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
Creative Retail Competitions
Bricks & Minifigs Launches LEGO Clock Design Contest
Scent Spritz Billboards
goodwipes' Scentsational Summer Billboard Releases Scent Every 30 Seconds
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
Experiential Convenience Stores
FamilyMart Announced IP-Centered Store Experiences in Japan
Entertainment-Driven Distilleries
Ole Smoky and Yee-Haw create immersive brewery venues
Experiential Brand Cafés
Nutella Reimagines Its Chicago Café with Digital Ordering and a New Menu
Experiential fragrance
CPL Aromas Creates Interactive Scent Worlds for Emotional Engagement
Conversational Shopping Experiences
Ask Pinterest Debuts on the Ask Pinterest App
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
Fashion-Inspired Food Marketing
Magnum Blends Beauty, Music and Luxury Culture into Its Brand
Mobile Cafe Pop-Ups
Coach Introduced a Vibrant Coffee Truck in Gotemba, Japan
Immersive Denim-Focused Fashion Pop-Ups
Pacsun Debuts Its Denim Starts Here Campaign
Immersive K-Beauty Pop-Ups
TIRTIR Brings Jeju Matcha Skincare to NYC with a Sensory Experience
Interactive Advertising Installations
Intimissimi's 'Feel the Billboard' Uses Tactile Advertising
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
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
Sensory Retail Experiences
Claire’s Launches ASMR-Inspired Stores for Gen Alpha Shoppers
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
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Music Competition Cafes
Hard Rock and Coca-Cola launch a global artist competition
Industrial-Inspired Brand Events
Reitmans Reimagined its Distribution Centre for a Curated Event
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
Immersive Sports Marketing Campaigns
BMO's "Grow the Game" Campaign Celebrates the FIFA World Cup
Grocery-Inspired SPF Pop-Ups
Beauty of Joseon's Morning Moisturizer SPF Grocery is Experiential
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
Playable Brand Universes
adidas and Brawl Stars Connect Gaming, Apparel and Live Fan Experiences
Chicken-Focused National Campaigns
Mighty Spark Embarks on a Multi-Faceted Growth Strategy
Girl Dinner Experiences
Waverly Kitchen + Bar Curates Shareable Comfort Food Plates
Immersive Character Experiences
Sanrio Brings Kuromi to Life with an Interactive KCON Activation
Self-Expression Festival Activations
Barbie Brings Customizable Persona-Building to Coachella
Mobile Luxury Boutiques
Mytheresa Tours the Hamptons with a Curated Mobile Boutique
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
Collectible Fandom Packaging
Spider-Man-Themed Takis Bags Turn Snacks into Fan Collectibles
Hotline Beauty Campaigns
Florence by Mills Rewards Ulta Shoppers Through a Branded Hotline
Gamified Sports Rewards
Mountain Dew Links MLB Home Runs to Real-Time Free Drink Rewards
Content-Driven Flagship Retail
GARAGE Builds an Immersive Flagship in New York's Flatiron District
Nostalgic Summer Snacks
Entenmann's Launches Childhood-Inspired Seasonal Treats
Gamified Snack Packaging
Hershey’s Released Pokémon Chocolates with 151 Collectible Foil Designs
Creator-Led DIY Experiences
Lowe's Turns MrBeast Fandom Into Kids Workshops
Pop-Up Sports Hospitality
Toronto’s FIFA Fan Festival Turns Urban Spaces into Immersive Fan Hubs
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
Closed-Loop Retail Media Networks
Sam’s Club connects ads directly to measurable sales outcomes
Coordinated Convenience-Focused Promotional Campaigns
7-Eleven Runs Promotions for Two Events
World Cup Hospitality Experiences
Stella Artois Turns Bars into Immersive FIFA Viewing Locations
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Play-Based Family Campaigns
Pirate's Booty Encourages Screen-Free Family Adventures
Feedless Social Platforms
Bond Eliminates Feeds to Focus on Real-Life Experiences
Social-First Retail Commerce
Shoezone expands TikTok Shop through creator-led shopping
Interactive Convention Activations
LEGO SMART Play Transforms Comic-Con into Immersive Experiences
Mobile Retail Experiences
Duluth Trading Brings Apparel Shopping to Events with a Mobile Showroom
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
Sports Lifestyle Retail
Nordstrom Blends World Cup Fashion with Immersive Pop-Ups
Experience-Enhancing POS Retail Apps
MomentScience Reveals MomentApps
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
Shoppable Reel Features
Meta Expands Reels with Product Tagging on Instagram and Facebook
Wellness Dining Experiences
CRISP & GREEN Combines Fitness Events With Healthy Meals
Spontaneous Holiday Experiences
Virgin Red Challenged People on the Street to Turn FOMO into Go-Mo
Experiential Flavor Campaigns
McCormick Launches a Multi-Sensory Black Currant Dining Experience
Mobile Brand Experiences
M&M's Brings an Interactive Caravan to the Tour De France
Snack Bar-Promoting Experiential Campaigns
Einstein Energy Super Snack Bars Ran a Campaign at SXSW
Experiential Loyalty Programs
Lowe's and Live Nation Reward Members with Concert Perks
Reimagined Creative Campaigns
Marc Jacobs Dropped its '26 Summer Campaign and New Visual Identity
