The top May 2016 viral marketing ideas highlights the ways in which brands are leveraging consumer behavior on social media in order to deliver campaigns that truly resonate.
Beecher's Fault, an indie rock band based in Queens, recently released a music video almost entirely shot using Snapchat lenses. The innovative concept was used for their single, 'Like Cartoons,' while the band fittingly used the animated Snapchat lenses to illustrate this theme.
Separately, in a unique Snapchat-inspired print ad, National Geographic recently used face-swapping technology to drive home a message about learning about the world we live in. The clever campaign is an example of a pattern in viral marketing that can also serve as inspiration for an offline concept that grabs the attention of consumers.
Top 20 Viral Marketing Ideas in May
20
VR Kitchen Simulators
IKEA's Virtual Reality Kitchen Experience Introduces Dream Kitchens
19
Gold Star Snapchat Lenses
This Starbucks Snapchat Lens Marks the Launch of a New Loyalty System
18
Narrative Experiential Tv Campaigns
This Mr Robot Campaign Sent Fans Hunting for Hidden Cash Drops
17
Face Swap Advertisements
These National Geographic Face Swap Photos Encourage Learning
16
Social Media Coloring Books
'Color Me Book' Turns Instagram Pictures into Adult Coloring Books
15
Integrated Social Racing Campaigns
This New Nascar Campaign Incorporates Twitter and Snapchat
14
Utility Vehicle Snapchat Campaigns
The Jeep Snapchat Campaign Encourages User-Generated Content
13
Snapchat Television Revivals
The Cribs Snapchat Series Will See the Relaunch of the MTV Hit
12
Ephemeral App-Install Campaigns
Cookie Jam is the First to Roll-Out App-Install Ads on Snapchat
11
Integrated March Madness Campaigns
This Allstate Campaign Includes Real-time Tweets and Snapchats
10
Instagram-Inspired TV Ads
This TV Advertisement from Menlook is Constructed of Instagram Photos
9
Social Media Custom Stickers
Snapchat Purchases Bitstrips for Personalized Comic Creations
8
Commemorative Social Media Filters
Snapchat's Purple Rain Filter Serves as a Tribute to Prince
7
Messaging App Music Videos
Beecher's Fault's Snapchat Music Video Makes Use of Popular Filters
6
Stamp-Collecting Soda Campaigns
'Coke ON' Challenges Fans to Collect Stamps for Free Drinks
5
Political Geofilter Ads
The Bernie Sanders Snapchat Geofilter Was a Paid Ad on NYC Primary Day
4
Off-Road Exploration Campaigns
Audi's 'Catch the Unseen' Inspires People to Visit Remote Places
3
Celeb Gloss Music Videos
Kylie Jenner Premiered a Music Video to Announce Her New Nude Lip Glosses
2
Social Media Mail Deliveries
Project GramGram Sends Social Media Messages to Grandma's Mailbox
1
Social Sports Livestreams
NFL Fans Can Now Livestream Thursday Night Football on Twitter
Related Ideas
Nostalgic Winter Intimates Campaigns
SKIMS' Holiday Campaign Was Inspired by Vintage Magazines
Horror-Themed Phone Campaigns
Samsung's Join the Flip Side Takes Cues from 90s Horror Movies
Virtual Video Call Makeup
Microsoft Teams Video Calls Now Offer Maybelline Virtual Makeup
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Expressive AR Fashion
Innovation Metaverse Design Story is a Digital Collection from H&M
Gen Z IRL Campaigns
Hinge's Phonebook Encourages Gen Z to Connect IRL for Global Day of Unplugging
Age-Appropriate Skincare Campaigns
Dove's #TheFaceof10 Addresses Unsafe Gen Alpha Skincare
Illustrative 420 Campaigns
Vizie Unveils His Latest Work for Grassroots' 420 Campaign
Inspiring Leftover Ads
Hellmann's Mayo Cat Super Bowl Ad Uses Mayonnaise to Fight Food Waste
