I love coming across examples and case studies of companies using social media in their marketing. In fact, I've been including links to articles about such brands and companies in the weekly #PracticalMktr Twitter roundup blogpost and have 100+ examples to share with you.
[Added 9/17/2012: check out 200+ Case Studies: Social Media and Content Marketing Examples for more examples and case studies!]
I realize that there's more here than anyone can digest in one sitting. At the same time, there's nothing more frustrating than trying to find examples and case studies of social media marketing being used successfully and coming up empty handed. Consider this, then, a resource or reference for ideas about brands being practical with social media -- to which I will periodically post updates. Note that I've organized the references into categories...
Associations Using Social Media
National Sleep Foundation has conducted research via social media.
National Assn of Realtors used social media to take convention to bigger audience
After Haiti, the Red Cross harnessed the communication power of social media.
Salvation Army took bell ringing online this holiday http://ow.ly/3x6Lp
Consumer Brands and Social Media
Aunt Jemima embraces social media & using employees http://ow.ly/42ltc
CocaCola's social media project includes local angles fr AdAge http://ow.ly/3xt8x
FastCo Design: Best Buy, Ford, CBS, Pepsi, P&G/Old Spice social media is Real, legitimate, where peeps R http://ow.ly/4tVps
How Conagra's brands build online communities http://ow.ly/5WXgw
Advice from Graco on how to use social media during a product recall http://bit.ly/b5Vd7r
Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products "unify, simplify, amplify" - http://ow.ly/5fhBM
How Golfsmith measures social ROI/hard, soft impact http://bit.ly/a9Ecc2
Tupperware to increase its social media presence per NYT: http://ow.ly/4WoFG
Learnings from Kodak on H2 apply social media to B2B based on B2C experience http://ow.ly/48VFr; Insights fr @BethLaPierre Kodak Chief Listening Officer http://ow.ly/3U1kS
Imagine the power of constraints on yr biz. How LEGO revived its brand http://bit.ly/ap50gX; How LEGO supports growing network of fans: http://bit.ly/dxJrC4; Details on LEGO: fr toy company to multi-media brand http://ow.ly/4Caof
Social media marketing success story fr @lionbrandyarn via @JasonFalls http://bit.ly/bfSbas
Ravelry, the social network for knitters -Note what makes it successful http://ow.ly/5M33a
Orabrush on YouTube http://ow.ly/400HL Per WSJ, social media = reason for stardom http://ow.ly/400IX
Colgate Smile campaign combines user generated media via facebook photos, outdoor advertising http://ow.ly/5ALS4
Mattel: Ken is turning 50 and doing social media: http://ow.ly/4aweF
Recruit and raise awareness; Reckitt Benckiser's new branded social game. http://bit.ly/cdVikF
From Silly Bandz to Crocs, neat insights re: prolonging shelf life of fads fr Wharton http://bit.ly/9rtAD0
A marketing product success story: the vuvuzela "novelty, simplicity and local ingenuity" http://bit.ly/9bTGlX
Social Media in Education
Social media finds place in classroom [and in NJ no less :-)] http://ow.ly/62zOT
Entertainment Brands and Social Media
Cirque du Soleil connects with fans via social media http://zd.net/cmV3yl
Conan O'Brien totally reinvented via Social Media http://bit.ly/9XY5SR
12 ways to keep creating like Coldplay - insights http://ow.ly/3MVwE
Brilliant use of user-generated content to strengthen Disney brand and magic http://bit.ly/a3Zpqf
Power of Twitter: making 400 year old theater come alive C Moliere Goes Twitter http://bit.ly/goTqrv
