What are the best social campaigns? Many brands have realized the incredible potential of social media tools, leveraging them as the primary platform for their marketing ideas. Based on execution plans, achieved results, and community impact, I’ve curated a list of the top 12 social campaigns for you to read. Let’s get started!
12 Best Social Campaigns To Be Inspired Until 2025
These best social media campaigns were executed by brands of various industries. Whether you’re looking for inspiration in fashion, food and beverage, beauty and personal care, or entertainment, you’ll find it here!
Barbie Movie Campaign – Warner Bros.
The Barbie Movie Campaign was a bold marketing effort by Warner Bros. to promote its new film directed by Greta Gerwig.
You may not believe, the budget for the Barbie Movie campaign was higher than the film’s production cost, $150 million!
This campaign emphasizes the viral power of social media while incorporating diverse tactics. Warner Bros. used a global OOH campaign, transforming streets with pink billboards, buses, and taxis, and even creating a CGI giant Barbie stepping into Dubai.
Reported by The Hollywood Reporter, during its opening week, Barbie grossed $155 million in the US and $337 million globally, becoming the highest-grossing domestic movie in Warner Bros. Discovery’s 100-year history.
The second trailer trended at #28 on YouTube within 24 hours and generated 18 million social media engagements. Undoubtedly, this campaign turned the Barbie movie into both a box office triumph and a cultural moment.
Spotify Wrapped
Spotify Wrapped is a standout example of a campaign that deeply understands its audience. Since its launch in 2015, this annual December feature has turned users’ listening habits into a shareable, personalized experience.
The ability to share “Wraps” directly on social media drives massive engagement and keeps Spotify in the spotlight. In 2020, the campaign boosted mobile app downloads by 21% in just one week. Even more impressive, hashtags like #SpotifyWrapped keep the buzz alive year-round. A brilliant lesson in how data-driven storytelling can be fun, engaging, and highly effective, right?
Shot on iPhone – Apple
The “Shot on iPhone” campaign launched in 2015 to promote the iPhone 6s. It started as a “ridiculously simple” idea: showcase real photos and videos taken by users, just a “ridiculously simple” idea. This user-generated content (UGC) approach quickly became iconic for iPhone marketing.
Apple implemented a multi-channel strategy, including social media contests, influencer collaborations, and print advertising. The #ShotoniPhone hashtag now boasts over 30 million posts on Instagram, reflecting its massive user engagement.
Shot on iPhone, one of the best social campaigns by Apple, boosted iPhone 6s sales at launch but also reinforced Apple’s dominance in the smartphone market. What a perfect example of how empowering users can create authentic, impactful marketing! Simple, yet brilliant!
Coca-Cola’s Christmas truck
Coca-Cola’s Christmas truck has been part of our Christmases since 1995. This campaign combines social platforms and real-life objects. The Christmas truck is now firmly built into our popular culture, with a real version of the blazing red truck touring the UK every December.
Having analyzed numerous case studies, I completely agree with the campaign’s insight that familiarity often breeds affection, which gave rise to the Christmas truck.
The hashtag #HolidaysAreComing was actively used by Coca-Cola to spread awareness across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and more. Coca-Cola also took the initiative to update the public on the schedule of the Christmas truck on its official website. After nearly 30 years, this truck has become an iconic symbol that signals the arrival of Christmas every year.
Real Beauty – Dove
I probably don’t need to introduce this campaign much, do I? Real Beauty from Dove is incredibly famous among the best social awareness campaigns. Going back to 2004, Dove launched the first-ever campaign that does not feature models. By using real women’s bodies, Dove elicited an emotional response, advocating the message that true beauty comes from within.
This project was so successful that Dove was able to expand with educational programs like The Self-Esteem Project through social media, using the hashtag #DoveSelfEsteemProject. In addition to Out of Home media, Dove cleverly incorporated video content and viral clips.
The message of boosting self-esteem through Real Beauty Sketches had a huge impact when it was posted on 33 of Dove’s YouTube channels in 25 different languages, reaching over 110 countries. According to Business Insider, just one month after launch, the video reached 114 million views and was shared 3.74 million times, becoming the third most shared video of all time.
“No Turkey” Campaign – KFC
KFC’s “No Turkey” Campaign in November 2023 was the world’s first anti-UCG campaign. In a bold move, KFC refused to give in to public pressure to add turkey to its festive menu, sticking firmly to its core product for over 70 years. That’s chicken.
KFC reinforced its commitment to its brand identity with the slogan, “We saw you. We heard you. And we ignored you. We’re sticking with chicken.”
The campaign humorously addressed customer requests for a turkey burger through a YouTube video ad and was supported by out-of-home (OOH) advertising and digital platforms, showing that KFC knows exactly what it does best and isn’t afraid to stand by it! Do you think this is one of the best fast food social media campaigns?
“It Starts on TikTok” – Tiktok
The “It Starts on TikTok” campaign, launched in 2020 with the support of creative agency Lucky Generals, was a bold move to showcase the power of TikTok in sparking trends and creativity.
The slogan appeared on some of the UK’s biggest billboards, across radio, podcasts, social media, in-app, and TV screens. All emphasize that even the biggest adventures can start with a small step, and with Tiktok. Considered as one of the best social campaigns by Tiktok, it effectively positioned this platform as the launchpad for creativity and self-expression.
What Tiktok gained was impressive. It boosted Tiktok’s brand visibility, engaged users across various platforms, and expanded TikTok’s creator ecosystem.
