint and produces original movies and television shows which are mainly appealing to the youth.
- Interactive Social Media: The network also stays in touch with fans and provides them with interesting content with the help of social networks.
- On-Demand Streaming: Freeform’s content is available on various platforms including the Freeform app and its own program, so it is not constrained by time.
- Diverse Programming: The channel has a variety of drama series, comedy and lifestyle programs for everyone.
- Event-based marketing: Freeform incorporates special occasions such as ‘13 Nights of Halloween’ to promote seasonal interactions and increase viewership.
8.Hulu Originals
Hulu Originals smartly employs behind-the-scenes clips, sneak-peeks, and interactive content via social media to attract viewers.
Projects such as “The Handmaid’s Tale” or “Pen15” also capture viewer interest through trailers and pictures, before the actual release of the show.
Viral marketing is another area where Hulu excels, as it works with multiple influencers, promotes memes, and engages with specific communities, creating excitement around new shows while reinforcing its brand.
Features Hulu Originals
- Content You Cannot Get Anywhere Else: There are original shows and movies which are available only on the Hulu Originals platform.
- Award Winning Shows: The service has some popular originals such as “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Little Fires Everywhere.” which have been appreciated by critics.
- Possession of All Episodes of a TV Season: Usually, all episodes of a series are made available at once, making it possible for viewers to complete the Hulu Originals TV season.
- Works With Top Studios: Hulu collaborates with other well-known studio and creators to offer quality content.
- Hulu Originals is Original in all Sense: High-quality Hulu Originals include dramas, comedies, true crimes, and even documentaries which can fit the preferences of various audiences.
9.Bobbie
Bobbie actively engages modern parents using community-oriented content in their social media marketing. The brand aims to promote strong and confident mothers by utilizing Instagram to share posts, practical advice, and content created by mothers from the community.
Bobbie’s straightforward, educational, and storytelling techniques build a strong community of supporters. Bobbie campaigns revolve around quality, sustainability as well as parent promotion making the brand trustworthy and relatable at the same time.
Features Bobbie
- Organic Formula: Bobbie’s organic infant formula is certified US 100% organic thus ensuring quality baby nutrition.
- Direct-to-Consumer Model: Customers can buy the products directly from its online site which is more efficient and economical.
- Transparency: All processes involving ingredients and their production are openly provided by Bobbie to the consumers.
- Subscription Service: This service allows parents to place and automatically receive regular shipments of formula at their preference.
- Commitment to Sustainability: It’s high time to focus on greener solutions and the brand is determined to use environmentally friendly packaging and production.
10.Facebook
Successful social media marketing on Facebook can be demonstrated with Planet Fitness live workout sessions and Busch seasonal marketing efforts.
Brands take advantage of the Facebook’s multiple functionalities such as live streams, events and groups. Out of this, however, businesses such as Planters and Nike reach
A wider span through sponsored advertisements and general posts. They also aim for higher engagement from the community and promote their brand in a sustained manner.
Features Facebook
- Building Community: Whether for a personal cause, to join a group or find new friends, Facebook lets people connect by allowing them to join or create different groups.
- Event Management: Strangers can meet like in-person events and invite each other to attend thanks to the apps that allow creating, hosting, or participating in virtual or even real-life gatherings.
- Monetization Capabilities: Such Detail Targeting options make it possible for any eager business to utilize tailored campaigns to any demographic group.
- Marketplace Capabilities: People can conveniently sell items in the vicinity through the app, utilizing the Facebook Marketplace feature.
- Desktop Streaming Platforms: Events can be advertised using Facebook Live to interact with people, as it allows the streaming of events in real-time.
11.Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness stands out in social media advertising with campaigns like “No Judgement Zone” that focus on inclusiveness and acceptance within the body.
Their live workout sessions and fun competitions on Facebook encourage fans to interact with them. In the times of the lockdown, urged by the followers
Planet Fitness social media channels hosted virtual tired fitness instructors and kept members connected and reinforced the brand’s comfortable and friendly fitness atmosphere.
Features Planet Fitness
- Judgment-Free Zone: Planet Fitness fights for everyone’s rights and attempts to maintain a friendly and inviting environment for all gym goers.
