These authentic marketing innovations range from progressive Boomer magazines to influencer-hosted travel shows -- exploring everything from traveling on a budget to vacationing with young kids in tow.
Whether targeting Millennials or the socially conscious Generation Z, marketers are constantly rethinking their messaging to appear more honest, raw and authentic. In addition to replacing traditional models with social media influencers or real people -- offering a more realistic version of attainable beauty -- fashion, and makeup brands along with major retailers are realizing that being relatable is key when appealing to modern consumers. A standout, Nordstrom achieves this with its 'You First' campaign. The campaign features local Toronto-based celebrities and drives home a message of customer appreciation.
Additional examples to take note of include Cadbury's bubble wrap brand activation which invites visitors young and old to unwind in a sensory way. Furthermore, MTV's recent Snapchat-based Sex Ed program is accessible to social media users and aims to promote open communication among teens.
54 Authentic Marketing Examples
52
Empowering Cosmetics Campaigns
The Bold is Beautiful Project Empowers Women to Dream Big
51
Male Makeup Brand Ambassadors
Influencer James Charles Will Be Covergirl's Newest Ambassador
50
Snapchat Sex Ed Shows
MTV's First Snapchat Show is a Sex Ed Series Called 'Pants Off'
49
Broccoli Sampling Booths
Tenderstem's #GetTenderTonight Campaign Shares a Taste of Vegetables
48
Comedic Mother's Day Ads
The Agency 'Mother New York' Put a Creative Spin on Mother's Day
47
Female Friendship Events
Diet Coke's Girl's Night Launched the Get the Gang Back Together Campaign
46
Influencer-Modeled Campaigns
Mighty Healthy Released Its 'New Breed' Lookbook for the Fall
45
Profanity-Laced Mother's Ads
Kraft's 'Swear Like a Mother' Ad Uses Humor to Celebrate Mother's Day
44
Progressive Female Representation Campaigns
Dove and Mindshare Joined to Redefine Beauty Standards
43
Sensorial Bubble Wrap Parties
This Multi-Sensory Brand Activation Was Hosted by Cadbury Dairy Milk
42
Emotional Experience Soup Packaging
The Campbell's Soup 'Cans of Positivity' Campaign is Friendly
41
Progressive Boomer Magazines
Refigural Gives Readers a Fearless Perspective on Aging
40
Messy Mother's Day Ads
Brawny Gave Children Snapchat Spectacles for Its New Mother's Day Ad
39
Refugee-Integrating Accelerators
Lola Lik is an Ideas Hub Bringing Locals and Refugees Together
38
Customer-Oriented Retail Campaigns
Nordstrom's 'You First' Ads Put the Emphasis on the Customer
37
Millennial Hotel Series
Marriott International's 'Six Days, Seven Nights' Was Revealed on Snapchat
36
Identity-Celebrating Ads
This Clairol Hair Color Ad Stars Transgender Model Tracey Norman
35
Empowering Body Painting Initiatives
The Human Canvas Project Helps to Combat Negative Body Image
34
Personified Food Pop-Ups
This Human Fast Food Vending Machine Surprises People at a Laundromat
33
Friendship-Forming Bench Stunts
Nescafe's 'Hello Bench' Helps Strangers Break the Ice
32
Feminist Virtual Reality Apps
'The Whole Story Project' Immortalizes Famous Historical Women
31
Graffiti Brand Activations
Street Artists are Painting the Town for a Heineken Party
30
Hispanic Beauty Campaigns
Unilever's #100PorCientoTu Personal Care Marketing Celebrates Expression
29
Poverty-Exposing Holiday Ads
This Salvation Army Campaign Highlights the Importance of Giving
28
Social Media Star Burgers
Umami Burger Has Teamed Up with Cameron Dallas to Create a New Burger
27
360-Degree Coffee Campaigns
Nescafé's 'Good Morning World' Campaign Celebrates Global Connections
26
Pub-Promoting Publicity Stunts
