Image Credits Pantanea, CC0 1.0
Coming up with successful marketing campaigns take creativity and ingenuity. They may take some time and are often rather difficult to develop. You will be amazed at how many awesome marketing campaigns you are exposed to each day without realizing it. Let’s take a look at some smart examples of marketing.
Coca Cola’s “Share a Coke”
Share a Coke is everywhere! Videos and vlogs were all over the internet using the personalized coke bottles and cans. They took popular names, over 150 different names, and added them to the side of their products.
This is so simple! But, people went nuts over it. Why was the Share a Coke campaign so successful? It made the marketing personal. It used people’s names. Coke asked their customers to share their product. It became a viral campaign, utilizing social media as well. It was a grand slam in marketing.
McDonald’s Monopoly Game
Everyone knows about McDonald’s game. It has been around for decades, simply because it works for them. People love games and the chance to win money. The chance to win prizes are relatively slim, but it still entices people to stop in for a large Coke or an extra Big Mac to see if they get the next Monopoly block they need.
Nike’s “Just Do It”
Nike’s marketing campaign has to be one of the best examples of marketing. In the late 1980s, Nike began the “Just Do It” campaign and it has stuck. The phrase is simple and sweet. It sticks in people’s head. It is a slogan that nearly everyone can relate to in their daily lives. In Nike’s case, they are encouraging people to exercise. Don’t want to run a mile? Just Do It.
It has become their backbone for almost every other marketing campaign and commercial. They connected with their customers on an emotional level. This is important for successful marketing.
Birchbox’s Email Marketing
Email marketing can be a bit trickier. It is hard to entice customers to open and not delete the email. Birchbox had a great solution to this issue. They made the best subject line: “We Forgot Something in Your February Box!”
Everyone is going to click that email; they think they are going to receive another product. The only thing they forgot as a discount code. They didn’t actually forget it, but they wanted to capture their customers’ attention.
Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders may not be the next United States’ president, but his marketing team are geniuses. This man is everywhere! The “Feel the Bern” campaign is catchy and nearly everyone has read it somewhere.
Bernie has a very detailed website, including answers to his most commonly asked questions. His policies are out in front and all answers to easy to find. You can find Bernie on YouTube, Instagram, and even more.
Hootsuite and Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is very popular right now; any company who taps into the popularity is thinking smart. Hootsuite is a social media management tool. It really isn’t an exciting topic, and they knew it.
They created a viral video called Games of Social Thrones. It’s catchy and it sparked interested and excitement. This is the ultimate goal for any marketing campaign. By looking at this example, we can see just how important it is to know what is popular and be unique. Don’t be afraid to have fun with your ideas.
Chipotle’s “Back to the Start”
Chipotle accidently created an ad that started the current chipotle rage. They began a loyalty program that was focused towards knowledge of food industry problems. The 140 second long commercial took the view along for a journey as an industrial farmer had a change of heart and turned towards sustainable and humane practices.
Then, Chipotle encouraged their customers to purchase the song on iTunes that accompanied the video. Proceeds would be donated to a foundation. It was a bold commercial that captured the company’s beliefs and ideals while challenging the current status of American agriculture. It was bold and heartfelt, and it worked for Chipotle.
The Most Interesting Man
More than likely, you already know the company that is next just from reading that line. Dos Equis started a rage with their 2007 campaign. They created a catchy tagline – “I don’t always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis. Stay thirsty, my friends.”
Anyone with cable has watched this commercial more times than countable. The most interesting man campaign is still going strong and they have added and changed people and scenes numerous times.
This ingenious and catchy marketing campaign has turned Dos Equis into one of the fastest growing beers.
Small Business Saturday by American Express
American Express started a campaign that is still going strong nearly six years later. It has benefited thousands of small businesses and stuck in the mind of millions. American Express wanted to find a way to help small business merchants increase their sales. They decided to see if they could cash in on the day after Black Friday.
They use a small but strong call to action – shop small. They use social media and hashtags to get people actively involved in their campaign. They began the campaign at the smart time as well; the recession was towards the end and more small businesses were emerging from the dust. While their intentions were to bring business to small businesses on that particular day, it has led millions to focus on supporting small, local businesses.
PayPal
Some companies rely heavily on email marketing to bring their customers back to utilize their services. One of these companies is PayPal. PayPal has some adorable example of email marketing.
They focus on relatable events in life that make the customer want to utilize their services. In one of their campaigns, they focus on going out to eat. Their catch phrase was very simple – “Good Food. Good Friends. Good way to split the bill.” This is a situation most people can identify. It may not be the flashiest campaigns, but it is relatable.
It is evident that smart marketing does more than just bring in more revenue. Marketing brings forth emotion and excitement. It calls the customers to action. Smart marketing campaigns have stuck in the mind of customers for decades.
