When it comes to Christmas I always get excited about the idea of wrapping presents, buying gifts for my friends or family, new Spotify playlist, and really good social media campaigns for Christmas. All the time, I cry and laugh by watching them. Some of them are goofy, others are funny, but most importantly, they’re magical.
As we already published the top social campaigns of 2018, we thought it’s time to really zoom in on ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ and present the Christmas edition of the best social media campaigns of the year. Our goal is to show you the best examples and inspire you for the upcoming event. If you still haven’t created a post or campaign for 25th December then start scrolling . We’ll take you through social media posts from brands such as John Lewis, Samsung, Apple, Costa Coffee, and many many others.
We’ll go crazy and present you the awards by the following categories.
Best Christmas Cover Photos by Brands
Penguins Books
As a publishing house and publishers of bestselling fiction, nonfiction, classics, and children’s books Penguin Books have always been active on social media. This Christmas they’re decorating their cover photo on Facebook with a lovely set of books and illustrations representing the company brand.
Starbucks
The all-known coffee brand has updated their Twitter Cover Photo with a new set of winter holidays cups that you’ll receive while buying a coffee. What do you think, makes you want to drop by soon?
Victoria Secret’s
There are two important events in the life of VS’s brand – VS Fashion Show (4th December) and Christmas – both of them are highly important for leveraging their community and promoting the new products. Since Christmas is almost there they’ve redesigned their Facebook Cover Photo with some of the top models on the page.
London Drugs
A Canadian retail store chain with a primary focus on pharmaceuticals, electronics, housewares, and cosmetics, with a limited selection of grocery items. It seems like they’ve followed the trend and changed both the profile picture by adding a ribbon on the logo and the cover picture with a lovely snowman on it.
Target
The eighth-largest department store retailer in the United States did not forget about their online presence for Christmas. Aside from managing to arrange their stores in a Christmas mood, they’ve dressed up the Twitter page with a party-moon-on couple in their traditional white & red ambiance.
Costa Coffee
The company was recently acquired by The Coca-Cola Company for $5.1 billion and have managed to grow constantly with their online presence. Not only they’re making great coffee but also play with the coffee cups format, size & colors for this Christmas. If you check their Twitter (see here) you’ll see customers sharing this cups online which is an indicator of a successful holiday campaign.
Netflix
Since I finally joined Netflix this year, I thought to make sure and check out their Facebook. Look at what I’ve found. Netflix is promoting their latest movie “The Christmas Chronicles”, a story of sister and brother, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.
You can also see Christmas posts by Netflix on Twitter and Instagram.
Samsung
And last but not the least award for the best cover picture of this Christmas goes to Samsung that are presenting multiple products in one single photo in a beautifully designed box that you can easily gift to your loved ones.
SEE MORE: How To Tell A Story On Social Media That People Will Share
Best Social Media Campaigns of Christmas 2018 by Fashion Brands
John Lewis
It’s a chain of high-end department stores operating in UK, Ireland, and Australia that has been jing-a-jing-ling since the beginning of December. With each new content created on social media, they have been promoting the #JohnLewisChristmas hashtag to reinforce the upcoming event.
John Lewis managed to balance between multiple types of content, such as posts, videos & commercials and Instagram Stories cross-promotion for this year to bring even more value to their followers. Brits love the annual Christmas spot from John Lewis – like really love. That’s why this year they came up with a new one.
This year’s story is about the power of a gift. And how that gift inspired, changed and influenced the course of a little boy’s life. That little boy just happens to be Elton John. The film begins in the present day and works backward chronologically through Elton’s life right until the moment on Christmas morning when he received the special gift that changed his life.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq1uXP3AOWI/
And they’re also cross-promoting the Christmas campaign on their Instagram Profile.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrTBOf3gco6/
Mulberry
As a luxury fashion company focused on leather products it’s more complicated to go with mainstream content. But the British brand is taking on that challenge and using social visual marketing this Christmas with multiple creative campaigns using their #MulberryGifts and #MyTrueLoveGaveMetoMe.
View this post on Instagram“My True Love Gave to Me”: Part three of our festive film features seven swans-a-swimming, eight maids-a-milking, nine ladies dancing, and compact versions of Darleys, Zipped Bayswaters and Amberleys – proving good things come in small packages. ⠀ Watch the full film by clicking the link in bio or visit mulberry.com and sing along with us, you know the words! ⠀ .⠀ #MyTrueLoveGaveMeToMe #MulberryGifts⠀ Video: @CharlotteMWales⠀ Music: @Commoonicate . Enjoy Free Delivery until 3rd December.