Culinary Tradition Food Campaigns
The Merchant Gourmet 'Yes Chef!' Campaign is Running Now
Frozen Yogurt Anniversary Campaigns
TCBY The Original Social Network Campaign Celebrates 45 Years
Empowering Cosmetic Campaigns
The Revlon Be Unforgettable Campaign Reinterprets a Brand Tagline
Hometown Athlete Branding
Hershey’s Released Limited-Edition Chocolate Bars for Christian Pulisic
Customized Restaurant Campaign Platforms
OpenTable Has Launched OpenTable Media
Shoppable Microdramas
Crocs and SuperOrdinary Turn TikTok Storytelling Into Shopping Experiences
Pet Food Campaigns
Open Farm Launched Its Pets Are Perfect. So, We Must Be Too Campaign
Limited-Edition Beer Campaigns
San Miguel launches a Limited-Edition Beer Campaign for Summer
Anti-Screen Summer Social Events
Eventbrite Presents 'The Offline Summer' Initiative
Localized Retail Media Platforms
Snappy Shopper Launches Connect, a Retail Media Network
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
Fandom Retail Experiences
TOUS les JOURS Transforms Bakery Cafés into BTS Fan Destinations
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
Experiential Wine Campaigns
Avaline Partners with Proper Hotels for a Summer Music Series
Gamified Destination Tourism
Connecticut Launches Rewards Platform for Local Exploration
Social-First Beauty Retailers
Sally Beauty Joins TikTok Shop
Destination-Branded Transportation
Themed Taxis Promote Scottish Travel During Major Soccer Events
Signature Food Giveaways
Craveworthy Brands' Bet on the Bite Shares Free, Fan-Fave Menu Items
Self-Expression Retail Campaigns
Tillys Marked Ten Months of Its Discover Your Style Campaign
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
Franchise Commerce Marketing
poppi Connects Retail Products with Love Island Experiences
Spicy Spread Campaigns
Philadelphia Mexican Style Launched with Creator-Led Marketing
Social Engagement Platforms
Sociable AI Predicts Viral Posts And Generates Brand Aligned Comments
Experiential Tabletop Launches
MindWare Brings Immersive Game Demos to Gen Con 2026
Arena Beauty Activations
L'Oréal Brings Immersive Beauty Experiences to Europe's Largest Arena
Participatory Brand Platforms
Crown Royal Builds a Community-Driven Cultural Platform
Clinical Retail Media
PatientPoint Bridges Healthcare and Commerce
Social Media-Inspired Salad Campaigns
The Florette #SaladTok Campaign Marks the Summer of Salads
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Cheeky Wrap-Focused Campaigns
Jimmy John's Introduced the Wrap Exchange
Charitable Restaurant Launches
Zam's Celebrates Its U.S. Debut with Events and Meal Donations
Ad-Friendly Vertical Video Feeds
Instacart Debuts the Immersive Feed Feature on Its Platform
City-Focused Influencer Platforms
Storytime Launches Storytime Marketplace in Cities
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
Seasonal Value Campaigns
Huey Magoo's Combines Value Meals with Collectible Cups
Mobile Creator Experiences
Nikon Connects Creators Through Interactive Multi-City Events
Social Learning Experiences
Lectures on Tap Hosts Expert-Led Discussions in Local Bars
Retail Beverage Experiences
The Paper Store Uses Custom Drink Stations to Boost Engagement
Phygital Loyalty Experiences
Lush Links App Rewards to In-Store Events and Services
Omnichannel Seasonal Support Campaigns
Bestway Wholesale Launches 'Buzz About the Sweetest Deals'
Product Discovery Communities
MillionShip Turns Product Discovery Into A Playful Experiences
In-Store Retail Media Networks
Raley's Expands Shopper Advertising Through Grocery TV
Experiential Trade Shows
Wines Experience Reinvents Industry Networking in London
Community-Driven Loyalty Programs
Salad House Turned Guest Spending Into Local Donations
Neighborhood Storytelling Campaigns
Vitaminwater Expands Neighborhue with Community Mural Stories
Event-Centric Camping Experiences
Huttopia Hosts World Cup Viewing and Activities at Its Campsites
Entertainment-Driven Direct Mail
Valpak and Hallmark Turn Mailers into Movie Experiences
Music Festival Refreshment Campaigns
This Lipton Summer Campaign Offers VIP Festival Experiences
Interactive Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Tessan Will Spotlight the 100 Travelers Campaign
Strategic Reward-Focused Retail Campaigns
WeShop Launches 'Shopping Starts Here' Campaign
Experiential Brand Roles
Lagunitas Recruits a Beer Roadie for the Iron Maiden Tour
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
Community Fashion Events
Free People Hosts a Charitable Summer Gathering with Film and Activities
Women-Led Camping Communities
Girl Camper Connects Women Through Outdoor Events and Camping Events
Cardholder Access Experiences
Visa Unlocks Early Access and VIP Perks at Top of the Rock
Event-Driven Instant Retail
JD Sports Delivers England Shirts Through Uber Eats Before Kick-Off
Experiential Retail Communities
Lykli Blends Retail, Wellness and Community Spaces Under One Roof
Retail Media Leadership Communities
RETHINK Retail Launches Executive Media in Retail Community
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
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform
Event Memory Platforms
Media Vibes Makes Group Photo Collection Simple And Collaborative