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
Social Media-Inspired Retail Apps
Depop Outfits Lets Users Create Moodboards and Collages
Wellness Brand Experiences
Pilates and Influencer Events Are Shaping Lifestyle Marketing in Peru
Show-Inspired Marketplace Campaigns
Facebook Marketplace x Netflix Launch a Bridgerton Experience
Creative Retail Competitions
Bricks & Minifigs Launches LEGO Clock Design Contest
Experiential Convenience Stores
FamilyMart Announced IP-Centered Store Experiences in Japan
High-Profile Live Performance Marketing
Rokid Delighted Folks with a High-Profile Marketing Event
Entertainment-Driven Distilleries
Ole Smoky and Yee-Haw create immersive brewery venues
Licensed Flavor Collaborations
Conagra Blends Celebrity and Brand Partnerships Into Snacks
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
Experiential fragrance
CPL Aromas Creates Interactive Scent Worlds for Emotional Engagement
Phone-Free Crafting Experiences
Pinterest Brought a Phone-Free Experience to the Desert
Next-Gen Jelly Bean Campaigns
Jelly Belly Bean Appétit Entices a New Generation of Fans
Mobile Cafe Pop-Ups
Coach Introduced a Vibrant Coffee Truck in Gotemba, Japan
Wishlist-Spotlighting Billboards
Sephora Canada Features Customer Wishlists on Holiday Billboards
Interactive Advertising Installations
Intimissimi's 'Feel the Billboard' Uses Tactile Advertising
Immersive K-Beauty Pop-Ups
TIRTIR Brings Jeju Matcha Skincare to NYC with a Sensory Experience
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Tea Experience Bars
HeyTea's Teabar Expands Tea into Desserts, Tastings, and Social Experiences
Night QSR Campaigns
The Mcdonald’s Night Posters Turn Post-Party Cravings into Glowing Urban Art
Fandom Culture Retail Experiences
EB Games x Vibrant Marketing Launch an 'EB Trends' Store Concept
Supermarket Tourism Campaigns
K-Supermarket's Tripadvisor Listings Share a Taste of Food Culture
Limited-Edition Chocolate Launches
Hershey’s Debuts Winter Games Tie-In On TikTok Shop
Branded Apparel Vodka Campaigns
Smirnoff Partners with Aleali May for We Do Game Days
Retail Advertising Campaigns
IKEA Hides Price Tags to Highlight Material Quality in a New Campaign
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
Clinical K-Beauty Pop-Ups
Rejuran Debuts Science-Led Skincare Through a Sephora LA Activation
Sensory Retail Experiences
Claire’s Launches ASMR-Inspired Stores for Gen Alpha Shoppers
Industrial-Inspired Brand Events
Reitmans Reimagined its Distribution Centre for a Curated Event
Cross-Industry Insight Networks
The Think Party Explores the Future of Socialization
Beer Brand Nature Campaigns
Corona Launched Its Living Is Calling With a Tripadvisor Partnership
Experiential Fast Food Collaborations
Popeyes Turned Chicken Tenders Into a Music Venue Experience
Luxury Festive Campaigns
Bloomingdale’s Unveils Its 2025 Holiday Campaign
Grocery-Inspired SPF Pop-Ups
Beauty of Joseon's Morning Moisturizer SPF Grocery is Experiential
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Festival Beauty Activations
Medicube Brings Skincare Tech and Experiences to Coachella
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
Creator-Led Beauty Retail
rhode Expands Across Sephora Europe After Strong Viral Demand
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Social Commerce Supplements
youtheory Expands Wellness Sales Through TikTok Shop
Social Media Follower-Celebrating Initiatives
Streets of Toronto Marks 600k Instagram Followers
Scan-to-Sniff Fragrance Billboards
Rare Beauty's Activation with Shopify Shop Promote a New Scent
Girl Dinner Experiences
Waverly Kitchen + Bar Curates Shareable Comfort Food Plates
Cinematic Sneaker Campaigns
Adidas Originals Superstar Campaign Features Icons Such as Jennie
Collectible Fandom Packaging
Spider-Man-Themed Takis Bags Turn Snacks into Fan Collectibles
