If you consider stand-out social media campaigns, what’s the primary one which involves thoughts? I’m prepared to wager the likes of Spotify Wrapped or Dove Magnificence are proper up there.
Lauded as these examples are (rightly so!), they’re removed from the one ground-breaking examples from latest years.
In reality, it was powerful to trim down this checklist of progressive, memorable social media campaigns all the way down to a readable quantity — so I’m assured there are a number of on this checklist that can stand out in your hunt for inspiration. We’ve acquired heartfelt tales, celeb salads, and naturally, reincarnating owls.
Anytime you’re feeling you’re in a inventive rut, come again to this checklist, snoop, and scoop what you may on your personal social media campaigns. Perhaps we’ll quickly be including yours to this checklist! 👀
1. Duolingo’s demise of the owl
Duolingo, the language studying app, introduced the demise of their beloved owl mascot in February 2025. Whereas the marketing campaign evoked blended emotions, it additionally sparked tidal waves of engagement — with the demise announcement getting over two million likes and 40,000 feedback.
The corporate continued paying tribute to the mascot for 2 weeks — totally committing to the act — proper earlier than Duo made a ‘legends by no means die’ comeback.
Should you had been in orbit, it was arduous to overlook the information. Everybody from me to Dua Lipa was speaking about it. Garnering over a billion natural views throughout social media platforms, this was certainly one of Duolingo’s most profitable social media campaigns — which, contemplating how prolific the model is on social, is admittedly saying one thing.
Why this marketing campaign was profitable:
- A well-known (albeit fictional) face. In Duolingo’s case, Duo was the face of the model and a family title, well-known for its unhinged antics on social media.
- It piqued individuals’s curiosity — for the reason that Duolingo staff stored up the charade, individuals wished to know the way the mascot died. Some individuals didn’t assume the advertising and marketing division would kill their greatest asset; others stated their model was simply bonkers sufficient to do it. Both means, everybody was inquisitive about how it will play out.
Key takeaways:
- In case your social media advertising and marketing efforts don’t have a face but, it is likely to be time to think about giving it one — with a great deal of persona. In spite of everything, loads of manufacturers have mascots, however few appear to have fairly as a lot, er… character as Duo does. A mascot with persona may open doorways to a great deal of enjoyable, wacky, heartwarming tales (learn: campaigns galore). That stated, it’s a tricky act to steadiness. Make sure you keep a constant model voice throughout social media channels, although. You’ll need a totally fleshed-out, long-term technique for this.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment. Duolingo’s profitable social media campaigns are normally chaotic in nature (consistent with their general social media advertising and marketing technique). Their social media staff is continually pushing boundaries, making them trailblazers of their subject.
- Double down in your social media campaigns by increasing them into all of the social media channels you’re on. You improve the probabilities of a marketing campaign’s success by involving a number of platforms.
⚠️ Notice: Don’t copy-paste this marketing campaign in case your social media technique already has a mascot (like many manufacturers have already accomplished).
Whereas it’d get you engagement as a result of the subject is trending and fashionable, it’s usually been pretty poorly acquired. Individuals need originality and authenticity true to your model, not a copy-paste model of what’s fashionable.
Loop Earplugs is a professional at social media collaborations. They frequently accomplice with varied creators (and adjoining companies) to snag a spot of their social media feed. Just lately, they partnered with Coachella to launch particular earplugs only for the event.
A few of their creator associates shared their distinctive low cost code to advertise the product they usually additionally used the influencer content material as advertisements.
@dottychuu Extra like causes to go get em asap 😜🩷 #loopearplugs #loop #earplugs #safety #coachella #LA #losangeles
Why these social media campaigns are profitable:
- Loop launched vetted, trusted creators into their social media advertising and marketing efforts which enhanced the authenticity of their social media posts.
- Most of Loop’s partnerships relate to a sure phase of their target market — individuals who stay in loud cities, individuals who wrestle with sleeping, and individuals who need to defend their ears throughout live shows. The relatability and various use circumstances assist their target market spot themselves within the content material and see when, how, and the place the product will help them.
Key takeaways:
- If in case you have the funds and sources, accomplice with influencers in your business to enhance the visibility of your social media campaigns. It’s finest to do that throughout a number of social media platforms, like Loop.