Fast Food-Inspired Beachy Campaigns
Leo Burnett Italia Unveils a New Summery McDonald's Campaign
Interactive In-Store Ads
Visibubble Brings Mobile Messaging Capabilities to Store Shelves
Fake Ketchup Campaigns
This Heinz Campaign Exposes "Ketchup Fraud"
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Anti-Filter Beauty Campaigns
Dove is Inviting Social Media Users to Fight Digital Distortion
Provocative AR Campaigns
NotCo's 'Not So Happy Animals' Presents Food Logos in a New Light
Sticker-Creating Social Tools
Instagram Releases a New Sticker Creation Feature for Creators
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Gen Z Hotline Campaigns
Simply Spiked's 'Peach Responsibly' Campaign Addresses Generational Gaps
Dynamic CGI Mascara Campaigns
Maybelline New York Unveils an Activation with a Giant Mascara
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
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
Time Travel Fast Food Ads
These McDonald's Ads Take People Back in Time to Escape Inflation
AI-Created Burger Ads
Burger King Had ChatGPT Generate a Poster to Clap Back at a Competitor
AI-Powered Beauty Filters
The TikTok Bold Glamour Beauty Filter Uses Machine-Learning
Connected Gamer Campaigns
Heineken's Just Another Night Out Shatters Anti-Social Stereotypes
Suggestive Spread Campaigns
The Marmite First Timers Campaign Targets Gen Z
NFC-Enabled Face Stickers
Shu Uemura's Limited-Edition Stickers Create Digital Content
Mixed-Reality Cola Billboards
This 3D Coca-Cola Billboard Dispenses Real, Cold Drinks
Gen Z Dating Campaigns
Tinder's 'It Starts with a Swipe' Shows Celebrates How Gen Z Connects
Visualized Social Streaming Features
Spotify and Snapchat are Launching the Share Track Lens
AI-Powered QSR Campaigns
allplants Leverages AI To Transforms Fast-Food Ads
Smile-Reflecting Toothpaste Campaigns
Colgate & Oglivy Create the #FreeYourSmile campaign
Illusory Yogurt Billboards
Müller Yogurt is Relaunching a 90s Favorite with a Gen Z Twist
Gen Z-Focused Coachella Campaigns
Pinterest Partners With Coachella to Connect With Gen Z
AI-Aided Social Networks
Why Be Real Online when you can BeFake
AR Music Concerts
The Rolling Stones Bitmoji Show Lens Promotes a New Album
Environmental Eating Campaigns
#KnorrDaretoTry Challenges Gen Z to "Eat for Good"
Emotive Smartphone Camera Covers
Yifan Hu Designs the Emoji-Inspired Smartphone Accessories
Food Truck Billboards
McDonald's Transformed Billboards into Digital Food Truck Displays
Community Commerce Pop-Ups
TikTok Shop UK Opened a Pop-Up on London's Oxford Street
Digital Wellness Inniaitives
Pinterest Focuses on the Digital Well-being of Gen Z
Travel-Focused Marketing Guides
TikTok Debuts a Playbook for Travel Marketers to Foster Engagement
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
Idol Singer Breakfast Promotions
Mos Burger Offers Dining Experience with Idols via AR
Micro-Influencer Marketing Services
SCREENSHOT Micro Boost Refines the Brand-Creator Experience
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Gamified Eyecare Campaigns
LensCrafters Debuts Blinky's Eye Odyssey with Adventure & Eye Care
Connected Beer Jerseys
Miller Lite's Running of the Beer Ads Turns Fans into Walking Billboards
Product-Integrated Filters
NYX and Snapchat Launched the 'Beauty Bestie' Shopping FIlter
Communication-Based Immersive Exhibitions
Intuit Mailchimp and Design Museum Present Email is Dead
Meme-Inspired Sauces
Heinz's Limited-Edition Sauce Drops Revisit Fleeting Moments of Fame
Unfiltered Beauty Campaigns
