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Social media marketing can sometimes feel like a huge, confusing maze. You’re trying to figure out what works, what doesn’t, and how to stand out among so many brands. The good news? There are some seriously inspiring campaigns out there that have nailed it and can give you fresh ideas for your own strategy.
Here are 10 social media marketing examples that really made waves. These examples will give you ideas and strategies to up your game.
The #ShotOniPhone campaign shows off the iPhone’s camera quality by featuring user-taken photos. It’s a celebration of what Apple users can achieve with their phones.
Launched in 2015, for iPhone 6s this social media campaign was simple yet powerful. It asked iPhone users to share their best photos on social media using the hashtag #ShotOniPhone. Apple then selected standout shots to feature in ads, on billboards, and across social media.
In 2022, they added the “iPhone Macro Challenge,” focusing on close-up shots taken with the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max’s new macro lens. Users shared detailed, up-close images, and Apple chose ten winning photos.
This campaign gained massive popularity on Instagram, with over 26 million of people posting under #ShotOniPhone and #iPhoneMacroChallenge.
Apple doesn’t need to boast about its camera quality. Instead, the campaign invited users to participate and let the product speak for itself.
People trust results from regular users over polished ads. So, seeing these beautiful images as social media content confirmed what Apple says about their cameras. It felt real and authentic. By letting the photos do the talking, Apple built trust and created excitement.
This approach builds community and creates hype without even needing traditional ads. It’s perfect for brands with a visually driven product that can benefit from real-world, authentic examples.
Red Bull’s live events bring thrilling sports and action-packed moments directly to fans. It’s all about sharing excitement and energy through real experiences.
Red Bull is known for taking risks with its marketing and has created some of the most talked about social media campaigns. They focus on live-streamed events that capture the brand’s energetic vibe. Their YouTube channel is the main stage for this, with 11 million of subscribers to tune in. Red Bull’s events cover everything from extreme sports to music festivals.
In 2012, they launched the Red Bull Stratos campaign, featuring Felix Baumgartner’s jump from space. The buzz started on Facebook and YouTube, where Red Bull posted teasers to build excitement.
When the big day came, over 8 million viewers watched Felix’s historic jump live setting a streaming record. The campaign brought a massive 87,801 new subscribers to the channel.
Instead of just telling fans about the thrill, Red Bull let them feel it. Yes, they invested a lot in promoting this, but the payoff was huge. Fans connect with these authentic, live experiences. This approach helped Red Bull reach a wide audience and boosted their brand image.
This kind of approach of leveraging social networking for marketing is ideal for brands that want to create a strong connection with fans. It’s especially useful for B2C companies that rely on energy and excitement. Perfect for businesses that aim to build brand awareness and loyalty through big, shareable moments.
Next one from Duolingo is a great one among other social network marketing examples. You probably know Duolingo as the top app for learning new languages. But did you know they have a super popular TikTok account? With over 6.6 million followers, Duolingo has become a TikTok sensation! Their secret? The adorable green owl mascot named Duo.
The TikTok videos are funny, relatable, and sometimes a bit “unhinged.” Duo appears in all kinds of silly situations, from dancing to giving playful reminders to study.
What’s cool is that many videos don’t even mention the app! Instead, they join in on trendy challenges and memes. This approach has helped Duolingo raise brand awareness while keeping things light and fun.
Duolingo’s strategy is effective because it keeps viewers smiling. This makes users feel connected to the brand without heavy marketing. Instead of a hard sell, Duolingo builds a community that enjoys following along with Duo’s adventures.
It’s perfect for businesses that can use humor and creativity to build buzz. If you want to create brand awareness and connect with your audience in a fun way, Duolingo’s TikTok success is another fantastic example of social media marketing done right.
Shopify knows its audience—small business owners and entrepreneurs. To connect with them, Shopify shares content that’s educational, uplifting, and super practical.
They use platforms like TikTok and Instagram to share social media content with tips on launching businesses, overcoming common challenges, and even celebrating user success stories. They share these in small doses rather than in long content form. It helps busy individuals' consume the content better and faster.
This approach not only helps entrepreneurs learn and grow but it also makes Shopify a trusted guide for resource. New businesses can find advice, encouragement, and practical tips all in one place. By focusing on their audience’s needs, Shopify shows they understand entrepreneurs’ real challenges.
Shopify’s social media campaign strategy works because it truly helps the users and builds trust. They provide real answers to real questions, creating a loyal following. Entrepreneurs come back because Shopify feels like a problem-solver, a partner, not just a brand.
Shopify’s approach is perfect for B2B brands aiming to build long-term loyalty and trust. It’s ideal for brand-building, customer acquisition, and engaging with niche audiences like small businesses. Companies looking to inspire their audience while staying informative can learn a lot from Shopify’s strategy.
Dove launched “Show Us” to challenge narrow beauty standards and bring more authentic representation to social media campaigns. Partnering with Getty Images and Girlgaze, Dove encouraged women to post unedited photos on platforms like Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #ShowUs. These photos featured diverse women, including different body types, ages, and ethnic backgrounds, all proudly displaying their true selves.
This campaign wasn’t about selling a product but about building a movement. It became one of their most successful social network marketing examples. Dove’s message resonated deeply with people tired of seeing unrealistic beauty expectations online. Their focus on self-acceptance and diversity helped millions feel seen and valued. And the impact was huge—33 million YouTube views, 15,000+ new followers, and widespread positive feedback.