Snap to steal – Cheetos
Cheetos’ Snap to Steal campaign, launched during the Super Bowl to promote their Crunch Pop Mix snack, tapped into a relatable insight: snack stealing is something we all do. The campaign exaggerated this idea humorously, showcasing how irresistible the new Cheetos is. So delicious that you’d even go behind your partner’s back to enjoy it!
The campaign took a multi-platform approach, engaging audiences on Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube with the support of pre-game teasers, game-day activations, and post-game engagement.
The results were phenomenal. The TikTok hashtag challenge post-game generated over 3.7 billion views and nearly 2 million videos from creators.
Sales surged compared to the previous year’s Super Bowl campaign, and the TVC drove significant trials of Cheetos Crunch Pop Mix, with 50k bags sold on game day alone. It even helped Replacing Chef Chico reach the top spot on Netflix Philippines, staying in the Top 10 for six weeks. What a massive win! One of the best food social media campaigns I read!
Patagonia Mission-Led Content
Patagonia’s Mission-Led Content is one of the best social cause campaigns that perfectly blends the brand’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility with its marketing efforts.
Since its inception, Patagonia has been known for advocating sustainability and using its platform to drive positive change. This campaign emphasizes the company’s core mission: to protect and preserve the environment.
What I find most striking is how Patagonia has used storytelling to promote its values rather than traditional product advertisements. Through documentaries, social media content, and partnerships, they highlight real-world issues such as climate change, overconsumption, and the protection of public lands.
Patagonia’s approach is far more mission-driven than many other brands, pushing the narrative that business success should align with broader societal impact. It deserved to be one of the best environmental social media campaigns by far.
If You Dream It, Tweet It – Twitter
If you have a dream, Twitter is the place to share it, connect with others, and potentially make it a reality. This is what Twitter wants to convey through this campaign.
By launching the motto across multiple platforms, from social media channels to outdoor billboards, Twitter could reach a wider audience and make a huge buzz.
The If You Can Dream It, Tweet It campaign’s success can also be attributed to its user-generated content. By featuring regular Twitter users alongside celebrities, the campaign inspired users to share their own dreams and aspirations.
So, what do you learn from this campaign? Is that an emotional appeal?
What the Football – Nike
Launched in July 2023, Nike’s campaign celebrated the power and impact of female athletes, particularly in the lead-up to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The campaign featured 11 iconic footballers, including Ada Hegerberg, Megan Rapinoe, and Sam Kerr, showcasing their talents and stories through dynamic, time-travel-inspired films.
By highlighting both established and rising stars, this was one of the best social campaigns by Apple, that emphasized the growing momentum behind women’s sports. It aligns with Nike’s broader efforts to support female athletes, offering better products, services, and pushing for greater equality in sports coverage and recognition.
The campaign generated over 16 million social media interactions and led to a 15% increase in sales of its football products compared to the previous quarter. Impressive, right?
Needless to say, this is a powerful reminder of how brands can drive both cultural change and business results by championing inclusivity and equality.
Blockout2024 Movement
The Blockout2024 Movement wasn’t a branded campaign, but it garnered massive attention and sparked a huge conversation online. This movement called for a boycott of well-known influencers and celebrities across multiple social platforms.
To understand it better, we need to look back at the 2024 Met Gala. In a now-deleted video, influencer Haley Baylee (real name Haley Kalil) was seen outside the event in a lavish floral gown and headpiece, saying, “Let them eat cake,” while syncing to a TikTok sound.
This moment coincided with graphic images of Israel’s attack on the Palestinian city of Rafah, leading to a wave of comparisons to The Hunger Games, where the wealthy elite live in luxury while people suffer.
The Blockout2024 movement urged people to boycott these celebrities, and its impact was clear. Many of the targeted influencers saw a significant drop in their social media following. For those wanting to stay informed about the movement’s progress, the official website Blockout2024 provides updates on which celebrities have been affected. It’s fascinating how grassroots efforts on social media can have such a powerful influence on pop culture.
Key Tactics To Build Social Media Campaigns
I’m not going to give you generic advice about setting goals, understanding your audience, or defining your metrics,… to execute the best social campaigns. Those are the basics of setting up any campaign.
Have you heard of the 7C model? If your brand is planning a social media campaign, you should definitely consider applying it. This is a framework I’ve learned and refined over more than 10 years in the marketing industry. The 7Cs are:
- Content
Create engaging, high-quality content tailored to your audience. Use varied formats to entertain, educate, or inspire.
- Context
Align content with platform dynamics, audience behavior, and timing. Each platform demands a unique approach.
- Community
Build a loyal audience by fostering connections. Engage actively, respond to comments, and showcase UGC.
- Conversation
Encourage two-way interaction through polls, Q&As, or live sessions. Dialogue builds trust and authenticity.
- Consistency
Maintain uniform messaging and a regular posting schedule to reinforce your brand identity.
- Collaboration
Partner with influencers, creators, or other brands for authentic reach and amplified impact.
- Conversion
Drive measurable results with strong CTAs and seamless paths to action. Track ROI to ensure success.
Each element in the 7C model plays a crucial role, but the key is to adapt it to your brand’s goals and context. Depending on the purpose of your campaign, you may prioritize certain Cs over others. So, which of these will be your campaign’s key tactics?
In addition to the 7C model, I also shared various other marketing frameworks you can explore. Check them out at: Digital Marketing
Conclusion
That’s my summary of the best social campaigns for you! Which campaign impressed you the most? What lessons did you take away from each one? Leave a comment below so we can discuss together. Don’t forget to follow HenryDuy.com for more updates on Digital Marketing!