- Discover seasonal occasions in your content material calendar the place your product or providers are a pure match. This can assist you to design social media campaigns which are well timed and relatable.
- Discover varied use circumstances on your services or products and ‘present’ them in your social media posts so your target market can see themselves in your content material.
3. Pringle’s Halloween product launch
Pringles launched a brand new product, referred to as Pringles Mingles, in October of 2024. They created buzz by dropping hints earlier than the launch and themed it round Halloween.
Pringles continued to put up concerning the preliminary flavors put up Halloween — additionally including influencer evaluations and giveaways to the social media marketing campaign.
Why this marketing campaign was profitable:
- Pringles didn’t randomly drop a brand new product with no warning. They created pleasure amongst their followers by dropping hints forward of the launch.
- Influencer partnerships and giveaways helped create extra visibility across the launch.
Key takeaways:
- A profitable social media marketing campaign a couple of product launch wants preparation. Embed social media posts that construct pleasure and drop hints forward of your launch date.
- Elevate consciousness about your new product or providers by partnering with influencers, reposting user-generated content material, and internet hosting contests or giveaways.
4. Aavia’s hormone situation characteristic collection
Aavia, a interval monitoring app, has embedded a genius content material collection into its social media technique. They interview individuals about their journeys with hormone situations, share it on their Substack publication, and repurpose it for social media advertising and marketing.
Why this marketing campaign was profitable:
- The individuals featured in these collection are sometimes Aavia clients — constructing social proof amongst social media customers.
- The repurposed posts fill the social media advertising and marketing content material calendar, promote the Substack, and assist Aavia’s target market — all with one put up.
Key takeaways:
- Add extra buyer tales to your social media advertising and marketing campaigns. This won’t solely lend extra authenticity to your efforts but additionally make your content material extra relatable.
- If in case you have different advertising and marketing efforts in movement, like a publication or weblog posts, repurpose them so as to add extra high quality content material to your social media advertising and marketing and promote your different advertising and marketing channels.
5. Tl;dv’s skits
tl;dv is an AI assembly assistant. The corporate frequently shares relatable, humorous skits on its social media platforms that characteristic characters from a tech firm.
The movies present widespread, day-to-day interactions between a gross sales rep and a developer — like gross sales promising a characteristic that the product roadmap doesn’t embody after which requesting the dev staff to prioritize it. There are different characters like buyer success, founder, and product supervisor, too. All of those are potential clients of tl;dv, however the product is nearly by no means instantly talked about.
Whereas this instance isn’t a ‘marketing campaign’ isn’t within the strictest sense, it’s an ongoing social media collection that has been wildly profitable. The scores of movies they’ve shared have hundreds, generally lots of of hundreds of views throughout Instagram and TikTok.
Why these social media advertising and marketing campaigns are profitable:
- There’s no arduous promoting, simply entertaining content material.
- It’s the type of content material individuals would discover humorous and share with their pals.
- Some social media posts say the quiet a part of working at a tech firm out loud — which makes tl;dv’s content material extra genuine, relatable, and fascinating.
Key takeaways:
- When applicable and tasteful, poke enjoyable at your viewers’s ache factors that can make them really feel seen.
- Infuse extra relatable and entertaining content material round your target market’s day by day life into your social media advertising and marketing campaigns.
- As a substitute of at all times having the gross sales cap on, concentrate on creating memorable social media posts that foster a model id.
6. KFC’s new fries launch within the UK
KFC at all times acquired the identical criticism: your fries aren’t finger-licking good. So, they heard their clients and launched new fries within the UK with the hashtag #NewKFCfries. For some time there, X’s feed rained fries (within the UK and Eire).
it’s raining KFC fries right this moment within the UK! Click on the hashtag 👉🏻 #NewKFCFries
pic.twitter.com/Ms6NjIzAz6— Stolen one (@Stolenone100) October 9, 2023
Why was this marketing campaign profitable:
- The marketing campaign was tremendous interactive — each time individuals clicked on the tag, fries rained down the display screen! It was a enjoyable component (potential as a result of KFC partnered with X) that made the marketing campaign memorable.
- KFC was responding to the complaints of their devoted model advocates. This made clients really feel heard and cared for.