#NoFilterJustMilani Champions Beauty Online and in Real Life
QSR Gen Z Campaigns
Chipotle Targets Gen Z with Wellness Snapchat Lens and Menu Items
AR Selfie Booths
BBC's Pop-Up Booth Lets Passersby Try on Augmented Reality Animal Masks
Syringe-Based Billboards
Dove's Injectable Billboard Addresses Toxic Beauty Standards
Integrated Influencer Marketing Platforms
SocialTalk Helps Users Discover, Track, and Connect
Record-Breaking AR Mirrors
Maybelline New York & FFFACE.ME Debuted a Large Interactive Experience
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
Digital Avatar Cosmetics
e.l.f. Cosmetics & Snapchat Debuted the First Bitmoji Beauty Drop
Secondhand Fashion Editorials
Vinted Styled a Shoot Exclusively with Vinted Finds
Image-Based Alternative Social Medias
'Noteit' is a Snapchat-Inspired App for Gen Alpha Users
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
Ketchup Obsession Campaigns
'It Has to Be Heinz' Spotlights Fans' Intense Love of Heinz Products
Social Media Political-Content Limitations
Meta is Reducing Political Content Recommendations
CGI Beauty Avatars
A New Maybelline Mascara is Being Launched by the Brand's First Avatar
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Gen Z Waffle Campaigns
The Belgian Waffle Co Targets India's Gen Z Community Using Palak Tiwari
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Social Marketplace Updates
Instagram Launches a Marketplace to Better Connect Brands and Creators
Virtual Car Meetups
7-Eleven is Inviting Fans to Meet Virtually in Fortnite
Swipable Curated Ad Inspiration
Swipify Lets Users Swipe Through the Latest Ad Campaigns
Interactive AR Experiences
The Sendit App Engaged Gen Alpha on Valentine's Day
Musical Makeup Metaverses
Maybelline's Makeup Your Mix Campaign Immerses Roblox Users
Immersive Digital Experiences
Kraft and Nexus Studios Join on the Immersive Mayoverse
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
TikTok-Inspired Music Features
Spotify Showcased a Redesigned Homepage for its Mobile App
AR Secondhand Shops
American Eagle Outfitters' RE/AE Shop Spotlights Sustainable Goods
Meme-Like Social Platforms
Social Platform Spill Launches its Beta with a ‘Meme-Forward’ Aesthetic
Music-Inspired Campaigns
The New Pepsi Campaign Features Bad Bunny
Professional Short-Form Video Feeds
LinkedIn is Testing a TikTok-Like System on its Platform
Conversational Campaign Creators
Creating Google Ads Campaigns is Simpler with AI Chat Features
Efficiency-Driven Digital Ad Solutions
ShopLiftr is Revolutionizing Digital Advertising
Influencer Search Apps
Mavn Connects Influencers with Their Favorite Brands for Paid Opportunities
Customizable Content Effects
Google Introduces New Editing Features to the Photos App
Car-Free AR Lenses
Bolt's Feels Like Home Campaign Uses AR to Envision Car-Free Spaces
Social Media-Like Study Apps
SHARPEN Aims to Be Just as Engaging and Convenient as Social Media
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
Social Media Music Festivals
TikTok 'In the Mix' is a First-of-Its-Kind Music Festival
Short-Form Foodie Feeds
Uber Eats is Testing Out a New Vertical Feed Like TikTok and Instagram
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Image-Sharing Social Applications
Lapse is a New Image-Sharing App Loved by Gen Z Consumers
Engaging Political Update Apps
The 'GovSide' App Encourages Citizens to Get Involved
Digestible Shopping Feeds
Amazon Debuts the Inspire Platform to Drive Sales and Consumer Marketing
Authenticated Product Review Apps