Financial Services and Social Media
How to integrate social media from First Direct - a Bank! http://ow.ly/5WXQM
How H&R Block use social media to help customers thru tax season stress http://ow.ly/5qCcr
Advice fr TurboTax's chelsea marti re: using Twitter, becoming service all-star http://bit.ly/cW4KzR
Morgan Stanley testing social media interaction with clients http://ow.ly/5ffJn
Here's how Northwestern Mutual is using Social Media 2 'provide financial security over a lifetime" http://ow.ly/3pKYE
I'm excited about having Square set up: http://ow.ly/52hZt
Government and Social Media
Social media & government: tapping quora for eDemocracy experiment http://ow.ly/42lij
NASA and social media. Wow! http://bit.ly/aj2Whm
Social media = key way for IRS to reach taxpayer audience http://ow.ly/5GrTI
Social media used in Newark, NJ during blizzard emergency fr @CoryBooker: http://ow.ly/3vXFJ
Obama & Foursquare: http://ow.ly/68vbQ Coming election will be very interesting for continued social media evolution
Everything begins with listening! Fr @FastCompany - Social Democracy: White House Learns to Listen http://ow.ly/5ukcw
Interesting use of blogs for internal Army Corps of Engineers communications http://ow.ly/4HHYa
US Army social media handbook 2011 http://ow.ly/5jQBU
Healthcare and Social Media
Advice on making QR codes useful. Example: hospitals http://ow.ly/4xc55
Social media applies to healthcare. Interview w @DanaMLewis http://ow.ly/4zR5y
Social Media and Home, Building Related Products
BuildDirect's @RobertBanks on being included in Mashable's how 12 CEOs & Founders use web video http://bit.ly/acBdyY
Hospitality and Social Media
Fascinating glimpse into how Roger Smith hotel uses social media to engage with visitors http://bit.ly/ciqnE2
Social Media Skiing: Vail Combines Facebook, Gowalla, Nike+ 4 Better Experience http://tinyurl.com/3yppyo7
Legal Brands and Social Media
Wow! Social media tweaks defense strategy in Casey Anthony trial http://ow.ly/5M3IP
Museums, Libraries and Social Media
Ck out Monterey Bay Aquarium integrated ad campaign "Share the Love" http://ow.ly/5KxOG refers to Call To Axn
How social media adds dimension to the museum experience http://ow.ly/4tYQs
5 ways museums R reaching digital audiences http://ow.ly/62VxO
Using social media to design a library under short deadlines: http://ow.ly/622ct
Pharmaceuticals Brands Do Social Media
Big Pharma becomes immersed socially, successfully! Eli Lilly & Lilypad blog http://ow.ly/5ReZF [Note: you need access to Ragan to read entire article.]
Publishing and Social Media
The New Rules for Branding your biz online fr Inc. Mag: http://ow.ly/3MVO3
Practical QR code wisdom fr #CMI http://ow.ly/5RjKB
Publishing model turned upside down? Twitter helps unfinished book hit #1 fr WSJ http://ow.ly/5IDVT
Publishing without publishers aka the Magalog fr NYT http://ow.ly/3Ix5u
How the White Pages are harnessing hyperlocal and mobile: http://ow.ly/5F1gx
4 Social Media lessons fr book publishing http://ow.ly/4tVbk
Real Estate Brands and Social Media
Enjoyed this interview w @Century 21 Bev Thorne re: using social media to connect with home buyers http://ow.ly/48Wwn
Advice in Social Real Estate Goes To Stars w/Katrina Campins http://bit.ly/b584P6
Religion and Social Media
Bishops urged to embrace social media to evangelize effectively http://bit.ly/buUm0k
Interesting discussion online/offline RT @David_Rogers: Pastor: Don't Give Up #SocialMedia For Lent [NPR] http://n.pr/eCdtPy
Retail Brands Using Social Media
Best Buy plans to expand Twelforce beyond Twitter to Facebook where more people hang out http://bit.ly/cc6bf8.
