2013 was considered as the benchmark for traditional advertising while social media marketing was somewhat still in its infancy as marketers struggled to make sense of how to utilize social media to maximize brand exposure. You probably saw that “Oreo Envy” ad during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLVII.

However, 2014 was a banner year for social media marketing. This was the year that marketers saw the real-time advantage of social media and thereafter launched many successful social media campaigns that received a highly positive response from its targeted niche market. Here are six of those highlights from 2014.

Taco Bell and its #onlyontheapp campaign

Taco Bell shocked everyone when they had a complete social media blackout across all their platforms with the release of their mobile app. The fast-food joint chose to launch its latest product by cutting through everything with a new approach: to drive people to download its new mobile app.

When people opened Taco Bell’s Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, all these sites offered only this single message: Taco Bell isn’t here, it’s #onlyontheapp. The drastic tactic worked, and the app became number one in the Food and Beverage category on the iTunes App Store and broke the Top 25 Apps overall. In fact, 75% of Taco Bell’s 6,000 U.S. stores processed mobile orders within the first 24 hours of the app’s release.

The White House and its #GetCovered campaign

After a shaky start due to government website issues, U.S. President Obama and his social media team launched #GetCovered to increase registration for the Affordable Care Act. To effectively reach the targeted demographic of millennials, considered here as the niche market for this healthcare campaign, one of the most successful social media campaigns ever launched covered many social platforms previously untouched.

The #GetCovered campaign aimed to reach millennials in a way that was organic and digestible. The campaign’s website provided good information, profile pictures, and cover photos all easily sharable on users’ social media accounts. President Obama also ventured into new territory by becoming the first verified user on Quora, a question-and-answer-based social community, in fact, holding an online forum discussing the Affordable Care Act.

Arguably the most hilarious component of successful social media campaigns was the president’s appearance on the online talk show Between Two Ferns with comedian Zach Galifianakis. It got over 8 million views, trended nationally, and won a Creative Arts Emmy Award.

Successful Social Media Campaigns Means Doing Something Different

The famous ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

2014 was the year you saw friends, coworkers, family members, and celebrities participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. This was a dare that encouraged people to dump a freezing cold bucket of ice water on themselves to raise money and awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

The viral trend of one of the most successful social media campaigns went beyond anything imaginable. Hundreds of thousands of people undertook the challenge to raise money and awareness for ALS. According to Facebook, over 17 million videos were shared that were viewed over 10 billion times by 440 million people. Over $115 million was raised for the ALS organization.

In Conclusion

Studying the most successful social media campaigns in 2014 can provide valuable insights and knowledge. These campaigns have demonstrated the power of effective social media strategies, sophisticated content creation, and targeted audience engagement. By analyzing their tactics, marketers, and businesses can learn how to effectively connect with their target audience, create compelling content, and utilize the various social media platforms.

Furthermore, these campaigns have emphasized the importance of understanding and adapting to the ever-evolving landscape of social media. As technology and trends continue to evolve, it is crucial for businesses to stay updated and innovative in their social media approach. By studying the successful campaigns of the past, businesses can gain valuable knowledge and apply it to their own social media strategies, ultimately driving engagement, brand awareness, and sales.

FAQs:

1. What are social media campaigns?

Social media campaigns refer to strategic marketing efforts that utilize various social media platforms to promote a specific message or achieve specific objectives. These campaigns often involve creating and sharing content, engaging with the target audience, and measuring the performance of the campaign using relevant metrics.

2. Why is it important to study successful social media campaigns from 2014?

Studying successful social media campaigns from 2014 allows us to gain valuable insights into effective strategies, techniques, and trends that can be applied to current and future campaigns. By analyzing what made these campaigns successful, we can learn from their strengths and apply those learnings to our own campaigns to achieve better results.

3. What defines a successful social media campaign?

A successful social media campaign can be defined by various factors, including high engagement levels, increased brand awareness, a significant boost in website traffic, positive user sentiment, and the achievement of campaign goals or objectives. Additionally, campaigns that demonstrate innovation, creativity, and the ability to generate buzz are often considered successful.

4. How can studying successful social media campaigns benefit my own marketing efforts?

Studying successful social media campaigns can provide inspiration and guidance for your own marketing efforts. By identifying the strategies and techniques that worked well for other campaigns, you can adapt and apply those approaches to your own campaigns to increase effectiveness and improve overall results. It also allows you to stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in the dynamic world of social media marketing.

5. What are some notable examples of successful social media campaigns from 2014?

In 2014, there were several notable social media campaigns that achieved great success. Some examples include the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised awareness and funds for ALS research, the World Cup-themed campaigns by Nike and Adidas, which capitalized on the global sporting event, and the Dove “Real Beauty” campaign, which aimed to promote body positivity and self-esteem.

6. What can be learned from the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge campaign?

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was one of the most successful in 2014. It demonstrated the power of user-generated content, viral marketing, and leveraging social networks for a good cause. This campaign taught us the importance of simplicity, emotional appeal, and creating a sense of community to encourage participation and sharing.

Photo Credit | https://www.flickr.com/photos/gavinjllewellyn/6235070321