This No-Effort Ad by Dave Blackhirst Targets Millennial Audiences
25
Empowering Paper Towel Packaging
These Limited-Edition Brawny Paper Towels Have a New Lumberjack
24
Branded Food Documentaries
'Unbroken Ground' Highlights Patagonia's New Food Business
23
Mature Drinking Ads
This Budweiser Super Bowl Commercial Features Helen Mirren
22
Celebrity-Endorsed Donut Promotions
Krispy Kreme's Shaq-or-Treat Promotion Celebrates Halloween
21
Thanksgiving Friendship Kits
IKEA and Uber Helped People Celebrate Thanksgiving with Friends
20
Diversity-Promoting Beauty Ads
The 'All Worth It' L’Oréal Paris Campaign Promotes Inclusivity
19
Storytelling Diaper Ads
This Ad is Designed to Appeal to Moms Buying Eco-Friendly Baby Products
18
Literacy-Promoting Shopping Events
This International Literacy Day Event Supports a Good Cause
17
Artistic Teen Campaigns
Autumn de Forest Stars in this Empowering Nordstrom Kids Commercial
16
Commuter-Focused Coffee Giveaways
Löfbergs Brought People Together by Combining Their Interactions
15
Mature Makeup Muses
Urban Decay's Newest 'Monthly Muse' is the Iconic Baddie Winkle
14
Donation-Encouraging Cab Campaigns
This Initiative Advertises the Need for Organ Transplants
13
Comparative Sofa Ads
This Pottery Barn Commercial Dissects a Couch to Show Off Its Features
12
Modest Luxury E-Retailers
The Modist Aims to Empower a Diverse Consumer Demographic
11
Cultural First Job Ads
The McDonald's 'First Customer' Fast Food Commercial is Hispanic-Focused
10
Sporty Feminine Hygiene Ads
This Always Ad Shows Young Girls That Nothing Can Hold Them Back
9
Shoe Employee Documentary Series
This Reebok Ad is Part of a Promotional Short Documentary Series
8
Olympian-Endorsed Yogurts
This Charitable Yogurt is Endorsed by Alistair and Jonny Brownlee
7
Rapper-Endorsed Hostel Campaigns
50 Cent Shows Millennials the Draws of Booking a Hostel
6
Empowering Muslim Campaigns
Hijup.com Shows How Women Wearing Hijabs are Fighting Controversy
5
Motherhood-Celebrating Apparel Ads
Gap's 'Mama Said' Ad Stars a Lesbian Couple and Their Children
4
Superhero Streaming Ads
This Netflix Ad Enlists Vine Star 'BatDad' to Promote the Site
3
Family Travel Tutorials
This Video Provides Parents with Tips on Traveling Abroad with Kids
2
Feminist Youth Conferences
Seattle's FemCon Endorses Female Empowerment Among Young Attendees
1
Women's March Campaigns
The '#WhyIMarch' Campaign Shows Women Speaking Up
Related Ideas
Nostalgic Winter Intimates Campaigns
SKIMS' Holiday Campaign Was Inspired by Vintage Magazines
Storytelling-Forward Footwear Campaigns
Vans Unveils the Old Meets Knu Campaign
Celebrity-Fronted High-Fashion Campaigns
Versace's 2024 Icons Campaign Embodies the Brand's Ethos
AI-Generated Beauty Images
Elizabeth Arden Uses Generative AI to Enhance Archival Images
Generative AI Candy Campaigns
The Starburst 'Different Every Time' Campaign is Interactive
AI-Generated Fashion Campaigns
Casablanca Spring/Summer 2023 Conveys a Hopeful Future
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Gen Z IRL Campaigns
Hinge's Phonebook Encourages Gen Z to Connect IRL for Global Day of Unplugging
Non-AI Beauty Campaigns
The Code by Dove Fights Beauty Standards Manufactured by AI
CGI-Created Fashion Campaigns
Coach's Find Your Courage Campaign Stars Virtual Human imma
Age-Appropriate Skincare Campaigns
Dove's #TheFaceof10 Addresses Unsafe Gen Alpha Skincare
Sporty Fashion Spring Campaigns
adidas Originals Introduces the 1000 Back Campaign
Refreshed Colorful Candy Brands
Elmwood Reinvents the New Skittles Branding Update
Employee Fragrance Campaigns
Lidl's Fragrance Campaign Features Local Talent with Celebrity Names
Unfiltered Dating Apps