Amazon, Best Buy, Dell among top social brands + 4 phases of social commerce development fr Altimeter http://bit.ly/aL9vFl
FastCo Design: Best Buy, Ford, CBS, Pepsi, P&G/Old Spice social media is Real, legitimate, where peeps R http://ow.ly/4tVps
How 1-800 Flowers uses Facebook to engage w customers http://ow.ly/44tMy
How restaurants use Twitter including Chipotle! http://bit.ly/a0ZTBT
Example of @sandy_carter Social Business: Domino's. Uses social media to reinvent company http://ow.ly/5FlaZ; Intense @Ramon_Deleon from Domino's Twitter axn in: http://slidesha.re/b5sE4t & Tulsa social media info fr @partyaficionado Listen, interact, B real
MacDonald's is engaging employees around globe socially http://bit.ly/dynsaU
Betsey Johnson debuts Facebook Places campaign http://bit.ly/9NdleP
How @OscarPRGirl engages via Twitter for Oscar de la Renta. http://bit.ly/brS9wb
Check out @MissMisc post on Boutique Point G & how they used social media to build their biz. http://bit.ly/a0Ysif
Eileen Fisher interview. Love the simplicity of vision and execution http://bit.ly/dvS4tc
What's yr take on TwitterFashionweek site http://fashionweek.twitter.com/ ? For b/ground: http://bit.ly/b3F7U3
How Home Depot is integrating social media with social sales rep. Brilliant! http://ow.ly/55ZfK
Fascinating blow-by-blow report on Home Depot v. Jetblue engaging customers on FB http://bit.ly/anFufx
Elf alert! Macy's unleashes 10k elves around country. Find 1; remake it. Daily clues on Facebook, Twitter http://ow.ly/62en2
How Radio Shack uses Foursquare: http://ow.ly/4GLSm
@WholeFoods Marla Erwin is wonderfully wise: 6 ways to avoid social media catastrophe http://ow.ly/4pZR1; Whole Foods and social media: to educate, interact, keep brand, culture fresh: http://ow.ly/68nvR
Social Activism
How Greenpeace uses social media to promote rainforest agenda with Mattel: http://ow.ly/5qmJe
Social Media and Sports Brands
Way cool! Rules of engagement from NBA social media war room http://ow.ly/5cCFf
Technology and Social Media
How blackberry used video to engage NHL sports loving young men
Interview w/ Joe Fernandez about Klout influence scores http://ow.ly/4kn8h
Skype launches @skype4business http://bit.ly/9T97eM
"Build social DNA into every employee" Interview with SAP’s social media director http://bit.ly/cr5tlK
Learn fr Intel's wise @Ekaterina who shares what small businesses can learn from social media http://ow.ly/5LIMw; Inside Intel's FB attack strategy. Wisdom from @ekaterina during SxSW panel http://ow.ly/4LJZg
20 min video re: how HP created its social media center of excellence http://ow.ly/50i4v
Perspective on IBM, social business & future: http://ow.ly/5LJ0Y
Google project oxygen on h2 become a better manager http://ow.ly/4ekEe [note reg may b requ'd]; Geolocation is getting interesting! Google unveils Hotpot, reco engine for Google Places http://on.mash.to/cEiNVJ
Why we have too few women leaders @TEDWomen talk w Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg http://ow.ly/3t7yS
Facebook case study "Officer Ludwig" http://bit.ly/9QSGhu
LinkedIn continues to evolve per FastCo. http://ow.ly/4x5LS Becoming mo like Facebook?
Transportation Brands and Social Media
Real world example: how Delta connected social media and customer service http://ow.ly/5qCZ5
Delta monitors Twitter to address customer complaints http://bit.ly/cEcoH4
Blow-by-blow report on Home Depot v. Jetblue engaging customers on FB http://bit.ly/anFufx #practicalmktr
H2 hail a London cabbie using @tweetalondoncab http://bit.ly/cspCyi
Using social media to humanize your brand http://bit.ly/bXiez1 #practicalmktr advice from Boeing
How Ford blends digital with branded content - interview w Scott Kelly
Interview w/ Fords @ScottMonty http://bit.ly/bfpwg4
FastCo Design: Best Buy, Ford, CBS, Pepsi, P&G/Old Spice social media is Real, legitimate, where peeps R http://ow.ly/4tVps
TV Programs and Social Media
How to meld TV program w social media: Anthony Bourdain @NoReservation http://ow.ly/4n6eS
Lessons from Iron Chef [a favorite :-)]. Here for PR: http://ow.ly/4x58u
5 Social Media learnings inspired by 'Jersey Shore' http://bit.ly/bCOQ9R
Marvelous descptn of 5 lessons marketers can learn from Mr. Rogers by @Sam_Ford http://bit.ly/bZpaJz
What's your reaction to all of these examples? How might you use them in your conversations about social media marketing? I'd love to hear.