Self-Expression Festival Activations
Barbie Brings Customizable Persona-Building to Coachella
Mobile Beauty Retail Activations
Cardi B Debuts Beauty Truck for Her Haircare Brand
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Comprehensive Fast Food Reports
Yum! Brands, Inc. Explores Food Trends Influencing the Industry
Gamified Sports Rewards
Mountain Dew Links MLB Home Runs to Real-Time Free Drink Rewards
Immersive Sports Marketing Campaigns
BMO's "Grow the Game" Campaign Celebrates the FIFA World Cup
Interactive Juice Boxes
Suntop's Mega Back to School Campaign Integrates Connected Packaging
Gamified Snack Packaging
Hershey’s Released Pokémon Chocolates with 151 Collectible Foil Designs
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Culture-Driven Product Launches
Church’s Texas Chicken launches Churchie Sauce with a local event
Poetic Secondhand Campaigns
Depop's Where Taste Recognizes Taste Celebrates Style Doppelgangers
Story-Driven Adventure Tourism
Disney Expands Immersive Guided Travel Across Europe and Asia
Production-Led Live Commerce Events
P.Louise Launches Get Unteddy With Me on TikTok Shop
Pop-Up Sports Hospitality
Toronto’s FIFA Fan Festival Turns Urban Spaces into Immersive Fan Hubs
Closed-Loop Retail Media Networks
Sam’s Club connects ads directly to measurable sales outcomes
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
Throwback Grocery Campaigns
Economic Nostalgia Inspired Instacart's Summer Like It’s ‘99
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
World Cup Hospitality Experiences
Stella Artois Turns Bars into Immersive FIFA Viewing Locations
Feedless Social Platforms
Bond Eliminates Feeds to Focus on Real-Life Experiences
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Social-First Retail Commerce
Shoezone expands TikTok Shop through creator-led shopping
Bubble Wrap Billboards
Tombola's Interactive Billboards Engage Passersby with a Sensory Activity
Immersive Queue Displays
Samsung Transforms Everland Wait Lines with Interactive 3D Safari Visuals
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
Experience-Enhancing POS Retail Apps
MomentScience Reveals MomentApps
Nostalgic Summer Snacks
Entenmann's Launches Childhood-Inspired Seasonal Treats
Activity Gear Billboards
Ocean Spray's Reclaim Happy Hour Activation Got Australians Up & Moving
Athletic Event-Timed Tech Campaigns
TCL Ran a Comprehensive Ad Campaign During the Olympics
Vibrant Cafeteria-Inspired Campaigns
Lunchtime Becomes a Joyous Time in 'The Lunchables Effect'
Gamified Grocery Activations
The Asda Check-Out Challenge Leveraged a Nostalgic Game Show Format
Shoppable Reel Features
Meta Expands Reels with Product Tagging on Instagram and Facebook
Reimagined Creative Campaigns
Marc Jacobs Dropped its '26 Summer Campaign and New Visual Identity
Wellness Dining Experiences
CRISP & GREEN Combines Fitness Events With Healthy Meals
Experiential Flavor Campaigns
McCormick Launches a Multi-Sensory Black Currant Dining Experience
Spicy Spread Campaigns
Philadelphia Mexican Style Launched with Creator-Led Marketing
Interactive Traveling Marketing Initiatives
Heinz Pllayfully Spotlights the Heinz Ketchup Zero
Culinary Tradition Food Campaigns
The Merchant Gourmet 'Yes Chef!' Campaign is Running Now
Empowering Cosmetic Campaigns
The Revlon Be Unforgettable Campaign Reinterprets a Brand Tagline
Football-Focused Venue Marketing Campaigns
Dave & Buster's Delivers on Social Atmosphere & Dining
Soccer-Themed Entertainment Events
Sky Zone Turns Global Soccer Excitement into Active Play
Hometown Athlete Branding
Hershey’s Released Limited-Edition Chocolate Bars for Christian Pulisic
Customized Restaurant Campaign Platforms
OpenTable Has Launched OpenTable Media
Creator-Led DIY Experiences
Lowe's Turns MrBeast Fandom Into Kids Workshops
Shoppable Microdramas
Crocs and SuperOrdinary Turn TikTok Storytelling Into Shopping Experiences