- They laughed at themselves. There’s one thing fairly relatable a couple of model with the ability to poke enjoyable at themselves in the best way KFC subtly did right here. They used phrases like “Lastly” and “Me both” when followers expressed they couldn’t look forward to the brand new model.
Key takeaways:
- Observe social listening and monitor patterns in buyer suggestions. Should you’re addressing one thing many consumers have requested for, present them you hear them in your social media campaigns.
- Have a branded hashtag round your social media campaigns to make user-generated content material simpler to trace — notably on platforms like X and Threads, the place hashtags like this are simply clickable. It additionally makes your advertising and marketing campaigns extra sticky and memorable amongst social media customers.
- When doing a marketing campaign for a product launch, don’t be afraid to place it entrance and middle (KFC not solely made it rain fries on X, but additionally modified their social media bio). Don’t let your profitable advertising and marketing campaigns drown within the feed (particularly in the event that they’re time-sensitive).
Blendtec is a kitchenware firm that sells mixers, grinders, and blenders. In 2021, they ran a ‘Will it mix?’ content material collection on YouTube the place they’d mix varied gadgets of their mixer and see if their merchandise may do the job. The marketing campaign was so participating that individuals are nonetheless speaking about it.
Why this marketing campaign was profitable:
- It inspired engagement. Individuals may work together with the content material and ask for what they need to see blended subsequent — and Blendtec would really do it.
- The freshness of the concept additionally made ‘Will it Mix’ a profitable marketing campaign. Not solely did it show the product’s sturdiness, but it surely additionally engaged individuals in a enjoyable and foolish means.
Key takeaways:
- Efficient social media campaigns are rooted in simplicity. Discover recent social media content material concepts that’d spark dialog amongst your target market and enhance your social media engagement.
- Create content material collection (that hopefully don’t need to contain mixing your iPhone) that may spark curiosity amongst your followers and make them stay up for the following episode.
8. Black Woman Vitamin’s Black Historical past Month restricted version bundle
Black Woman Nutritional vitamins did a social media marketing campaign round Black Historical past Month the place they bought an unique supply to make your personal bundle and in addition get a restricted version field.
For the entire month, additionally they shared social media posts specializing in rising consciousness about Black Historical past.
Additionally they ran varied in-person health lessons and some stay webinars throughout the U.S. to empower their group and foster extra real-life connections.
Why was this marketing campaign profitable:
- The main focus allowed individuals to construct a private connection to the model, particularly in the event that they align with Black Woman Vitamin’s values.
- The enterprise additionally refocused its packaging to totally decide to the social media marketing campaign.
- Giveaways and influencer partnerships additionally helped in rising model consciousness.
Key takeaways:
- The perfect social media campaigns align together with your model values. Use social media advertising and marketing as a channel to point out what you stand for (and/or stand towards), however be cautious of being performative. Clients and followers will see proper by means of it when you disingenuously bounce onto a trigger to get likes and views. Right here’s some nice recommendation on when and how one can align your model with causes from small enterprise proprietor, Nyshell Lawrence.
- Let your viewers know when a limited-period low cost or supply ends by concluding your social media campaigns.
9. Sweetgreen’s Renee Rap bowl
Restaurant chain Sweetgreen launched a brand new salad bowl with singer and songwriter Reneé Rapp.
Why Reneé? As a result of she’s a daily buyer and had a customized go-to order that Sweetgreen wished to supply all its clients. The songwriter had been a Sweetgreen fan for the final 5 years, so this partnership was genuine and a results of Reneé’s long-standing love for Sweetgreen.
Why this marketing campaign was profitable:
- Reneé’s celeb standing positively lends itself to the success of this social media marketing campaign. She’s an influential voice and her stamp of approval carries loads of weight to not solely increase consciousness, however generate leads.
- Creating a brand new bowl with Reneé’s title additionally places a whimsical contact on the corporate’s merchandise — anybody who’s a fan of the singer would need to attempt the salad.
- The prospect to see a stay present within the distinctive setting of a restaurant and get a meet-and-greet with the singer additionally makes this social media marketing campaign a hit.
Key takeaways:
- You don’t at all times want a star for this marketing campaign’s success — discover influential voices in your business and accomplice with them to create content material and perhaps even co-create merchandise.