Nordstrom
I’ve learned so many things from Nordstrom this year. They’re a great teacher of the way social holiday campaigning works. Last year, they’ve connected with many world stars to transform the idea of the advent calendar by kicking it off with Celine Dion! I mean how can it get bigger?
View this post on InstagramThe countdown’s begun – but what’s behind door number 1? #December, we’re ready for you! #fridayfeeling A post shared by Nordstrom (@nordstrom) on
Debenhams
What happens when Cinderella lives in 2017 and has a smartphone? Probably the story would’ve been 10x shorter because you can start a social media campaign just by tweeting the lost shoe, right? Well, that’s exactly what Debenham’s Christmas ad pictures perfectly. It was produced by J. Walter Thompson London and features a pair of followers trying to reconnect with the help of strangers on the internet #YouShall
Burberry
Stop for a second and look at this ad. It’s a like a gift wrapped in a designer holiday ad featuring M.I.A., Kristin Scott Thomas, Naomi Campbell, Valerie Morris-Campbell and Matt Smith. All of them in one single beautiful video!
Manor
No wonder it’s tough being an elf on Christmas. You have to make millions of toys, make sure they get delivered, and keep the ultimate secrets, not that much different from a marketer if you ask me. Luckily our friend elf made sure he remained Santa’s elf this year…
Macy’s
Honestly writing this piece was heartbreaking just because I had to watch all these beautiful and sometimes sad commercials. And this one will tear you up. Discover how Macy’s brings people together no matter how far away they are from one another. The ad sees an astronaut mom communicating with her family back on Earth as she dreams of being home with her daughter for Christmas. Top tip if you’re sending a gift to space this year:
Urban Outfitters
Some shops simply prefer to go another way and that’s alright but UO is making sure to focus on both online & offline presence of the brand. We see a photogenic display on one of their shops in this Instagram post.
And then activating their customers through both Instagram posts and Stories like a true pro.
SEE MORE: How These 3 Awesome Photographers Are Ruling Social Media
Best Social Media Campaigns of Christmas 2018 by Beverage Brands
Lagavulin – Yule Log
Apparently, you can do nothing for 45 minutes and get your brand noticed. Last year, Lagavulin recreated the traditional Yule Log. In this video, Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation) accompanied by the Lagavulin whiskey sits silently as the fireplace burns in the background. This unique combination was watched on Youtube more than 3.5M times.
Costa Coffee
I thought that’d be worth complimenting Costa Coffee one more time just for being really active with their Christmas campaign this year. Because they didn’t forget about Instagram.
Best Social Media Campaigns of Christmas 2018 by Tech Brands
Apple
We all love Apple’s commercials, right? The tech brand just released their latest holiday ad crafted through a combination of digital animation and detailed miniatures. It’s a nearly 3-minute spot with the atmosphere of a fairy tale in the modern culture. It features a young designer Sofia who spends her free time at her MacBook working on… something. Like many others, she isn’t very confident about what she’s making. Curious is that Apple being a tech company just make a commercial about the power of paper to bring people together. See the ad below.
Microsoft
Yes, holidays are great but having a friend exploring new skills and getting to the next level of a computer game is awesome, right? Microsoft is celebrating this Christmas with an ad about their new inclusive product designed for XBOX.
Amazon
Nothing says holiday like singing packaging? Amazon continues their tradition of promoting their packaging in every single possible corner of the online & offline world. Can you feel the Christmas coming yet?
BBC One
The British Broadcasting Corporation never fails to deliver the festive feels. It shows what all the fuss around the holiday is about – making & spending time with the loved ones. Well, seems like all we need for a quiet and happy Christmas is figure out how to stop time, freeze everyone, and finally get that assignment done.
Disney
And what about the best childhood movies & characters? Disney just published an Instagram picture with what’s happening in Disneyland. Looks like Micky & Minnie are full-on Christmas mood.
SEE MORE: The 5 Instagram Trends That Will Define 2019
Best Social Media Campaigns of Christmas 2018 by Airlines
Heathrow introduced us last year to a snuggly pair of traveling teddy bears, it was very adorable. Now the cuddly couple is back! This year they jet home to England (via Heathrow, d’ooh) to reunite with their family over holidays.