Playable Brand Universes
adidas and Brawl Stars Connect Gaming, Apparel and Live Fan Experiences
Limited-Edition Beer Campaigns
San Miguel launches a Limited-Edition Beer Campaign for Summer
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
Localized Retail Media Platforms
Snappy Shopper Launches Connect, a Retail Media Network
Presence-Boosting Bar Campaigns
'She's Got a Tab' Revives the SVEDKA Robot & Real-Life Connection
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
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
Franchise Commerce Marketing
poppi Connects Retail Products with Love Island Experiences
Gamified Destination Tourism
Connecticut Launches Rewards Platform for Local Exploration
Social-First Beauty Retailers
Sally Beauty Joins TikTok Shop
Community-Centered Rooftop Events
Heineken's Rooftop Revival Turned Building Tops into Social Hubs
Donation-Based Menu Deals
Domino’s Turns Pizza Purchases into Donations for Kids with Illnesses
Social Engagement Platforms
Sociable AI Predicts Viral Posts And Generates Brand Aligned Comments
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
Clinical Retail Media
PatientPoint Bridges Healthcare and Commerce
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Cheeky Wrap-Focused Campaigns
Jimmy John's Introduced the Wrap Exchange
Phygital Loyalty Experiences
Lush Links App Rewards to In-Store Events and Services
Retail Beverage Experiences
The Paper Store Uses Custom Drink Stations to Boost Engagement
City-Focused Influencer Platforms
Storytime Launches Storytime Marketplace in Cities
Social Learning Experiences
Lectures on Tap Hosts Expert-Led Discussions in Local Bars
Charitable Influencer-Targeting Campaigns
Puresport Runs the 'Thrift It Back' Campaign
Mobile Creator Experiences
Nikon Connects Creators Through Interactive Multi-City Events
Product Discovery Communities
MillionShip Turns Product Discovery Into A Playful Experiences
Local Story Creators
Word oh Mouth Lets Users Share Experiences And Support Local Businesses
Omnichannel Seasonal Support Campaigns
Bestway Wholesale Launches 'Buzz About the Sweetest Deals'
Destination-Branded Transportation
Themed Taxis Promote Scottish Travel During Major Soccer Events
Experiential Trade Shows
Wines Experience Reinvents Industry Networking in London
Summer-Forward Food Billboards
Waitrose Launched its 'Let Your Summer Side Out' Campaign
Timely Actor-Backed Beer Campaigns
Miller Lite Debuts 'Legendary Moments Start with a Lite'
Discovery-Driven Beverage Programs
Dog Haus Expands Drinks Into a Menu Exploration Platform
Community-Driven Loyalty Programs
Salad House Turned Guest Spending Into Local Donations
Heartfelt Beverage Campaigns
The 'A Real BOOST®' Campaign Centers on Authentic Human Experiences
Event-Centric Camping Experiences
Huttopia Hosts World Cup Viewing and Activities at Its Campsites
Interactive Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Tessan Will Spotlight the 100 Travelers Campaign
Strategic Reward-Focused Retail Campaigns
WeShop Launches 'Shopping Starts Here' Campaign
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Nostalgic Slap Bracelet Giveaway
The Human Bean Gives Slap Bracelets With its 90s-Inspired Drinks
Purpose-Led Emerging Brands Initiatives
7-Eleven Taps 27 Brands for Its 2026 Brands with Heart™
Event Memory Platforms
Media Vibes Makes Group Photo Collection Simple And Collaborative
Purpose-Driven Brand Contests
Publicity for Good is Supporting Goodness with Its Contest
Event Branding Tools
Frame Me Lets Event Managers Share Branded Photos For Viral Marketing
Cardholder Access Experiences
Visa Unlocks Early Access and VIP Perks at Top of the Rock
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform
Music Festival Refreshment Campaigns
This Lipton Summer Campaign Offers VIP Festival Experiences