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
Location-Based Social Media Features
Instagram Map Connects Friends Who are Nearby One Another
Summer Soda Brand Campaigns
Sprite 'Turns Up the Refreshment' With its Immersive Campaign
Video-Editing App Updates
Google Photos Launches a Slew of New Video Editing Tools
Dating Profile Billboards
Simply Spiked BOLD Moves Tackles Dating App Fatigue
Gen-Z-Focused AR Campaigns
American Eagle Launched an AE Jeans Try-on Haul Lens
Gen Z Storytelling Campaigns
Coach is Running the 'Explore Your Story' Campaign for Spring 2026
Social Media-Inspired Retail Apps
Depop Outfits Lets Users Create Moodboards and Collages
Festival-Inspired Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Burberry Celebrates the Energy of British Music Culture
AR-Powered Makeup Experiences
NYX Professional Makeup Beauty Bestie 2.0 is Available on Snapchat
Playful Creative Design Billboards
Canva Unveils 3D Billboards to Spotlight its Capabilities
Beauty Hack-Inspired Campaigns
Vaseline Launched 'Vaseline World' Based on Social Media Content
AI-Powered Marketing Systems
Gap Introduced Its AI Marketing Overhaul With Google Cloud’s Gemini
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
Next-Gen Jelly Bean Campaigns
Jelly Belly Bean Appétit Entices a New Generation of Fans
Fashion-Inspired Food Marketing
Magnum Blends Beauty, Music and Luxury Culture into Its Brand
Telecom Event Ticket Campaigns
Verizon and David Beckham Teamed Up for the FIFA World Cup 2026
One-of-a-Kind Beauty Campaigns
The Beauty Machine by Dove Challenges Algorithm-Driven Standards
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Playful Gen-Z Dating Campaigns
Tinder's 'Crush Feelings' Captures the Essence of Modern Dating
Gamified Condiment Experiences
HEINZ’s Ketchup Blast Turns Meals Interactive
Interactive AR Avocado Scans
Chipotle Launches its 'AvoLotto Lens' on Snapchat
Gen-Z-Targeted Phone Spots
Samsung Spotlights the Galaxy S25 Ultra in its 'Recipe Ideas' Ad
Social AI Video Lenses
Snapchat Brings Photo-To-Video AI to Lens Studio
Branded Apparel Vodka Campaigns
Smirnoff Partners with Aleali May for We Do Game Days
Celebrity Coffee Brand Campaigns
Nespresso Launched Its Vertuo World Campaign With Dua Lipa
Gen Z Holiday Campaigns
SNIPES Launches 'Wrapped in Heat' Featuring Marlon Wayans
Brighton Retail Launch Ads
IKEA Brighton Uses Seagull Splatter Campaign to Win Local Attention
Immersive Video Shopping Experiences
ASOS Live Blends Creator-Led Content with Real-Time Shopping
Friendly Fandom Campaigns
Heineken Kicked Off Fans Have More Friends with a Fun Social Experiment
AI-Powered Social AR Apps
The Snap Lens Studio Lets Any User Create Their Own Effects
Cross-Industry Insight Networks
The Think Party Explores the Future of Socialization
Gen-Z-Targeted Language Platform Campaigns
Duolingo Introduces its Character-Driven 'Duolingo Ads'
Beer Brand Nature Campaigns
Corona Launched Its Living Is Calling With a Tripadvisor Partnership
Cheeky Food-Focused Soda Campaigns
The 'Share a Pepsi' Campaign Encourages Pairing with Food
GenAI Fashion Lenses
Gucci is the First Luxury House to Launch a Sponsored AI Lens on Snapchat
Bee Habitat Billboards
Disney x National Geographic Bee Billboards Double as Shelters
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Festival Beauty Activations
Medicube Brings Skincare Tech and Experiences to Coachella
Influencer-Driven Fashion Events
Pacsun Collaborated with Prominent Gen-Z Creators
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Shoppable AR Villages
The Snapchat Winter Village Has Three Immersive Luxury Brand Boutiques
Playable Brand Universes
adidas and Brawl Stars Connect Gaming, Apparel and Live Fan Experiences
Analog-Themed Camera Campaigns
Polaroid Launched 'The Camera for an Analog Life'
GenAI Social Media Lenses
The Imagine Lens Lets Snapchat Users Type to Bring Ideas to Life
Gen Z Soda Campaigns
Enjoy the Moment with a Coca‑Cola Targets a Generation That Wants to Unplug
Music Scene-Informed Luxury Campaigns
Burberry Taps Twiggy for Spring 2026 Advertising Campaign
Humorous Opinionated Platform Spots