If you want to know about the top social media platforms and how to select which one to focus on for your business read this article.
Dove showed it really understood its audience. They spoke to people’s values and created a space for women to feel proud of who they are. This approach gave Dove credibility and strengthened its brand as a supporter of real beauty.
The “Show Us” campaign is an ideal strategy for B2C brands aiming to build strong brand awareness and loyalty. It’s especially powerful for brands in beauty, lifestyle, or wellness, where authenticity can turn followers into fans and brand advocates. This kind of campaign is perfect for building community, spreading positive sentiment, and connecting on a deeper level with your audience.
National Geographic grabs attention with their social media campaigns. They use breathtaking photos and captivating storytelling for that purpose. Their main Instagram account is full of striking wildlife images and cultural scenes from around the world. Each photo often includes a personal caption from the photographer, adding a unique and real perspective.
Through campaigns like Heroes of the Oceans (with Rolex), NatGeo uses Instagram Stories and Twitter polls to keep audiences connected and aware.
They also invite their followers to share their own photos using hashtags like #YourShotPhotographer. This creates a community of people who care about nature, adding even more authenticity. Whether it’s the beauty of an animal in the wild or the impact of climate change, each post has a purpose: to make people think, care, and act.
People love how National Geographic brings real stories straight to their feeds. The combination of professional photography, genuine captions, and interactive features is engaging and relatable. This way, they don’t just share content. They connect emotionally and build a loyal following.
National Geographic’s method works well for inspiring followers and creating emotional connections, so it’s especially effective for companies in education, non-profits, environmental advocacy, or social causes. If your goal is to boost loyalty, expand your follower base, or create awareness around important topics, this kind of visual storytelling could be highly effective for you.
Apeel is a food innovation company focused on reducing food waste. They wanted consumers to choose fruits and veggies protected by their plant-based coating. Instead of using celebrities for social media marketing, they created fun characters out of avocados, limes, and cucumbers.
These characters were featured in a series of movie trailer-style videos called Spoiler Alert!. The campaign ran across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, as well as streaming sites like SlingTV and Fubo. They also placed social media ads to spread the word further.
The result? The campaign generated over 20 million impressions! This clever approach got people talking and engaged, making fresh produce exciting.
The use of interesting ways to showcase Apeel's features with actual products made the campaign unique and entertaining. This fun twist caught people’s attention and made them curious about Apeel’s products. By choosing to focus on playful storytelling rather than traditional advertising, they stood out in the market.
This campaign is ideal for B2C brands looking to build awareness and engage customers creatively. Food brands can especially benefit from such playful marketing, but any company wanting to make a splash can learn from Apeel’s approach. If you want to connect with your audience in a memorable way, think outside the box like Apeel did!
Allbirds is a popular footwear brand valued at over $4 billion. They kicked off their launch campaign on Instagram and YouTube, generating buzz among potential buyers. They shared eye-catching pictures of their sneakers, giving fans a sneak peek.
Allbirds leveraged social networking for marketing. They collaborated with affiliates who created their own content on social media. This helped build trust and excitement through word of mouth. Overall, the campaign created a lot of anticipation.
Allbirds successfully showcased its personality and values, which resonated with its audience. By creating a unique brand image, they built social proof that encouraged trust and increased sales. The fun and engaging content made the launch feel special.
The method AllBirds applied is perfect for B2C brands aiming to create excitement around a product launch. It’s great for building brand awareness and generating buzz.
If you want to connect with your audience and make a lasting impression, remember to share your brand’s story and values just like Allbirds did!
Chewy’s YouTube channel is a treasure trove for pet owners. It offers tips on training, health, and even heartwarming stories. In these videos, Chewy provides useful information while naturally showcasing its products.
For instance, they explain what materials are needed and highlight the products available on their site. Each video links to blog posts with even more details and direct links for purchasing. It simply encourages viewers to explore Chewy’s offerings.
By combining education with promotion, Chewy actually builds trust and loyalty among pet owners. They set themselves as a reliable resource. So, it became easy for viewers to find and buy what they need. This approach not only informs but also engages their audience. This strategy is an example of giving value to your audience through social media campaigns.
This strategy works well for B2C companies, especially those in the pet or health industries. It’s effective for brand awareness and customer acquisition. If you want to connect with your audience while showcasing your products, consider sharing educational content like Chewy does!
As COVID-19 impacted countless small businesses, DoorDash took a human-first approach with their advertising. Instead of promoting their services outright, they featured real chefs and restaurant workers striving to adapt to the new normal.
DoorDash’s ad captured the emotional weight of the situation. It effectively highlighted the importance of supporting local restaurants without sounding salesy.
This campaign hit home for many people. It addressed the struggles of small businesses during the pandemic, whatever sector they were in, which resonated deeply with viewers. The video was concise and impactful, using emotional storytelling to connect with the audience.
This type of social media campaign is great for B2C brands, especially during challenging times. It builds brand awareness and loyalty while fostering a strong emotional connection. If your brand wants to make a meaningful impact, focus on stories that matter to your audience, just like DoorDash did!
Effective social media marketing is crucial in modern times. It needs a blend of creativity & authenticity. Understanding your customers and addressing their needs is the most important part. So, think about your brand’s voice. Use it to inspire your audience and keep them engaged with your brand.