10 social media marketing examples you can’t miss
With over 5 billion people using social media worldwide — a number expected to hit nearly 6 billion by 2025 — it’s easier than ever for businesses to connect with a vast audience. For small businesses, this is a game-changer.
But here’s the thing — we get it. Running a small business means wearing a gazillion hats, and finding the time to craft out-of-the-box social media campaigns can sometimes feel impossible. That’s exactly why we’re here with this article: to arm you with creative ideas that can serve as inspiration for your next campaigns. From holiday deals and showcasing your products in cool ways to gift guides and fun games, these 10 social media marketing examples can help put your brand on the map.
And to make it even easier for you, we’ve got ready-made templates for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other social media platforms. Just tweak them a bit in the VistaCreate graphic design editor to match your brand’s style, and you’re good to go.
Let’s dive in!
The superpowers of social media marketing for small businesses
- Impressive reach and conversion: According to Salesforce, almost 60% of users have utilized social media platforms to make purchases. If your business is absent from their feeds, you’re missing out on a significant opportunity to engage with a vast audience.
- Cost-effective marketing: Gone are the days when advertising your business required substantial investments in billboards, TV commercials, and expensive print ads. Social media has revolutionized marketing, enabling you to reach a wide audience without breaking the bank.
- Engagement and loyalty: Social media transcends mere advertising; it’s about fostering a community that values and supports your business. Engaging with customers and making them feel appreciated transforms them from purchasers into dedicated advocates of your brand.
10 out-of-the-box social media marketing examples (+ bonus idea)
Innovative ideas are the lifeblood of social media marketing, distinguishing brands in a crowded digital landscape and captivating audiences with memorable content. Not only do they engage and entertain, but they also foster a unique brand identity and community. So, check out these creative examples and tailor them to your brand.
1. Holiday-inspired offers
Tapping into this festive energy with holiday-themed content is like hosting a party everyone wants to attend. Whether it’s the spooky allure of Halloween, the cozy vibes of winter holidays, or the romantic mood of Valentine’s Day, holiday-inspired content resonates with people. It boosts engagement and makes your brand a part of their celebrations.
Let’s not forget the cherry on top of the cake — holiday shopping! Holidays are prime times for consumer spending, and themed content can direct this spending your way. Whether it’s a special promotion for Black Friday, a Christmas sale, or a Valentine’s Day gift guide, these types of social media campaigns create timely touchpoints for promoting your products or services.
Here are some VistaCreate templates selected by our team. Don’t hesitate to use them for your next campaign!
2. Creative product showcases
Traditional product photos? Think again. How about showcasing your products in unexpected settings or through unusual perspectives? Consider a series of videos that follow your product through a day in its life, or a sequence of posts where your products become characters on an adventure. These out-of-the-box ideas not only showcase your products, but also transform your social media feeds into destinations for creativity.
Teaming up with local artists or graphic designers to showcase your products can distinguish your brand. This approach isn’t just about presenting your products; it’s about narrating their story through an artistic lens. Whether it involves limited-edition packaging designs, interactive art installations, or mesmerizing product photoshoots, these collaborations turn your products into works of art.
Explore featured VistaCreate templates that you can use for your business:
3. Themed challenges
Challenges centered around specific themes or activities invite participation, creativity, and sharing. As a result, this social media marketing example turns passive viewers into active participants. From eco-friendly businesses promoting sustainability challenges to fitness brands launching workout challenges, the possibilities are endless and adaptable across various industries.
Pro tip from VistaCreate: Create a unique, memorable hashtag for your challenge. This not only organizes content, but also boosts visibility across social media platforms.
Here are some templates you can use to launch a branded challenge. Find more designs on our platform!
4. Engaging interactions
Quizzes, polls, riddles, questions, and other types of interactive content can help your business spark conversations, understand your audience’s preferences, and make them feel heard.
Whether it’s a quirky quiz that reveals which product suits users best, a poll asking for their opinion on your next product launch, or a simple question that invites them to share their thoughts, interactive content is key to unlocking deeper insights into your audience.
If you want to incorporate interactions into your social media strategy, use these templates:
5. Contests and giveaways
For small businesses, hosting contests and giveaways is like hitting the engagement jackpot. First off, who doesn’t love freebies? The allure of winning something creates buzz that boosts your social media activity and amplifies your brand’s reach as participants share with their friends.