Air New Zealand
Santa’s email-fail turns into a Christmas summit. See what happens when a Kiwi kid accidentally finds himself with one of Santa’s most confidential Christmas lists… #NicestChristmasEver
Emirates Airlines
Emirates embraces the festive season with selected lounges and flights for you. They’ve got treats, sweets, and other special surprises this holiday season. Emirates’ holiday video was watched more than 150k times on Facebook alone and was cross-promoted on Instagram and Twitter
British Airways
That’s exactly what I was expecting to see from an airline – a travel destination that would make Christmas even more special. British Airways are promoting Cologne for your winter holidays to explore Christmas markets nearby, warm up with Gluhwein, and get cozy.
SEE MORE: [FREE TEMPLATE] Why Your Social Media Proposal Isn’t Getting Results
Best Social Media Campaigns of Christmas 2018 by Banks
Erste Group and its campaign for the current Christmas season follows the same viral path (but without being banned). The story about the little hedgehog. A story about the power of love, of believing in yourself and in the good of others. And no matter how insurmountable an obstacle may seem: love will find its way.
SEE MORE: The Beginner’s Guide To Becoming A Badass Digital Marketing Freelancer
Best Social Media Campaigns of Christmas 2018 by Retail
Aldi
Santa stranded in the middle of nowhere is something you should definitely see this holiday season. Santa’s been found in the outback of Australia. He crash-landed in Woop Woop and was welcomed with open arms by the local community, because it’s always ‘the more the merrier’ at Christmas with ALDI.
Tesco
Christmas is unique and each family celebrates it in its own way. But one thing that’s clear is that food is what brings us all around the table. So whether you’re looking to enjoy turkey, beef, cauliflower, or brussels sprouts this year, Tesco has got Christmas covered, with all the trimmings. However you do Christmas #EveryonesWelcome, says Tesco.
Boots
Celebrate your loved ones; not just for what they do but who they really are. This year, get them something that says… you get them. See the latest Boots Christmas commercial below.
Petco
You know I love dogs and puppies and I never had one when I was a kid (still don’t). Just look how cute this commercial is, kid shoveling snow all day so he can save up pennies for a pet. Petco offers the full 100% care.
Sainsburry’s
Starring an eight-year-old star giving the performance of her lifetime, all for her mum. Directed by Michael Gracey, the director of The Greatest Showman. The Show tells the story of the North Star overcoming her nerves to deliver a performance of a lifetime, to the amazement of mum. She is supported by a huge cast of 59 kids aged 6-11, all dressed as a variety of Christmas staples – including a turkey drummer and set of Christmas lights (plug included). The cast all dance and sing along as the stage transforms to reveal a 40ft Christmas tree and a 14ft glitter-filled gravy boat.
Argos
It’s the catalog retailer operating in the UK that’s protecting you from the naughty stealers of Christmas magic in their latest ad commercial. Thankfully all you need is to #FoolproofYourChristmas and use Argos for all the deliveries this year.
SEE MORE: Personalized Video Marketing: The Next Revolution In Content Marketing
Best Social Media Campaigns of Christmas 2018 by FMCG
McDonald’s
Well, that was … surprising. Did you know that McDonald’s sells carrots (spoiler: it’s from the last year’s holiday commercial). Anyway, they do sell great carrots. Not sure if anyone buys them, tho. Reindeers keep asking for some carrots but seems like nobody cares about them, except the bearded Santa Claus guy. That’s why he heads off to the nearest McD’s to pick out some crunchy carrots for his flying friends.
SEE MORE: Five Biggest Social Media Challenges And 10 Solutions To Them
Best Social Media Campaigns of Christmas by Automotive Campaigns
Mercedes-Benz
Badass car and Christmas? Yup, sign me in! Mercedes-Benz announces Christmas in style with one of their top notch car and latest model. See this in their latest GIF.
If you’re interested in reading more, check out these awesome resources
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Vlad Caluș is Chief Marketing Officer at Planable and a Marketing Hustler. Dropped out of college, moved to another country with 2 of his friends and built Planable at 19 y. o. Have any questions? Ping anytime at @vladcalus on Twitter or [email protected]
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