This App Matchers Shoppers With Brands Looking For Reviews
Photo-Collecting QR Codes
GuestSnap Uses a QR Code to Collect Guest Photos at Events
Hyper-Local Gym Ads
GymBox's Made for London Life Ads Juxtapose City Living and Gym-Going
Flame-Grilled Billboards
This Fiery Billboard Promotes the Flame Grilled Whopper-Flavored Doritos
Virtual Game Tourism Campaigns
Cape Town Launches a Virtual Game for a New Tourism Campaign
Hilarious Fandom Cheese Campaigns
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Launches First-Ever Paid Ad Campaign
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Gen Z Advertising Tools
YouTube Launches a New Music Tool to Connect Advertisers with Gen Z
Personalized Grocery Billboard Campaigns
Tesco Ireland Gets a New Live-Prompt 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"
Social Media-Integrated AI Lenses
Snapchat Launches the New AR Lenses with ChatGPT
Distraction-Free Flip Phones
Consumer Cellular Unveils its 'Shot on Flip Phone' Campaign
Review-Based Marketing Campaigns
These Amazon Campaigns Bring Real Reviews To Life
AI Social Media Generators
Snowball FATG Can Help Create Viral Social Moments in Seconds
Video-Enabled Dating Apps
The 'Candid' Dating App Lets Users Show Their Personality with Video
Unpredictable Festive Ad Campaigns
The American Red Cross Launches the New Snowfall Campaign
Authenticated News Apps
Digital Trust Network 'Click' Challenges the Threat of Misinformation
Inspirational Learning Management Tools
'Get Inspired' Offers Digestible Snippets of Content
Playful Dating Experiment Campaigns
Kraft's Swipe Right for Mayo Campaign Social Experiment
Social Sun Care Challenges
Cosrx's #LayerYourSPF Campaign Reached Milestone Views on TikTok
SaaS Influencer Marketing Tools
Beeing Social Launches 'Buzz Bee Buzz' for Influencer Marketing
Secondary Social Media Features
Instagram is Rolling out the Flipside Feature On User Profiles
Uplifting Virtual Influencer Collabs
The Lennnie x Dove Collab Promotes Body Positivity
AI-Powered Video Advertisements
YouTube is Utilizing AI to Enhance its Advertising Approaches
AI-Generated Image Backgrounds
Snapchat Launches the AI-Powered 'Dreams' Feature
Music Content Campaign Tools
Spotify Presents the Showcase Tool for Artists to Promote
Personalized Professional Content Generators
Viralify AI Crafts LinkedIn Posts to Save You Time
Influencer-Focused Ad Platforms
Pearpop Helps Brands Find Creators to Sponsor in an Easier Way
Wasp Perspective Beauty Campaigns
Boots Launches its Perfectly Imperfect Campaign Video
Cocktail-Inspired Togetherness Activations
Smirnoff's Global Connectivity Initiative Launched
Phone-Based User-Targeted Campaigns
PlugSMS Helps Users Launch Campaigns From Their Phones
AI-Generated Social Ad Copy
the M1-Project Helps Business Owners Convert Using Social Media
Magazine Content Features
Magazine App Flipboard Adds a New Notes Feature for Personalized Content
Real-Time Social Maps
Mapin is a Social Map That Connects the Community Through Content
Food-Based Video Platforms
FoodVid Describes Itself as "The TikTok for Food"
Boomer-Focused Voter Advertisements
Perth Creatives Launch the New Groom-a-Boomer Voting Campaign
Parent-Focused TV Campaigns
NatureFresh's TV Campaign Explores How Active Parenting Benefits Kids
Broadcast-Like Social Channels
Meta is Launching New Broadcast Channels to Instagram and More
Gamified AI Quizzes
SnapQuiz Offers a Vast Library of Quizzes with Something for Everyone
Presidential Note Campaigns
Joe Biden Launches a New Boomer-Focused Campaign Using the Notes App