In 2024, influencer marketing took the world by storm! Brands worked with influencers to create fun and exciting campaigns that reached millions of people. Let’s look at the top 10 successful influencer marketing campaigns that went viral this year. We will keep it simple and easy to understand.
1. Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts has significantly impacted TikTok, boasting 3 million followers and 21.3 million likes, showcasing its immense popularity and reach. One key success factor is its strategic influencer marketing, particularly through a long-term partnership with prominent creator Charli D’Amelio. Instead of simply having Charli pose with the drink, Dunkin’ engaged her to create authentic TikTok content while ordering their products. This collaboration sparked a viral campaign under the hashtag #CharliXDunkinContest, encouraging fan participation and greatly increasing overall brand engagement.
Moreover, Dunkin’ launched two drinks named after Charli, starting with “The Charli,” generating excitement among both fans and customers alike. As a result of this strategic move, Dunkin’ experienced a remarkable 57% increase in app downloads on launch day and a 45% spike in cold brew sales. Overall, Dunkin’ effectively tapped into TikTok’s culture, driving significant brand growth and fostering customer interaction through well-planned influencer partnerships.
2. Gymshark
Gymshark has effectively used influencer marketing over the years, and one successful campaign was their 66 Days: Change Your Life challenge. This initiative transformed Gymshark 66 from a simple trend into a 66-day event, encouraging participants to adopt positive habits while competing for exciting prizes. By partnering with popular influencers on TikTok, Gymshark focused on video content, resulting in the #gymshark66 campaign achieving an impressive 241.3 million views.
Furthermore, #gymshark66 has garnered nearly 750,000 posts on Instagram, showcasing significant engagement and participation throughout the campaign.
While influencers shared content on TikTok to promote #gymshark66. Individuals shared their journeys of adopting healthier habits over 66 days, motivating others to join the movement. Overall, this multifaceted approach not only increased engagement but also strengthened Gymshark’s brand presence in the competitive fitness community.
3. Magnum
In partnership with Digital Voices, Magnum launched the “True To Pleasure” campaign, featuring multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and activist Halsey. This campaign includes a diverse global cast, each sharing their own stories of pleasure, along with Halsey, creating a powerful narrative. Additionally, it features a promotional video and Snapchat filters using the Magnum lens, enhancing audience engagement across platforms.
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The campaign introduced the Magnum Ruby ice cream on Instagram and TikTok, effectively raising awareness of Magnum’s True To Pleasure ethos. Magnum has a history of collaborating with established and emerging talents, as well as influential figures in art and culture.
4. Chipotle
Chipotle has effectively leveraged influencer marketing through various successful campaigns over the years, showcasing its innovative approach to engagement. They have partnered with high-profile influencers like David Dobrik and Shawn Mendes, significantly increasing brand visibility and reach. Recently, Chipotle launched a Creator Class featuring 15 influencers, including popular TikTok creators, to promote their brand authentically. One standout campaign took place during Pride Month in the summer of 2021, partnering with drag queens Trixie Mattel, Kim Chi, and Gottmik.
In this campaign, each drag star’s favorite Chipotle order was highlighted on the app and website, with $1 from each entree donated to an LGBTQ+ charity. Moreover, Chipotle collaborates with influencers like Christina “Tinx” Najjar, who has 1.4 million TikTok followers, enhancing their outreach.
5. Häagen-Dazs
Marketing agency TAKUMI successfully led a multi-platform social campaign called #HaagIndoors, aimed at raising awareness for Häagen-Dazs’ new Secret Sofa initiative. The campaign focused on driving positive sentiment and increasing brand consideration while boosting sales on Amazon Prime Now. To achieve this, TAKUMI collaborated with 24 nano and micro-influencers, providing creator-led content every week.
As a result, awareness and user-generated content flourished across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, significantly enhancing brand visibility. The influencer activity nearly doubled Häagen-Dazs’ weekly sales on Amazon, showcasing the campaign’s effectiveness. Over the 8 weeks, more than 450 pieces of influencer content were created, garnering nearly 3 million views. Additionally, the campaign achieved impressive engagement rates of 18.9% on TikTok and 4.15% on Instagram, highlighting its strong impact.