- Affordable Memberships: This gym has offered various plans at a very low cost suiting people from all walks of life.
- 24/7 Access: Many of its places serve members round the clock, allowing them to workout whenever they like.
- Free Fitness Training: Individual health perspectives are encouraged as group or individual training sessions are included within the subscription fee.
- Engaging Campaigns: Among the various significant campaigns, Flo said they could capitalize on the time of the New Year by encouraging fitness positivity.
12.Busch
Busch’s viral campaigns include “Busch Light’s #BuschLightYear” with its giveaways and user generated content. The brand uses funny commercials, seasonal promotions and collaborates with outdoor influencers to reach beer lovers.
Facebook and Instagram allow Busch to reach its light hearted consumers by sharing fun and adventurous content, adding to brand engagement.
Features Busch
- Targeting Outdoors enthusiasts: Busch tries to capture the interest of nature lovers by associating their brand with hiking, camping, fishing, and the likes.
- Collaborating in Nature Preservation: The brand works closely with people who believe in saving natural resources and the ecosystem.
- Fun Competition: Fans of the brand also love participating in the contests like Chief Tasting Officer campaign launched by Busch.
- Alternative Packing Templates: To make its products more appealing to customers, Busch adds beautiful and nature related drawings on its packs.
- Seasonal Promotions: An example includes campaigns based on summer which emphasizes the focus on the summer time.
13.Planters
Campaigns such as #BabyNut add great value to Planters or rather Planters add great value to the campaign with their iconic character.
Planters’ marketing strategy involves humor and partnerships with social media influencers and has no difficulty attracting attention to the brand.
The brand encourages its consumers to speak and play with Planters nut in social media channels Twitter and Instagram. Seasonal events and the availability of unique products create an additional interest and increase brand loyalty.
Features Planters
- Cultural icon: Planters has managed to turn Mr. Peanut into a logo able to consolidate brand and bring audiences interests together.
- Funny ads: Evoking humor, the brand is more able to satisfy its audience thanks to well-structured advertising.
- Seasonal products: Planters puts out intriguingly nutty flavors that are only available for a season which gets people to buy.
- Polished posts in Social media: calls for polls and activities, silly things, contests and just appeals to follow their Twitter and Instagram channels.
- Aimed and Brought to Life Campaigns: The anticipatory ad that Mr. Peanut was “recreated” is a good example of people’s interest being created around the brand.
14.TikTok
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and YouTube — today, there are various social media networks that can be used for advertising. Out of all these social networks, TikTok stands out Eve more as it makes creativity engaging, promoting the creation of more and more UGC.
These attributes led it to make some impressive campaigns such as Chipotle’s #LidFlip Challenge, which is mass-interactive content. Another example, State Farm, used a trending TikTok to cover an advertising concept haha.
Most infamously, Ocean Spray’s TikTok Challenge was initiated by an enormous video of a surfer riding a skateboard. The only social networking site that comes close to reflecting the brand narrative witnessed on TikTok is Youtube.
Features TikTok
- Short-Form Videos: Increasingly, however, TikTok leads in the production of short form clip content from 15 to 3 minutes in duration.
- Viral Challenges: The service promotes icons and challenges, actively draws the attention of the audience.
- Powerful Editing Tools: Introduces in-built options such as filters, effects and sound tracks for a better video presentation.
- Algorithm-Driven Feed: The For You page aims to show content most relevant to the user based on history and other factors.
- Influencer Collaborations: The application seeks to build collaborations between creators, brands and marketing campaigns.
15.Chipotle Mexican Grill
Among the most popular current trends in social media, one in particular has worked wonders in promoting Chipotle Mexican Grill, and that is the #LidFlip Challenge, which was hugely popular on TikTok.
At the same time, Chipotle ran several engaging Instagram and Twitter limited-time promotions hoping to leverage customer’s willingness to showcase what items fill their cravings.
Through these campaigns, Chipotle succeeds in not only building excitement but also creating a sense of community and reinforcing customer loyalty.
Features Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Commitment to Freshness: Chipotle’s mission is to always provide food that is fresh and sourced responsibly.