The 'RAW' Dating App Shows a Person's Authentic Self
Candid Furniture Campaigns
Life is Not an IKEA Catalog Shows a Different Side of Home Products
Fake Ketchup Campaigns
This Heinz Campaign Exposes "Ketchup Fraud"
Authenticity-Emphasizing Beer Campaigns
Firestone Walker Brewing Company Launches This is 805 Beer
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Naughty Holiday Campaigns
Diesel's XXXMas is Inspired by Erotic 90s Aesthetics
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Experiential Mental Well-Being Events
Batiste's Refresh & Reflect Events Connect & Uplift Students
Cinematic Fashion Campaigns
Norse Projects Partners with Mikkel Karstad for Its New Campaign
AI Travel Campaigns
Away's Extraordinary Is Out There Uses AI to Show Real-World Destinations
AR Shopping Malls
American Express' Door to Shop Small Highlights 10 Small Businesses
Connected Gamer Campaigns
Heineken's Just Another Night Out Shatters Anti-Social Stereotypes
Suggestive Spread Campaigns
The Marmite First Timers Campaign Targets Gen Z
Eco-Minded Millennial Ads
Coors Seltzer's 'Call to Inaction' Campaign Aims to Save Water
Sporty Visual Fashion Campaigns
PUMA and NOAH Join Forces on a New Sporty Campaign Series
Sensorial Beer Campaigns
Feel the Alps Captures the Essence of Edelweiss
Empowering Clean Beauty Campaigns
Babe Original Celebrates Individuality with 'Originally You'
Female Empowerment Outerwear Ads
Canada Goose Honors Female Empowerment with New FW23 Campaign
Gen Alpha Fitness Influencers
ASICS' Little Reminders Inspires Adults to Make Movement Joyful
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Inclusive Fragrance Campaigns
The 'Where Will They Take You' Campaign Highlights Influencers
AI-Powered QSR Campaigns
allplants Leverages AI To Transforms Fast-Food Ads
Gen Z Sustainability Campaigns
PUMA Recruits Gen Z Leaders to Showcase How They Live Sustainably
Gen Z-Focused Coachella Campaigns
Pinterest Partners With Coachella to Connect With Gen Z
Better-for-You Snack Rebrands
Eat Real's New Rebranding Highlights Nutritious Ingredients
Confident Smile Campaigns
Aquafresh's New Oral Health Campaign Boosts Children’s Dental Confidence
Celebrity-Fronted Fashion Campaigns
The New Calvin Klein Campaign Features Many Celebrities
Attraction-Building Fragrance Ads
Fit Check by AXE Speaks to Gen Z Men and Women Alike
Gen Alpha Bodycare Brands
Australian Gen Alpha Brand 'Allkinds' Made its United States Debut
Creative-Backed Footwear Campaigns
G.H. Bass Introduces Its Stepping Out Campaign
Modern-Day Travel Campaigns
Louis Vuitton Invites Gisele Bündchen for 'Horizons Never End'
Travel-Focused Marketing Guides
TikTok Debuts a Playbook for Travel Marketers to Foster Engagement
Reinvigorated Cognac Campaigns
Larsen Cognac Challenges Traditional Images & Outdated Views
E-Commerce Advertising Solutions
Reddit is Enhancing its Reach with the New Dynamic Product Ads
Micro-Influencer Marketing Services
SCREENSHOT Micro Boost Refines the Brand-Creator Experience
Ambassador-Focused Footwear Campaigns
Vans Launches a New Campaign for its OTW Line
Humanitarian-Inspired Luxe Fashion Campaigns
Prada Presents In Conversation with a Flower for FW23
Creator-Endorsed Fruit Snacks
BloxSnacks is Using YouTuber Partnerships to Appeal to Gen Alpha
Phygital Fashion Retail Experiences
Macy's mstylelab Digital Shopping Platform is Immersive
Maturity-Inspired Fashion Campaigns
Kachorovska Recently Launched Its Fall/winter 2023-24 Campaign
Supermodel-Backed Automotive Campaigns
The BMW 'Dare to be You' Campaign Stars Naomi Campbell
Textured Hair Advertising Campaigns
From One Queen to Another is Mielle's First Ever Campaign
Adorable Holiday Campaigns
