In an ever more crowded social media arena, creativity is king. From catchy graphics pages to award winning design layouts, your social media identity can make or break your brand. While we have come to expect ingenious Facebook campaigns, it’s not all as easy and seamless as it may appear. Some creative social media endeavors deserve more accolades and attention for their Internet ingenuity. A dedication to producing carefully planned web campaigns inspires us, and is an integral part of Parisleaf’s web experience. Here at Parisleaf we engage our Facebook users on a daily basis by notifying them of interesting new blog posts and providing recent pictures of the Parisleaf team out and about. The best part about our Facebook page? For every ‘Like’ we receive, we plant one tree in your name! Yes, you read that right. Now, back to this blog post. Read on and take a look at a group of carefully selected Facebook campaigns that were a proven success on a myriad of levels.

This Facebook campaign by Coke, coined Facial Profiler, allowed users to upload pictures of themselves and find other users whom had similar facial features. While having little to do with Coke’s actual product, the campaign generated lots of Internet buzz

When it comes down to it, Facebook is a community builder. The very essence of a brand or company exists through the communities and people that can be relied on to support the brand through thick and thin. Facebook utilizes their role as an online social orchestrator by making it easy for people to actively become a part of the brands they know and love. Many successful Facebook campaigns achieve social media success by providing unique, Facebook-only offerings to fans of their given page. Take the recent Domino’s ‘Superfan’ campaign, for example. By creating community-specific online competitions, users and brand loyalists are more likely to remain engaged with their chosen brand.

Domino’s offered their Facebook fans special discounts and the ability to earn recognition as a "Superfan". The campaign portrayed Domino’s as a caring company willing to give back to their loyal fanbase.

By offering exclusive data to a limited segment of a company’s buying market, users feel more connected to a brand and are more likely to seek out methods of interaction on their own. Companies that utilize Facebook successfully have moved to the social media medium to introduce new products to individuals. Take Ford’s 2011 reveal of Explorer SUV:

During a recent reveal of the Ford Explorer, Ford set up a live video feed exclusively for its Facebook users. Social media junkies gathered online to be the first to see the new Ford vehicle.

Facebook is also all about user creativity and innovation. The website allows users to direct the content of their lives in ways never before imaginable. It makes sense that smart Facebook campaigns capture this creative spirit and grant users the ability to become a part of future brand developments. Vitamin Water allowed fans the opportunity to develop the company’s newest flavor elixir.

A recent Vitamin Water Facebook campaign asked users to help create the next Vitamin Water flavor. With the help of celebrity endorsements the campaign had measurable success.

With the advent of location-based apps and technology, successful Facebook campaigns have managed to integrate active user engagement well beyond the desktop computer. Smart social media campaigns allow users to ‘check-in’ and highlight product usage in the real world. By promoting brand awareness that can be tracked within the real world environment, companies are provided with a great tool to explore how their products are used amongst target demographics. Interactive Facebook campaigns are successful because they keep users coming back to the website for updates and exclusive releases. The Skittles Vs. David Phoenix campaign, quite possibly, is the epitome of an engaging campaign. 

Skittles set out to create a memorable Facebook experience for its users when it allowed Facebook fans to take part in burying a man named David Phoenix under a pile of skittles. Via a live web broadcast, Facebook users watched as David Phoenix was buried at the mercy of Facebook users. The campaign was interactive and proved to be engaging (albeit somewhat disturbing).

The most important feature of a creative Facebook campaign, you ask? Catchy alliterated lingo? Nope. Mind-boggling designs? Nice, but not quite. Facebook campaigns that win are Facebook campaigns that make the user the center of attention. A Facebook page is resource of the fans. A company’s Facebook page should allow for continuous open engagement. The success of a brand relies on the management of communication channels that users believe in and are inspired by. So the next time you hit the ‘Like’ button, take a second to think about what the company is doing for you, the user. Effort and dedication to a purposeful Facebook campaign is key to gauging corporate commitment in the 21st century technology marketplace.

For more insightful Facebook campaigns check out Awwwards.