- Burritos, Tacos, Bowls, and Salads: Offering fully customizable burritos, bowls, tacos and salads based on customer’s preference.
- App & Website Ordering System: All the orders can be placed through the app or the website for better customer experience.
- TikTok Initiatives: Uses popular social media platforms such as Tik Tok to run promotional campaigns that appeal to the younger generation.
- Environmental Conservation: Chipotle aims at conserving biodiversity by promoting food waste management and the use of sustainable packaging.
16.State Farm
State Farm takes social media marketing to another level with campaigns of the character “Jake from State Farm” with the use of Tik Tok and Twitter to interact with fans.
The company also leverages on the current trends and comes up with funny content that is relevant to the people. State Farm uses social media too, but this is not to address fans only, they provide customer care as well as assist in the community as moderate activities boosting the brand’s recognition and credibility.
Features State Farm
- Targeted Approach When Offering Insurance Solutions: It’s pretty clear how much State Farm strives towards understanding the different needs of its customers as it always offers scope for tailoring plans.
- Trustworthy But Iconic Marketing Strategies: Uses entertaining advertising campaigns with attractive slogan: “Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There.”
- Active Engagement in Various Activities Within The Community: Supports various nonprofit organizations in the community such as Disaster Assistance Relief, and Education Fund.
- Positive Mobile Application Reviews: The company has a useful application that can be used to manage their policies, files claims, and view many other resources.
- Appeal To Target Audience That Resonate With Famous Faces: Works with renowned celebrities and sports athletes in promo ads for endorsement purposes.
17.FOX Entertainment
FOX Entertainment has developed creative ways to market its content on social media, with campaigns that involve audience participation in real-time such as live tweeting during show launches.
They conduct fan engagement activities including polls, Q&A sessions and pre-show glimpses on Twitter to, among other things, prepare fans for shows like “The Masked Singer”.
In addition to this, FOX publishes other exclusive posts relating to behind-the-scenes activities on their Instagram and Facebook pages, which help cultivate their fan base as well as generate anticipation for the next episodes.
Features FOX Entertainment
- Varied Shows: FOX Entertainment has dramas, comedies, reality shows, and other features available for different audiences.
- Real Time Broadcasting: Sports, award shows, or anything special which should be attended at that very moment.
- Series Exclusive to The Network: Unique series such as “The Simpsons” or “The Masked Singer” that guarantee huge fan bases.
- Cross-Platform Distribution: Television, streaming services and web without borders.
- Seasonal Advertisement: Advertisement when the new season or the last season is coming up.
18.LinkedIn
LinkedIn’s social media marketing features interesting campaigns such as #InItTogether, where users exchange career experiences and feature a community spirit.
It also allows sharing achievements, vacancies, and insights through sponsored content. Engaging with career-oriented users and businesses solidifies LinkedIn as a professional networking site aimed to foster self-improvement and relationships within the field.
Features LinkedIn
- Link with Professionals: Users can connect with individuals from various professions to help advance themselves or work with others on various projects.
- Find Jobs: Comes with an attractive job board where users can look for jobs, apply for them, and also track the status of the applications made.
- Posting Contents: Provides the platform where members can post articles, post updates, or write statuses to their connections about their knowledge in the specific area.
- Helping the Members: Offers numerous lessons from LinkedIn Learning incorporating opportunities to enhance one’s professional skills and even attain certifications.
- Branding Company Pages: Companies can promote their business, make announcements, and recruit through specially created business pages.
19.Verizon: #NotDone
Verizon’s campaign termed as #NotDone is an excellent showcase of social media skills in marketing, reinventing the meaning of endurance.
It emphasizes the stories of people fighting through adversity and reaffirms Verizon’s focus on invention and service to the customers.
Telling such deliberate stories over Instagram and Twitter, the company is able to reach the people emotionally while forming an identity of persistence and evolution.
Features Verizon: #NotDone
- Uplifting Call-to-Action – The campaign is meant to solicit any actionable response from supporters that would help propel the former group’s activities and efforts forward in any or all aspects of life including the area of work.
- Primacy Of Diversity – Initiatives of diversity and inclusion are made apparent by the inclusion of persons of various backgrounds and experiences.