Burberry's Holiday Campaign Spotlights Dogs and Ducklings
Authentic Denim Collections
Calvin Klein Emphasizes Youthful and Classic for Fall 2023
Outdoor-Inspired Collaborative Capsules
Merrell 1TRL & Trippin Unveils the Natural Highs Campaign
Unfiltered Beauty Campaigns
#NoFilterJustMilani Champions Beauty Online and in Real Life
Syringe-Based Billboards
Dove's Injectable Billboard Addresses Toxic Beauty Standards
Gen X Candy Campaigns
Klondike's Bar-cade Campaign Engages Gen X Consumers
Integrated Influencer Marketing Platforms
SocialTalk Helps Users Discover, Track, and Connect
Retro Family Photoshoots
Blue Bunny is Inviting Families to Pop-Up 90s-Themed Photoshoots
Empowering Fashion Films
Victoria's Secret World Tour Reimagines the Iconic Show as a Feature Film
Experiential Shopping Platforms
sune Shares a Fun and Engaging Way for Gen Z to Shop
Secondhand Fashion Editorials
Vinted Styled a Shoot Exclusively with Vinted Finds
Honest Female Athlete Campaigns
'Get Explicit' by Hillberg & Berk Empowers Women in Sports
Product Exploration Retailer Tools
These New Instacart Discovery Tools Connect Brands to Retailers
Wellness-Focused Retailer Ranges
Target is Welcoming More Than 1,000 Wellness Products
Music-Inspired Avatar Campaigns
Bang & Olufsen Launches the See Yourself in Sound Ad
London-Inspired Sporty Campaigns
Nike Presents the Pulse of London Campaign Honoring the City
Inclusive Diamond Campaigns
Pandora's Diamonds for All Campaign Features Diverse Icons
Reformulated Skincare Rebrands
Bath & Body Works Underwent a Large-scale Shift to Cleaner Products
Shoppable Luxury Fashion Films
Tom Ford Allows Consumers to Seamlessly Shop Its Spring 2024 RTW
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Localized Beauty Marketplaces
Rinna Beauty Meets the Needs of Customers Across Different Regions
Consumer-Centric Luxury Car Campaigns
Genesis Motors Canada Recently Unveiled 'Centred Around You'
Minimal Affordable Sub-Labels
Target Presents its Own No-Frills Brand with Minimal Design
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
AI Travel Campaigns
Trivago is Using AI to Replace Spokespeople & Simplify Productions
Youth-Focused Social Campaigns
Claire’s Introduces a New Gen Z-Alpha Platform Called 'The Collab'
Inspiring Daily Bodycare
method's Unleash Your Inner Shower Celebrates Personal Transformations
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
Senior Self-Care Campaigns
L'Oreal Paris is Celebrating the Aging Consumer with 'Age Perfect'
Gen Z Sustainability Initiatives
Puma's Voices of a RE:GENERATION is a Project with Changemakers
AR Secondhand Shops
American Eagle Outfitters' RE/AE Shop Spotlights Sustainable Goods
AI-Generated Model Tests
Levi's is Experimenting with AI-Generated Models for E-Commerce Channels
Elevated Contemporary Sportswear Lines
Admiral Sporting Goods Co. Re-Interprets Classic Designs
Shoppable Luxury Fashion Films
Louis Vuitton Delivers Resort 2024 with an Interactive Experience
Gen Z Basketball Campaigns
Rivalry Unites with Basketball Forever for a Gen Z-Focused NBA Campaign
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Miniature Collectible Campaigns
The World’s Smallest Lines are the Focus of Influencer Marketing
Third-Party Artisanal Marketplaces
Michaels Launches the MarkerPlace Alternative Marketplace
Empowering Car Ads
CarMax's New Ad Campaign Takes a Witty Approach
Anniversary-Celebrating Colorful Beauty Campaigns
UOMA Beauty Launched the We See You Campaign
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Authentic Fashion House Campaigns
Gucci's Spring/Summer 2024 Collection Celebrates Real Women
Playful Travel Fashion Campaigns
The FOSSIL Made For This Campaign Celebrates the Brand's Heritage
