Now there are two different types of experience we are talking about: 1) Learning from experience 2) Creating an experience.

To put it simply, learning from a successful campaign’s experience is better than the teacher that brings in coffee for that 8 am. Want to know why their campaign is so successful? EXPERIENCE. Now I’m pretty sure most of you are confused at this point. This experience I am talking about is consumer experience.

People buy experiences!

If you create an experience that is engaging, fun, entertaining and something everyone can do, you will see your sales go through the roof. Just ask ALS.  The Ice Bucket Challenge started with Boston College Baseball Captain Pete Frates’ simple request asking his friends and family to pour ice on their head to raise awareness for his terrible disease. This campaign cost the association $0 in marketing fees and raised more than $100 million dollars! Calling out friends and family to pour ice water over their heads is an experience to remember and one heck of a marketing campaign.

Qdoba’s Queso Showdown allowed Qdoba Queso lovers to vote for their favorite queso. Voting? Hasn’t that been around for hundreds of years? Yes it is has, however this element made Qdoba’s campaign one of the most successful campaigns of 2014 because it created an experience! Is it Simple? ✓Is it easy to do? ✓Is it entertaining? Yes! Qdoba spiced up their campaign (pun intended) by turning the voting process into a competition. They updated the contest in real-time showing fans that they are still engaged with the effort while generating buzz and excitement. Consumers become invested in the experience of rooting for their team aka Queso making Qdoba’s campaign a major success.

Lastly, remember this picture??

How can one forget the snapshot that revolutionized the selfie game? This picture blew up the internet, social media, and everyone’s personal phones. People even started recreating their own Oscar selfies. With everyone caught up in the experience, many people were immune to the fact that this was actually a Samsung ploy. Samsung was able to create a fluid experience that fit in so seamlessly that no one knew it was a marketing campaign and one that was so entertaining that when people found out, they applauded.

If there is one thing you can take away from this, it is that experiences sell!

OnCampus Advertising can help you execute the next Oscar selfie for college students.