- Share unique provides (like a meet and greet) together with your influencer companions to extend the success of your social media campaigns.
10. Beehiiv’s convert to Beehiiv package
Beehiiv is a publication platform that focuses on being the perfect within the enterprise for creators. Just lately, certainly one of their core opponents rebranded (ConvertKit grew to become Package), launched a marketing campaign to share the information.
Beehiiv capitalized on the second by providing unique reductions and incentives particularly for Package’s clients.
bored with your e mail firm speaking about their brand for six months?
upset they ship updates slower than LA visitors?
want the platform did not seem like it was constructed within the 90s?
don’t fret — we @beehiiv are right here to assist 🤝 pic.twitter.com/mriYEtxUdC
— Tyler Denk 🐝 (@denk_tweets) October 1, 2024
The marketing campaign evoked loads of debate on social media about whether or not or not dunking in your opponents is the best option to go. Both means, it generated critical buzz for Beehiiv on social media. Some individuals discovered it distasteful, however others beloved Beehiiv’s edge and wished to be part of the motion.
Why this marketing campaign was profitable:
- The timing of this marketing campaign was good — Beehiiv launched their unique supply the identical day their competitor rebranded. It was already in everybody’s feeds as a result of Package had been hyping up the ultimate date of their rebrand for some time.
- This marketing campaign was a daring and dangerous transfer — but it surely helped Beehiiv discover clients who actually love their model for his or her perspective.
Key takeaways:
- Should you plan to run a head-to-head social media marketing campaign together with your competitor, put together for the potential backlash you may obtain.
- Make your potential clients a proposal they will’t refuse. Beehiiv’s unique supply didn’t simply achieve traction due to the mocking, but additionally as a result of the perks had been unbelievably good for creators — free migration, free entry to Beehiiv for six months, assured premium sponsors, and early beta entry to new options.
- Spotlight your distinctive edge over opponents in your social media campaigns. You don’t have to take a go-big-or-go-home method and title names however don’t be afraid to highlight your product’s distinctive promoting proposition.
FZK Media is a private branding company serving to founders attain their enterprise targets by way of efficient social media advertising and marketing.
Their founder began a social media problem to succeed in an revenue milestone from her creator’s Instagram account, which she ultimately shifted to her company’s account.
Why this marketing campaign was profitable:
- The content material collection is about constructing in public — which retains individuals hooked and builds belief. Everybody desires to know when you fulfill the problem you’ve taken on. Individuals additionally respect you sharing your setbacks, failures, and struggles — fostering a powerful connection.
- The founder shares an trustworthy look behind her workflow, struggles, and wins. It’s not a shiny portrayal of success however an correct image of the method for individuals who share the identical aim.
Key takeaways:
- Individuals love a peek backstage. Launch efficient campaigns that simply share the behind-the-scenes of constructing what you are promoting. After the model fulfilled this problem, its founder continued the collection by rising the stakes (a $50,000/month problem).
- Create genuine and weak social media advertising and marketing content material to actually resonate together with your viewers and assist them be taught out of your errors.The marketing campaign confirmed each the ‘why’ and the individuals behind the model.
- Aside from the content material itself, Fiza’s video modifying expertise had been additionally A+ — the digital camera cuts had been excellent, there was no fluff in any video, and her voice was crisp and clear. All these components mixed made each video an excellent watch.
Creating and fascinating together with your social media marketing campaign is what must be spending your vitality on — the very last thing you need is to get slowed down manually posting your content material day-after-day. .
The best option to automate that is to introduce Buffer into your social media administration workflow: it can save you concepts, schedule posts, measure marketing campaign efficiency, and even have interaction together with your clients from a single tab.
The perfect half? If you populate all of your content material prematurely in Buffer’s content material calendar, it’s also possible to spot gaps in your social media advertising and marketing technique. For instance, perhaps you discover every week’s wanting fairly gentle by way of the variety of posts, so that you fill it together with your best-performing content material sorts.
Have an attention-grabbing social media marketing campaign instance (maybe yours 😉) that you just assume we missed? We’re at all times on the hunt for extra recent campaigns to characteristic right here — share yours with us within the feedback beneath!
