The Top 10 Viral Marketing Campaigns Of All Time

The greatest thing about the Threshers voucher is that it excludes their 3 for 2 offer (equivalent of 33% – see the small print at the bottom of the voucher).

So all they have done is increase their discount from 33% to 40% to get 800k voucher downloads, get national coverage (including BBC.co.uk), sales increase of 60% for the festive period – and then they did the same thing the next year!

I should get round to writing a case study about it. Absolutely perfect execution.

Thanks for the love for the dothetest campaign. It’s had just under 4 million views on YouTube, but nearer 5.5 million in total (including on the site and the various places it was hosted).

Regarding the Thresher voucher, my understanding is that it was dreamt up by Hugh Mcleod , partly as an experiment to see the power of blogs with regards to WOM marketing.

I think you sould include this viral video made by the Danish Road Safety Council:

http://speedbandit.dk/

I was seen by quite a few people around the world as far as I remember…

Amazing list of viral marketing cases. Actually gorilla is my favourite.
Anybody knows how Titanic case worked?
Greetings to everyone,
Ewa

These is a great list. I thought I would have known them all but half of them I’d never seen before.

Shows how with it I am!

Nice work.

Do you think these campaigns will continue to have such amazing success, now that people are aware of the marketing techniques behind them. Surely everyone is much more syndical now.

Looking forward to seeing what the next big thing is

Hotmail is my favourite, so simple but yet so effective!

The Thresher wine voucher marketing was brilliant viral marketing, wish I could think of something similar, any ideas?

hotmail virtually kicked off the signature marketing in emails

every email that is sent from hotmail is finished with a signature inviting the receiver to join hotmail.. absolutely brilliant

What about the Ray-Ban viral video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-prfAENSh2k
That was brilliant.

Great list, one I might add to the list is the “Will It Blend” videos. A small blender company with incredible customer service finally gets on the map for blending up action figures, tools, and electronics…brilliant.

As they say – good ideas – spread!

Thanks a lot for this post, these are such great videos.

Best from Munich!

Ha s anyone seen this: http://www.irememberthefuture.com ?Rumour has it this is part of a Puma guillarra marketing campaign. What looks like a Rutger Hauer Fansite — Mr. Hauer happily chatting away about life and his work in a …. Puma joggingpak. Rumour was denied by Sara Gottman (Puma’s Head of International Public Relations) “We are in no way whatsoever affiliated with mr. Hauer nor with this website and its content.” But it seems fun and well set up, like the mysterious campaign by BMW (The Ramp)

http://www.irememberthefuture.com

Hi there,
Great page! I’ve referenced you in my blog, thanks for this informative overview!

Nice list! But just one slice, as there are lots more efforts that should rank on this list, because of their overall impact via number of comments, pass alongs, word of mouth, etc..

Is the measure of “viral” simply video views on youtube – shouldn’t it be some other more all encompassing “engagement metric”? (Sorry)

I’d add more efforts like Hotmail, as well as campaigns — and ARGs — to balance out single viral videos. Frequently videos simply serve as a tactic in a larger integrated campaign. How about including I Love Bees? Perplex City, Or Court TV’s Emily gag?

And of course I agree with Innovation Catalyst about Blair Witch, since it was created by some of my partners.

Youtube is a big source of free viral marketing.

Audi’s Art of the Heist Campaign was just ridiculous (and brilliant)… particularly for the fact that the planning required to pull this off is just mind blowing. Audi really should be applauded for taking such a big risk by putting out this campaign.
http://www.campfirenyc.com/2006/10/10/audi-the-art-of-the-heist/

Very Nice and informative post…

I’m not sure I’d want the boots like Ronaldinho, he keeps hitting the post.

Hello guys,

I am doing a research on viral marketing. If you want to participate, please click this link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kir1HOU0ur4YjWIbqTy1QQ_3d_3d

Thank you

The thing about the Treshers campaign was that its wasn’t theirs.

Stormhoek Wines made it viral through their blog picking up on an opportunity unwittingly created by Threshers.

I refer to the Treshers campaign under the title Stormhoek Viral.

TRY TO LOOK a group into FACEBOOK’s called:
ORGASMATIC!!
i think its a bit viral!!

Looking to try some viral marketing campaigns for http://www.BullWarriorStocks.com in the next few months. Thanks for the great advice.

Awesome! First you get the fame, then you get the money. Going viral should be the first thing you do before you even create your full product. Steps: 1 Go Viral 2 Build List 3 Sell. The viral step creates fame and brands you…gets the word out so that when you actually hit the scene with a list build offer or sell offer…it’s easy to get attention, otherwise you are white noise in a sea of white noise.

I’m just embarking on my first (intentional) viral marketing campaign. I’m creating content and sprinkling it in the right places to grow… the only problem I’m having is convincing my boss that it will work given time. Very tough.

Good posting – my fave of all time is the 24 viral from 3 years ago…which I believe (rightly or wrongly) that Branded3 had a part in building, or is that a myth?

I’ve referenced that campaign and this article in my Top 13 Digital Events post.

Nice to see the Threshers campaign up there – they were a digital client of mine at the time and my team and I managed this viral work etc for them….it went ridiculously well, so well that it’s funny how many people and businesses try and attach themselves to it who definately weren’t working for Poulters or Threshers at the time…hey ho!

I like all ideas of viral marketing campaigns. I like your list too but the way you prove your list “the top 10″ seems not persuasive. Thanks anyway for your info ;)

Great videos, brilliant post

A very good article with excellent examples!! I have created a website which also aids in the explanation of viral marketing! Head on over to http://www.artofviralmarketing.com and please leave some comments!

Not that great a campaign, given Threshers went bust! The execution and delivery might of been
unique and deemed successful by marketers but it did not save them in the long term!

looking for a viral marketing idea, have you got one?

Thanks for sharing this i have been looking for some great examples of viral marketing and this has helped loads.

The subservient chicken video is brilliant!