f you’re searching for a social media agency, you’re likely not just looking for someone to post for you — you’re looking for results. You want strategy, speed, and content that makes people stop scrolling.
But what exactly makes a social media agency great?
In this article, we’re breaking down five standout campaigns created or shaped by social media agencies. These aren’t just viral moments — they’re strategic, culturally tuned, and performance-driven examples that show exactly what a great agency can do.
And if you’re a brand leader, founder, or marketing director evaluating agencies, these are the benchmarks to look for.
What Does a Social Media Agency Actually Do?
A social media agency helps brands grow their presence across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. But a truly great agency goes beyond content calendars and pretty posts.
A real social media agency will:
- Define your brand voice for digital culture
- Build high-performing content strategies
- Produce platform-native creative assets
- Manage influencer/creator partnerships
- Run paid social campaigns that convert
- Measure performance and optimize in real time
The best social media agencies combine creative thinking with data-backed execution — and the following campaigns prove it.
Campaign #1: Duolingo on TikTok
What Happened: Duolingo’s TikTok account turned its green owl mascot into an unhinged, trend-hopping meme machine — and people loved it.
Agency Role: In-house with external creative consulting
What Smart Agencies Know:
TikTok is not about polish — it’s about personality.
Your brand voice is your growth engine.
Content doesn’t need to be about the product — it needs to be interesting.
What This Teaches You:
A social media agency worth your budget will prioritize creative tone and speed over safe, corporate content. They’ll build you a character — not just a brand.
Campaign #2: Fenty Beauty’s Inclusive Influencer Strategy
What Happened: Instead of launching with mega influencers, Fenty focused on real people across skin tones and backgrounds, seeding product with creators who reflected its full customer base.
Agency Role: Influencer agency + social strategy partners
Why It Matters:
Representation wasn’t a trend — it was a baseline.
The campaign felt organic because it was real.
UGC from diverse creators outperformed traditional content.
What This Teaches You:
The right social media agency won’t just find influencers — they’ll build a community around your values. Expect them to treat culture as strategy, not a buzzword.
Campaign #3: Ryanair’s Lo-Fi TikTok Virality
What Happened: Ryanair used face filters and simple memes to turn their brand into a TikTok cult favorite — without big budgets.
Agency Role: In-house, working with strategy advisors
Why It Worked:
They posted like users, not like advertisers.
They leaned into being budget-friendly — their content matched their brand.
It was lo-fi, fast, and unapologetic.
What This Teaches You:
A good social media agency won’t waste time pitching you $100K brand videos for TikTok. They’ll get scrappy, test ideas, and make you look native, not promotional.
Campaign #4: Spotify Wrapped — Shareable Data Done Right
What Happened: Spotify turned user data into an annual cultural event, with visual assets people couldn’t wait to post.
Agency Role: Spotify in-house + creative partners
Why It Worked:
Personalized content = instant shareability
Wrapped turned users into promoters
It wasn’t just a post — it was a moment
What This Teaches You:
A real social media agency will help you engineer moments, not just content. Ask your agency: “What’s our Wrapped?” If they don’t have a vision, they’re not thinking big enough.
Campaign #5: Burger King’s Moldy Whopper
What Happened: Burger King showed its Whopper rotting to prove it used no artificial preservatives. It shocked — and stuck.
Agency Role: DAVID, INGO, Publicis
Why It Worked:
It told a story in one unforgettable image
It broke every rule in food photography — and got talked about
It aligned with a deeper truth about clean ingredients
What This Teaches You:
The best agencies take creative risks with purpose. They don’t chase shock for shock’s sake — they find a bold way to make a meaningful point.
What to Look for in a Social Media Agency (Based on These Campaigns)
If you’re hiring an agency, use this quick checklist to separate the great from the average:
| What You Want | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Cultural Fluency | They can explain the why behind what’s trending. |
| Creative Courage | They pitch bold ideas, not just safe content calendars. |
| Speed & Agility | They move fast enough to catch trends before they peak. |
| Results Mindset | Every post has a purpose — awareness, engagement, conversion. |
| Platform Native Thinking | They know TikTok ≠ Instagram ≠ YouTube. Different rules. Different formats. |
Why Brands Work With Cool Nerds Marketing
Cool Nerds Marketing is a social media agency that helps consumer brands win on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Our team helps you:
- Develop your brand voice across platforms
- Build creator/influencer programs that feel authentic
- Design high-performing social ad campaigns
- Create content that gets remembered — and shared
Clients include: Oreo, Poppi, Jelly IV, Campbell’s, and more.
Final Thought
If your current content isn’t earning attention — or your agency is just going through the motions — it’s time to expect more.
The best social media campaigns aren’t accidents. They’re built by teams who understand platforms, people, and purpose.
Ready to build your next big moment?