But the magic doesn’t stop there. With a sprinkle of creativity, your contest can stand out: think beyond the simple “like and share”. Incorporate competitions that reflect your brand’s ethos, like photo contests capturing your product in unusual settings or guessing games about the next product your brand is launching (right, Emma Chamberlain?).
Get inspired and create a fun contest for your audience. These templates will help you save time on designs!
By the way, you can totally repurpose your ready-made project for other social media platforms to expand your reach. Check out the resizing tool that can help you do so. Just select formats you want to resize your design to and tweak your new projects if needed.
6. Expert pieces
In the digital age, where information is at everyone’s fingertips, how-tos, handbooks, and DIYs stand out as invaluable tools for brands aiming to provide real value to their audience. This content format does more than just engage; it educates, empowers, and establishes your brand as a go-to resource in your industry.
If you’re a home décor manufacturer, share DIY home renovation projects to inspire your audience’s home makeover. As a fitness blogger, you could share your step-by-step workout routines. Meanwhile, skincare brands can offer guides on achieving specific makeup looks or skincare hints.
Pro tip from VistaCreate: Visuals are key to effective how-to content. Utilize engaging videos or infographics to break down complex processes into digestible, easy-to-follow steps.
7. Cross-promotional collaborations
Collaborations between brands and creators, or even partnerships with other businesses, offer a dynamic pathway to broaden your audience, infuse fresh content into your feed, and leverage the strengths of both parties involved. This strategy transcends traditional marketing confines, fostering a spirit of community and innovation.
If you’re aiming for maximum exposure, engage in cross-promotion. Take full advantage of each other’s social media channels, email lists, and any other marketing platforms to support the collaboration. This maximizes visibility and introduces your brand to a wider audience.
8. Branded gift guides
Incorporating your products into wish lists or crafting curated gift guides is a clever strategy that taps into the power of suggestion and aspiration. This approach not only positions your products as desirable gifts, but also simplifies the shopping process for your audience, especially during peak gift-giving seasons like the holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries.
This social media marketing example can be easily adopted by fashion brands, skincare companies, lifestyle bloggers, or gourmet food businesses. Note that cross-promotions are also beneficial here. Consider suggesting your favorite products alongside those from other local brands to build a community around your company.
Ready for your first branded gift guide? You can use one of our templates to quickly create a design for socials.
9. Trends, trends, trends
Trends become trends for a reason. Jumping on trending content can propel your brand into the spotlight, making it relevant, timely, and engaging. Whether it’s showcasing in-and-out content that aligns with current memes, creating unboxing videos for new product launches, or incorporating the color of the year into your product line, tapping into trends allows your brand to speak the language of the moment.
To leverage trends effectively, keep a pulse on trending topics through social media listening tools, trending hashtags, and popular culture news. Choose those that align with your brand values. Also, when jumping on a trend, think about how you can add a unique perspective. Whether it’s a clever twist on a viral challenge or an insightful take on a trending topic, originality will make your content stand out.
Featured templates selected by our team:
10. Fun games
Incorporating games into social media content presents an innovative avenue for brands to enhance engagement and deepen user interaction. This is a truly out-of-the-box idea! By designing interactive games that align with their brand’s identity, companies can create memorable experiences that not only entertain, but also educate their audience about certain products or services.
Go wild! Think of all the games you played as a kid. Can you make a series of posts out of them? Think “Two truths and a lie,” “Find the hidden something,” “One has to go,” and others. This strategy not only boosts engagement rates, but also fosters a sense of loyalty among users.
Leverage our ready-to-use templates to effortlessly bring your game-based campaigns to life!
Bonus idea: Aesthetic mood boards
By blending posts that reflect your unique style with carefully curated product shots, you invite your audience into a world that’s distinctly yours. This approach not only showcases your products in action, but also paints a vivid picture of your brand’s lifestyle.
Picture your social media feed as a gallery, where every post is a piece of art that speaks to your brand’s identity. Mix and match lifestyle imagery with product photography to tell a cohesive story. This method helps establish a deeper connection with your audience — they begin to see your products as integral elements of a lifestyle they aspire to, not just items for purchase.
Each campaign highlights the significance of pushing boundaries and thinking outside the box. Remember, in the constantly evolving landscape of social media, your imagination is the only limit. So go ahead, think differently and dare to stand out. We’re here to help!
If you’re eager to learn more about social media marketing and how you can effectively leverage it to promote your business, take a look at these articles:
