Tired of getting the same old flowers every Valentine’s Day? Sick of paying an arm and a leg for that bouquet of roses? This year a few companies offered some unique and innovative ideas to help consumers give something different to their loved one this year.

In the age of the internet, social media and mobile applications, the possibilities for such campaigns are endless. Let’s take a look a few of the coolest Valentine’s Day campaigns from this year:

Strauss

1Using QR (Quick Response) Codes as a tool for consumers has taken the world by storm. By the simple swipe of a smartphone a person could receive a coupon, save a company’s information or find out more about a product. On Valentine’s Day, Elite Café locations all around Israel hung up posters that read, “Ever wondered what to get for Valentine’s Day?” and included a very large QR code. Unknowing passersby curiously swiped the QR code with their smartphones, only to find out that they had won a romantic box of chocolate for them or their loved ones.

The reactions alone are enough to make you smile.  Can you feel Strauss’s love?

Starbucks

2Starbucks also capitalized on the new marketing opportunities that smarphones offer.  On this Valentine’s Day, Starbucks customers were able to utilize a special app that allowed them to create personalized eCards for their Valentine. When the recipient hovered his or her smartphone over their Valentine’s Day themed coffee cup, the flower image on the cup would flutter away and the chosen text would appear.

Nothing says I love you like a hot cup of coffee, right?

Google

3Google always makes sure the “Google” symbol on its homepage is geared to a relevant topic or event.  Whether it is Christmas or the Fourth of July, Google always makes sure to keep in the spirit. This year Valentine’s Day was no different.

Google published a unique “Google Doodle” for the occasion: An animated doodle was posted on YouTube showing a young boy trying to, and eventually succeeding in, winning the love of his sweat heart. The video also linked to Valentine’s related searches.

It is so cute that it hurts!

Is this a clue of things to come? Will the Digital Age revolutionize the way we shower our loved ones with gifts? We will have to see next year. Ayelet Noff is founder and CEO of Blonde 2.0, a New Media PR firm specializing in helping brands use social media tools such as social networks, the blogosphere and social software to create brand awareness, buzz, find leads, recruit employees or achieve any other goal. See her business profile, contact Ayelet, follow her on Twitter or leave a comment below.