- Based on True Life – Use True Real People Comprising The Stories In An Inspirational Way To Connect To The Viewers – Employs real-life compelling stories of contribution and sacrifice of ordinary people who can serve to inspire and connect emotionally with the audience.
- Educators – Providing Needed Resources To Support Education & Empowerment – The campaign illustrates Verizon’s dedication towards the provision of resources and support towards empowerment initiatives and education.
- Social Media Platforms Promote It: One of the ways to foster the campaign is through the use of social media channels and audiences can engage with the campaign by use of the hashtag #NotDone.
20.Dove – “Real Beauty Sketches”
Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” is an idol of social media marketing focusing on self-love and beauty concerns. The campaign depicted a forensic artist who sketched women based on their self-descriptions and the descriptions of others, revealing a shocking disparity.
The captivating and inspiring video became viral and brought about debates on societal beauty and self-image making Dove an advocate of natural beauty and inclusion.
Features Dove – “Real Beauty Sketches”
- Body Positivity Focus: The campaign helps to change perceptions, defending that how we view ourselves matters rather than how others view us.
- Emotional Storytelling: It shows how women look themselves to a forensic sketch artist and later how they are sketched based on someone else’s view.
- Powerful Visuals: The disparate sketches highlight how much difference it makes in how women view themselves and how others look at them.
- Viral Impact: Many people started discussing the issue of self confidence, beauty and self perception which was all started by the video that became a hit.
- Brand Alignment: Dove brand shows that its ideals of real beauty and diversification reflects the fact that it aims to promote self acceptance.
Why Is Social Media Marketing Important For Brands?
Wider Brand Reach: With the aid of social media, brands can extend their reach and easily target new customers from all across the globe and various segments.
With Customers Proper Engagement: This helps brands serve their customers in an effective manner through direct communication, getting input or criticism, and loyalty creation through direct involvement with customers
Focused Marketing: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok advertise through their walls, but it’s more than that; they also allow for micro-targeting through interests and demographics and give you the content to sell
Easy On The Pocket: Social media advertising in comparison to other forms of advertising may be somewhat on the lower side of the threshold making it a lot easier especially for small businesses to achieve high ROI.
Brand Popularity: trends can be responded to instantaneously; as the market grows and more consumers come into contact with the brand advertising, the brand reliability improves
Infinite Shareability: Social media in this current time has greatly impacted on the possibility for content to be heard, thus allowing brands to cut cost in advertising while at the same time increasing their brand presence
More stats: Everything that social media is – supplying brands with insights so they can track engagement and align their marketing strategies will direct towards a solid end goal.
Influencer marketing: Brands working with interest managers are able to gain high visibility through expanding the consumer base.
Uplift in Sales: Other shopping experiences such as Instagram Shopping are available on the social media platforms which can convert into sales.
How To Choose Best Examples of Social Media Marketing
Clear Campaign Objectives: Every campaign has goals that it is working towards which can be increasing brand awareness, leading collection or sales driving. In this case you should assess if the campaign’s results can show that there was a certain goal.
High Engagement: Opt for campaigns that have robust engagement (likes, shares, comments, and interactions) levels. This means that the audience was struck by the content and it initiated discussions.
Creativity and innovation: Campaigns that have a different from the ordinary creative approach should be sought. Campaigns would stand out because of their innovative materials, storytelling, or simply campaign use of new social media features.
Strong Visual Content: Content has to be of a good quality and appealing to the eyes. Look at virtually all of the campaigns having these audacious pictures, videos, or graphics, which among their objectives, aim at getting the target audience’s attention.
Use of platform features: Social media platform features (i.e. , hashtags, stories or live videos) features are important when implementing marketing campaigns. Meanwhile, the campaign should also use tools of the platform that will boost their engagement and reach.
Conclusion
Some great examples of social media marketing include Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches”, which invited an emotional discourse about self-worth, and Chipotle’s #LidFlip Challenge Abad on TikTok, that made the brand go viral.
Also Spotify without outstanding forgets appeals to customers through their customized content, and users of Nike’s “You Can’t Stop Us” address on inclusivity. Such campaigns create effective customer connections, drive interactions, and enhance brand retention.
