Best Digital Campaigns of 2019

Some of the most memorable digital campaigns of 2019 did more than attract clicks. They gave people a reason to join in, made a brand’s values visible or turned a simple idea into something worth sharing. From personalised music round-ups to accessible design, these campaigns show how creativity and a clear purpose can make digital marketing resonate.

There is no single measure of a “best” campaign: success might mean stronger awareness, meaningful participation or a fresh way to solve a problem. The examples below stood out for the way they connected their ideas with their audiences.

Spotify Wrapped: a personal year in music

Spotify Wrapped turned listening data into a colourful, personalised review of each user’s year. Listeners could see the artists, songs and genres they had played most, then share their results on social media.

The idea worked because it made the audience part of the campaign. Every set of results was individual, while the shareable graphics helped the experience travel beyond Spotify. Wrapped also gave people a natural prompt to talk about music with friends and compare tastes.

Why it stood out: it transformed existing data into useful, entertaining content that people wanted to share.

Nike’s Dream Crazier: changing the conversation

Nike’s 2019 Dream Crazier film celebrated women in sport and challenged the labels often attached to their ambition and emotion. Narrated by Serena Williams, the film featured athletes pushing against expectations and encouraged viewers to rethink what women’s achievements could look like.

The campaign was built around a strong central message, then extended through digital video and social channels. Its emotional storytelling made it easy to discuss and share, while its connection to sport gave the message a clear home.

Why it stood out: it paired a bold point of view with a story designed to connect with people well beyond the original advert.

Greggs’ vegan sausage roll launch: turning a product into a talking point

When Greggs introduced its vegan sausage roll in January 2019, the launch became a major social-media moment. The brand used playful digital content, including a tongue-in-cheek product reveal styled like a high-profile technology launch. The announcement quickly attracted attention, discussion and plenty of jokes.

Greggs’ response to the conversation was part of the appeal. Rather than treating online reactions as separate from the campaign, the brand joined in with a light touch. The product itself also gave people something concrete to debate, try and recommend.

Why it stood out: it combined a timely product launch with a distinctive tone and an effective social response.

IKEA ThisAbles: digital design with a practical purpose

IKEA’s ThisAbles project used digital design to help make some of its furniture more accessible. The initiative offered free designs for 3D-printable add-ons that could adapt selected products to better suit people with disabilities.

Rather than relying on a conventional brand message, the project provided a practical resource. People could explore the designs online and use them to modify furniture, bringing the campaign’s purpose directly into everyday life.

Why it stood out: it used digital tools to offer a tangible benefit, showing how a campaign can be useful as well as engaging.

WWF’s #TooLatergram: thinking twice before sharing

WWF’s #TooLatergram campaign drew attention to a risk associated with wildlife photography: sharing a location in real time can potentially help poachers find vulnerable animals. The campaign encouraged people to wait before posting images, reducing the chance of revealing an animal’s whereabouts while the information was still current.

It was a simple idea that addressed a genuine tension between social sharing and wildlife protection. By turning a small change in posting habits into a clear call to action, the campaign gave audiences a practical way to contribute.

Why it stood out: it connected a familiar online behaviour with a wider conservation issue and offered an easy action people could take.

What made these campaigns effective?

Although these examples came from different sectors, several themes link them. Each had a clear idea that could be understood quickly. Each gave people something to do, feel or share. And each used digital channels in a way that suited the campaign, whether that meant personalised content, social conversation, downloadable designs or a simple change in behaviour.

The strongest digital campaigns are not necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the most complicated technology. The examples from 2019 suggest that a relevant idea, a well-understood audience and a distinctive execution can be just as important. When those elements work together, a campaign can reach beyond its original advert and become part of the conversation.

 

Top FAQs on the Best Digital Campaigns of 2019: Insights and Success Stories

1. What is a successful digital campaign?
2. What is the most effective digital advertising?
3. What is a digital performance campaign?
4. What is the best campaign of all time?
5. What are good campaign ideas?
6. What advertisements were most effective in 2019?
7. What campaigns have been tremendously successful?

What is a successful digital campaign?

A successful digital campaign reaches the right audience with a clear, relevant message and encourages them to take a meaningful action, such as learning more, sharing content or making a purchase. Its impact should be measured against specific goals, using indicators such as engagement, website visits, leads or sales. The standout campaigns of 2019 also showed that originality and a strong understanding of audience needs can make a message more memorable and shareable.

What is the most effective digital advertising?

The most effective digital advertising depends on the campaign’s goals and audience, so there is no single format that works best for every business. In 2019, strong campaigns often combined relevant audience targeting with engaging creative and a clear reason to interact, whether through social media, online video, search advertising or personalised content. The best approach is to choose channels that suit the audience, make the message easy to understand and measure results against defined goals such as awareness, website visits or sales.

What is a digital performance campaign?

A digital performance campaign is an online marketing campaign designed to achieve measurable actions, such as purchases, enquiries, app downloads or sign-ups. It may use channels such as paid search, social media, display advertising or email, with results tracked against agreed targets. Unlike campaigns focused mainly on awareness, performance campaigns are optimised using data—such as clicks, conversions and cost per acquisition—to improve outcomes and make the best use of the budget.

What is the best campaign of all time?

There is no single “best campaign of all time”, as success depends on the audience, objectives and cultural moment. Campaigns such as Nike’s “Just Do It” are often celebrated for their lasting influence and recognisable message, while the best digital campaigns of 2019—including Spotify Wrapped and Nike’s “Dream Crazier”—stood out for their relevance, shareability and ability to spark conversation. Ultimately, the strongest campaign is one that connects with its audience and achieves its goals.

What are good campaign ideas?

Good campaign ideas start with a clear understanding of the audience and a message they will find relevant or useful. The standout digital campaigns of 2019 offered something people wanted to engage with: Spotify Wrapped made personal listening data shareable, IKEA ThisAbles provided practical accessibility designs, and WWF’s #TooLatergram encouraged a simple action to help protect wildlife. Consider ideas that invite participation, solve a real problem or tell a distinctive story, then choose digital channels that suit the concept and make it easy for people to take part or share it.

What advertisements were most effective in 2019?

The most effective advertisements of 2019 were those that paired a memorable idea with a clear reason for people to engage. Nike’s “Dream Crazier” stood out for its powerful message about women in sport, while Greggs’ playful launch of its vegan sausage roll generated widespread social conversation. Spotify Wrapped also showed how personalised, shareable content could turn an advertising moment into a yearly talking point. Ultimately, effectiveness depends on the campaign’s goals, but these examples earned attention by being relevant, distinctive and easy to share.

What campaigns have been tremendously successful?

Campaigns that achieved particular success in 2019 included Spotify Wrapped, which turned listeners’ music data into personalised, widely shared year-end summaries; Nike’s Dream Crazier, which sparked conversation by celebrating women in sport; and Greggs’ vegan sausage roll launch, which combined a timely product with playful social-media engagement. IKEA’s ThisAbles also stood out for using digital design to provide practical accessibility solutions. Each campaign connected a clear idea with an audience action, whether sharing, discussing or using something useful.