Best Social Media Campaigns of 2016

Online marketing has come a long way over the years. With the introduction of tools like Instagram stories and Facebook Live, marketers can use social media to their advantage in ways they’ve never been able to before. Because so many people use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, social media campaigns are almost a necessity for promotional purposes. In 2016, countless brands have influenced on the way we think about digital marketing by how they have used various social media platforms. Although it was hard to choose, here are Aronson Advertising’s favorite social media campaigns of 2016.

#AYearInSpace by Astronaut Scott Kelly

How does living in space affect your physical appearance? To study the changes that occurred, NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly (along with Russian Cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko) spent a year up in the cosmos to test the limits of human endurance in space. The kicker? Kelly has an identical twin brother, making these physical changes even more apparent. While in space, Kelly used the hashtag #AYearInSpace to document his adventure and bring attention to his mission, posting content on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and SnapChat, and even hosted an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit. When Kelly returned to Earth on March 2, 2016, he had not only gathered priceless data, but also helped garner an interest among the public in space and space missions. Sure, space exploration isn’t a brand or product, but Kelly’s social media presence is an excellent example of how an individual can use social media to promote themselves and their work.

*Image credit: NASA.gov.

Harry Caray’s Last Call by Budweiser

What do you get when you combine a legendary sports icon and a long-awaited win from one of the most beloved baseball teams? Budweiser’s homage to the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs, of course! The Cubbies are near and dear to our hearts here at Aronson Advertising, but that’s not why this campaign is on our list. Budweiser debuted their commercial on TV but it became so popular that the video went viral on various social media websites. The popular beer ad features the late Cubs sportscaster Harry Caray calling a World Series win sooner than later for the long-time underdogs. We’re given a quick flashback to the Cubs’ game seven win, capturing the spirit and energy of that magnificent night perfectly. Since its original posting date on November 3, 2016, the video has been viewed more than three million times on YouTube.

Tasty Facebook Videos by Buzzfeed

Are you an avid cook or baker? If you use Facebook, chances are you’ve seen the eye-catching and mouth-watering Tasty recipe videos from popular media site Buzzfeed. They take a visual approach to cooking by showing users how to create the perfect roasted chicken, or bake a super scrumptious chocolate cake, all in a short video. The people over at Buzzfeed struck a chord with Facebook users looking for new and easy recipes while also creating content that is easily sharable and pragmatic. The campaign did so well, that Buzzfeed offered to create personalized Tasty cookbooks of readers’ favorite recipes. We don’t even need to provide a link; all you need to do is log onto Facebook to find tonight’s dinner!

*Image credit: Buzzfeed.com.

#ShareYourEars by Disney & Make-A-Wish Foundation

Of the many things that social media is useful for, one of the most impactful is raising awareness of significant causes and events. Teaming up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Disney started the #ShareYourEars hashtag to raise awareness and money for children who are terminally ill. How does it work? Those who participated were asked to post a picture of themselves on Twitter or Instagram in Mickey Mouse ears and use the hashtag #ShareYourEars. For every person who participated, Disney pledged to make a $5 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with a cap of $1 million. However, the campaign was so successful that Disney ended up donating $2 million.

*Image credit: MakeAWish.ca.

Are you looking to heighten your social media influence? Let our team help! For more information on our services, contact Aronson Advertising online or call us at (847) 297-1700.