6. Tinder
With over half of Tinder users aged 18-25, the brand strategically turned to Gen-Z influencers to promote its services. In its 2021 influencer campaign, Tinder focused on collaborating with mega-influencers and TikTok creators whose content aligned with the brand’s identity. These influencers seamlessly integrated paid posts into their lifestyle content, ensuring a natural fit that resonated with their audiences.
Moreover, the campaign targeted creators who boasted strong organic engagement with their followers, amplifying Tinder’s reach among the Gen-Z demographic. By leveraging this approach, Tinder aimed to connect authentically with younger users while enhancing its brand presence on social media platforms.
7. Benefit Cosmetics
Benefit Cosmetics partnered with Crocs for a successful campaign called #benefitofcrocschallenge, led by influencer Manny MUA. This fun makeup challenge spanned across TikTok and Instagram Reels, inviting participants to perform beauty routines while wearing Crocs on their hands. Choosing Manny was a strategic move; he not only has 4 million followers but also enjoys a strong brand affinity for both Benefit and Crocs.
The challenge gained significant traction, receiving 6 million views on TikTok, and ultimately contributed to the limited edition Crocs line selling out. This collaboration effectively combined beauty and humor, engaging a wide audience and driving brand awareness for both companies.
8. Levi’s
Levi’s “Buy Better, Wear Longer” campaign collaborates with singer and actor Jaden Smith and influencer Emma Chamberlain to promote sustainability. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the fashion industry’s overconsumption and encourages consumers to shop second-hand. The campaign highlights the importance of committing to quality, sustainably sourced materials, a message echoed by Smith and Chamberlain in their videos.
Both influencers share their personal stories of mindful consumption and their commitment to wearing Levi’s, enhancing the campaign’s authenticity. Their genuine promotion of the cause resonates with audiences, making the campaign impactful and relevant in today’s conversation about sustainability in fashion.
9. PlayStation
PlayStation partnered with five gamer influencers to promote its new virtual reality headsets, specifically targeting the Canadian market. This campaign leveraged macro, micro, and nano-influencers due to their higher engagement rates, effectively bridging the gap between technology audiences and gamers. The influencers, with followings ranging from almost 10,000 to 72,000 on Instagram, shared posts using hashtags like #PlayStationVR, and #ITriedPSVR, tagging @PlayStationCA.
Through cross-channel promotion on Instagram and YouTube, It successfully reached millions of potential customers. Overall, the strategic use of influencers helped PlayStation connect with diverse audiences while showcasing the excitement of virtual reality gaming.
10. Moncler
Moncler’s campaign #MonclerBubbleUp became a viral sensation on TikTok, driven by mega-influencers like Bella Poarch and Charli D’Amelio. The challenge invited users to recreate Moncler’s signature bubble coat look using items they had at home, all set to a popular TikTok sound. As a result, the challenge garnered an impressive 7.6 billion views, significantly increasing brand awareness and engagement among Gen Z.
This shift transformed Moncler from an obscure Italian high fashion brand into a recognizable name within the youth culture. Overall, the campaign effectively blended creativity and influencer power, showcasing how brands can connect with younger audiences in fun and engaging ways.
Why Influencer Marketing Works
Influencer marketing works because it connects brands with real people. Influencers often feel more relatable than traditional ads. When followers see their favorite influencer using a product, they are more likely to trust it. This is why so many brands turn to influencer marketing agencies to help create these successful campaigns.
The Role of Hashtags and SEO
Using hashtags is very important in these campaigns. Hashtags help people find content easily on social media. Brands and influencers use popular hashtags to increase visibility and reach more people. Good SEO (search engine optimization) strategies also help their content show up in searches, making it easier for consumers to discover new products.
Conclusion
In 2024, many brands had successful influencer marketing campaigns that went viral. These campaigns used creativity, humor, and community engagement to connect with consumers. From snack challenges to holiday shopping guides, the possibilities are endless!
So, whether you’re an influencer or a brand, think about how you can create engaging campaigns. With the right strategy and collaboration with brands through Hobo.Video, you can inspire others and share your message in a fun way. Influencer marketing is not just about selling products; it’s about building connections and creating lasting relationships with your audience.
Kunal