Reddit Introduced its 'People are the Best' Campaign
Cinematic Condiment Campaigns
Mike's Hot Honey Has Debuted Its First National Advertising Campaign
Iconic High Fashion Campaigns
Veronica Beard's Fall 2025 Fashion Campaign is Tilted Iconic
Self-Expression Festival Activations
Barbie Brings Customizable Persona-Building to Coachella
Sensorial Soda Campaigns
Sprite's 'Hurts Real Good With Sprite' Targets Gen Z
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Personalized AI Billboards
Mercado Libre's Custom Billboards Analyze Their Surroundings and Adapt
Anime-Inspired Creative Campaigns
Canva Japan Launched Animated Commercial Films
Musician-Led Beverage Campaigns
poppi Tapped Charli xcx and Rachel Sennott for the Super Bowl
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Poetic Secondhand Campaigns
Depop's Where Taste Recognizes Taste Celebrates Style Doppelgangers
Early Allergen Exposure Ads
The Square Baby Super Bowl Spot Promotes a Science-Backed Message
Nature-Rooted Brand Platforms
Canada Goose Unveiled Its Natural Intelligence Brand Philosophy
Experiential Brand Cafés
Nutella Reimagines Its Chicago Café with Digital Ordering and a New Menu
AI-Powered Imagery Tools
Snap by Genius.AI Creates Realistic Images Fast Without Photoshoots
Redefining Screen-Free Cameras
Camp Snap Arrives at Target as a Mindful Disconnection
Unfiltered Skincare Campaigns
The Indu Spots Happen Campaign Celebrates Unretouched Teen Skin
Anti-Algorithm Social Platforms
Buzzfeed’s Branch Office Creates Interactive AI-Powered Apps
Production-Led Live Commerce Events
P.Louise Launches Get Unteddy With Me on TikTok Shop
Culture-Driven Product Launches
Church’s Texas Chicken launches Churchie Sauce with a local event
Social-First Gameshows
This Year's Walkers' Do Us a Flavour Campaign Was Reimagined for TikTok
Coordinated Convenience-Focused Promotional Campaigns
7-Eleven Runs Promotions for Two Events
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Feedless Social Platforms
Bond Eliminates Feeds to Focus on Real-Life Experiences
Short Video Marketing
Viral Pulse Helps Businesses Generate Engaging Short Videos Quickly
Social-First Retail Commerce
Shoezone expands TikTok Shop through creator-led shopping
Millennial Nostalgia Banking Campaigns
Allt Bank Playfully Jabs at Millennials' Financial Habits
Satirical Destination Marketing Videos
The Viral Switzerland is Fake is Cheeky and Tech-Driven
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
French Beer Marketing Campaigns
1664 Features Robert Pattinson in Its New Acting-Inspired Campaign
Vibrant Cafeteria-Inspired Campaigns
Lunchtime Becomes a Joyous Time in 'The Lunchables Effect'
Reimagined Creative Campaigns
Marc Jacobs Dropped its '26 Summer Campaign and New Visual Identity
Food-Inspired Street Art
Knorr's Dish Pics Campaign Replaces Unwanted, Unsavory Images
Interactive Traveling Marketing Initiatives
Heinz Pllayfully Spotlights the Heinz Ketchup Zero
Peer-Powered Gifting Initiatives
indu and SoPost Encourage Customers to Share Samples with Friends
Youth-Led Holiday Campaigns
Where are You Going? Showcases a Global Portrait of Young Creators
Limited-Edition Beer Campaigns
San Miguel launches a Limited-Edition Beer Campaign for Summer
Localized Retail Media Platforms
Snappy Shopper Launches Connect, a Retail Media Network
Social Travel Booking Platforms
TikTok GO Turns Creator Travel Videos Into Bookable Trips
In-Person Creativity Cafe Campaigns
The Made in Starbucks Campaign Spotlights Customer Creativity
Viral Bakery Reinventions
Sainsbury's Launches Dipped Croissants Inspired by Social Pastry Trends
AI Face Swap Apps
Cultface Lets Users Step Into Iconic Movie Scenes With AI
Carrier Pigeon Campaigns
The Travel Agency's Viral Project Pigeon Spiked Social Media Engagement
Sports Advertising Moments
Genius Sports Found Emotional Sports Moments Can Double Ad Recall
Value-Driven QSR Campaigns
Domino's 'Who Likes Pizza?' Visualizes Pizza's Worth
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Post-Game Breakfast Campaigns
McDonald's Flipped Its Ads Sideways for Super Bowl Recovery
AI-Powered Sampling Experiences
Swish is Revolutionizing How Consumers Try New Products
Accessible Design Campaigns
Canva's Really, Really Good Design Transformed a Sandwich Business
Spontaneous Holiday Experiences
Virgin Red Challenged People on the Street to Turn FOMO into Go-Mo
Retro Snack Cake Campaigns
Vachon's Rosettes Campaign Stirs Nostalgia in Gen X and Millennials
Agency Vibe-Coding Platforms
Havas' 'Brand Insights AI' Is a Claude-Powered GEO Product
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
Social Engagement Platforms
Sociable AI Predicts Viral Posts And Generates Brand Aligned Comments
Tax-Focused Marketing Campaigns
Intuit Debuts the Second Iteration of 'Now This is Taxes'
Global Product Launch Events
Uber Unveils a New Go-Get Exhibit Featuring Interactive Vignettes
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns
Dove's #UnseenBeauty Initiative Challenges Y2K Beauty Standards
Startup Growth Strategies
The Virality Playbook Shares 350+ Proven Growth Hacks for Startups
Purpose-Driven Brand Storytelling Platforms
Hellonation Has Debuted Its Edvertising Model
AI-Assisted Live Selling Features
Snap by Tilt Creates Listings from Live Video in Under a Second
Ad-Friendly Vertical Video Feeds
Instacart Debuts the Immersive Feed Feature on Its Platform
City-Focused Influencer Platforms
Storytime Launches Storytime Marketplace in Cities
Physical-World Data Marketing
WPP Uses Google Earth AI to Predict Real-World Consumer Behavior
Swapped Phone Campaigns
KitKat Phone Break Depicts Devices Traded for Chocolate Wafer Bars
Interactive Streaming Ads
Spotify Turns Listening into Engagement with Carousel Ads
Question-Driven Brand Revisions
NPR Turns its Logo Into Question Words
Mobile Creator Experiences
Nikon Connects Creators Through Interactive Multi-City Events
Photo Ranking Social Apps
Relevant Charts Lets Users Compete To Rank Their Photos Worldwide
Social Media-Inspired Streaming Apps
The Netflix App Feed Will Introduce a TikTok-Like Style
Local Story Creators
Word oh Mouth Lets Users Share Experiences And Support Local Businesses
Neighborhood Storytelling Campaigns
Vitaminwater Expands Neighborhue with Community Mural Stories
Generational Wellness Campaigns
Sports Research Evolved Its Marketing into a Cultural Movement
Ad Creation Platforms
Magritte Helps Marketers Discover, Design, and Launch Ads Quickly
Customizable Marketing Postcards
Smartpress' Sticker & Magnet Postcards Fight Digital Fatigue
Conversational AI Advertising
Snapchat Introduces AI-Powered Chat-Based Brand Interactions
AI-Powered Native Video Ads
TripleLift Powers GUESS FRAGRANCES Big Game Campaign
Local Restaurant Activations
Pepsi Hosts Community Events to Drive Restaurant Discovery
Social Media Simulators
PocketFans Creates Realistic Viral TikTok Live Simulations With AI
Entertainment-Driven Direct Mail
Valpak and Hallmark Turn Mailers into Movie Experiences
Nostalgic Celebrity-Supported Beverage Campaigns
Clearly Canadian Recently Revived Its Brand
Real-Time Video Matching
Call Me Maybe Connects Singles Through Fast, Fun 15-Minute Video Chats
Custom Sticker Creators
Sticker Snap Turns Photos To Personalized Sticker Packs for Messaging Apps
Niche Photographer Marketplace
SnapMatePhoto Launches Its Digital Marketplace
Group Video Gifting
Folksee Makes It Easy To Collect And Gift Personalized Video Reels
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Community Fashion Events
Free People Hosts a Charitable Summer Gathering with Film and Activities
Mapped Loyalty Badges
Snap Map Place Loyalty Celebrates Frequent Visitors
Marketing Resource Directories
Viral Marketing Lab Curates Growth Tools And Resources For Founders
Media Intelligence Tools
Media Watcher Tracks Global News And Social Buzz In Real Time
Adaptive Notification Systems
YouTube Filters Push Alerts Based on Recent User Engagement
Event Branding Tools
Frame Me Lets Event Managers Share Branded Photos For Viral Marketing
Time Reclamation-Focused Cleaning Campaigns
Maid Brigade Launches a Cheeky Summer Ad Campaign
Event Memory Platforms
Media Vibes Makes Group Photo Collection Simple And Collaborative