Styling-Targeted Haircare Ranges
Authentic Beauty Concepts Boasts a High-Performance Styling Range
Irreverent Ethical Soap Campaigns
Pure Rush Soap's New Ad is a Fresh Take on Sustainable Branding
Authenticated Product Review Apps
This App Matchers Shoppers With Brands Looking For Reviews
Empowering Period Campaigns
Natracare Launched the Project #Bekind Campaign in May
Star-Led Luxury Fashion Campaigns
PRADA's Re-Nylon Collection Welcomes Renowned Actors
Revamped Freshness Platforms
Mars Announces a New Brand Identity for Its Gums and Mints Brands
Vacation Rental Campaigns
Airbnb Debuts an Animated Ad That Celebrates Booking a Place to Yourself
Personal Style Jewelry Campaigns
RS Pure's #Authentic100 Shares the Styles of 100 Influencers
Hilarious Fandom Cheese Campaigns
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Launches First-Ever Paid Ad Campaign
Solution-First Beauty Brands
Skincare-Beauty Brand Good Weird Launches its First Collection
Gen Z Advertising Tools
YouTube Launches a New Music Tool to Connect Advertisers with Gen Z
Peer-to-Peer Conversation Campaigns
JOYBA's Real Tea, Real Talk Supports Mental Health in Youth
Celebrity-Backed Fragrance Ads
Axe Targets Generation Z with its New Star-Studded Campaign
Celebrity Social Feeds
BeReal Introduces the Celeb-Exclusive 'RealPeople' Feed on its App
Authentic Ambassador Campaigns
BeReal is Looking for "The Realest Person on Earth"
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
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
AR Voter Campaigns
Snapchat & the Dutch Ministry Engaged and Inspired Gen Z Voters
Joy-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
Ulta Beauty Launches the Joy Project, a Ground-Breaking Study
Revamped Juice Overhauls
Ocean Spray Announces a Brand Overhaul with Modern Influences
Review-Based Marketing Campaigns
These Amazon Campaigns Bring Real Reviews To Life
Transparent Healthcare Campaigns
Kaiser Permanente Aims to Support the Modern Aging Consumer
Inclusive Chosen Family Campaigns
Calvin Klein's 'This Is Love' Campaign Emphasizes True Family
Youth-Focused Skincare Campaigns
Przm Launches a New Consumer-Centric Campaign for Proactiv
Love-Inspired Tennis Brands
Love All Boasts a Collection of Stylish and Functional Activewear
Influencer Marketing Agencies
NYMA Embraces Influencer Marketing as a Part of its Core Offerings
Offline Community Marketplaces
Aerie’s Hidden Gem Marketplace Created a Shared Space for Brands
Whimsical Hygiene Expansions
Personal Care Brand Clean Age Launches at Walmart Stores
Fandom-Exploring Sports Partnerships
NFL and Mitchell & Ness Collaborate to Spotlight Fan Stories
Affordable Off-Brand Products
Unitas Launches a New Own Brand Label Called Local Living
Energetic Filtered Water Campaigns
Brita's Taste Over Everything Campaign is Youthful & Optimistic
Mental Health Branding Initiatives
L.L.Bean Digitally Detoxed for Mental Health Awareness Month
Authentic Men-Targeted Campaigns
Schick Encourages Men to Follow Their Passions in New Campaign
Healthcare Marketing Deals
Haleon Taps Collectively to Enhance its Influencer Marketing Strategies
Comforting Oat Bar Ads
Humanaut Launches a Campaign for Bobo's, Highlighting Home-Baked Taste
Inclusive Try-On Programs
Perfect Corp. Connects Beauty Brands with Digital Beauty Innovation
Influencer-Focused Ad Platforms
Pearpop Helps Brands Find Creators to Sponsor in an Easier Way
Cocktail-Inspired Togetherness Activations
Smirnoff's Global Connectivity Initiative Launched
Expressive Piercing Campaigns
The New Visual Identity for Pierced by Claire's Targets Gen Zalpha
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad