14 Successful Hashtag Campaign Examples To Get Inspire
Social media has emerged to become a realm of hashtags. Ever since Chris Messina came up with the idea to include hashtags on Twitter for categorizing channels using the hash (#) sign, these signs have exploded in popularity and have become a common sight on all the leading social media networks.
In the current social media landscape, hashtags have become an integral part of pretty much every social media users’ content. Resulting, there are over thousands of posts containing hashtags daily on social media.
Hashtags are used by brand users to express their opinion, to make content discovery easier, or even for searching content.
Seeing such massive popularity of hashtags, brands have started adopting this strategy as a hashtag campaign. The motto behind running a hashtag contest may differ; however, a few common reasons are for improving social media following, increasing engagement, or for supporting a cause.
Being a brand, if you are motivated to use hashtag campaigns in your marketing game, then you are at the right place.
Keep reading as we have mentioned the best hashtag campaigns examples of all time, ideal for inspiration.
Top 14 Creative and Successful Hashtag Campaign Examples
#ExpressWithPride Campaign By Tagbox
#Sunday7Social By ISOLATED Talks
#Letsdolunch By Domino’s Pizza
#DoUsAFlavour Campaign By Lays
#ShareYourEars Campaign by Disney
#HOLLYWOODselfie By Pedigree Australia
#Trippinwithtarte by Tarte Cosmetics
What Is A Hashtag Campaign?
A hashtag campaign is a marketing effort by brands using a specific hashtag to widen their reach and engagement with potential customers. Brands can include the hashtag in their posts and encourage followers on channels like Instagram, Twitter, and more.
Social media marketing campaigns to increase brand visibility, gain followers, raise awareness, and engage with online audiences.
These successful social media campaigns encourage people to participate and create content that resonates with them, helping your brand reach a wider audience.
But choosing a hashtag is far more complicated than it might seem; keep reading to learn how to find your perfect hashtags.
14 Most Inspirational Hashtag Campaign Examples Of All Time
After going through the aforementioned advantages of hosting a Hashtag contest, we are certain that you must be searching for some inspiration for your next move.
Just like the title of the blog suggests, make your way to go through some of the best Hashtag campaigns of all times, that has helped brands tremendously improve their social media presence.
1. #ExpressWithPride Campaign By Tagbox
With the motto of ‘Love comes without any labels’, Tagbox organized the #ExpressWithPride campaign during Pride month to embrace love in all forms irrespective of community. Supported by big giants like 6Connex, Snapbar, and Calashock commerce, the platform asked people to upload their snaps using the hashtag #ExpressWithPride and displayed it on their platform.
To our LGBTQ+ fam: we’re here to celebrate equality, love, and progress with you! We have partnered with @taggboxSocial to create a space to share your pride. Click to upload or create your favorite pride moment on social using #ExpressWithPride 🏳️🌈https://t.co/hi4wmSsUeb pic.twitter.com/0rYjm79fPB
— 6Connex (@6Connex) June 7, 2022
As a result, many people have come forward to actively participate in the campaign to celebrate progress and equality. This campaign is a testament to hosting a hashtag contest strategically at the right time.
2. #WorthSaying By Loreal Paris
The famous beauty brand Loreal Paris asked women to raise their voices and post about issues that matter to them using the hashtag #WorthSaying.
This campaign gave women the power to come out and speak openly on issues that are worth talking about. The campaign became so popular that celebrities like Jennifer Lopez & Blake Lively also actively participated in it.
As #goldenglobes red carpet conversations flood in… for you, what’s actually #worthsaying? For me it’s: pic.twitter.com/ajJGHZsmk8
— Blake Lively (@blakelively) January 11, 2016
This hashtag example tells brands how standing for a social cause can evoke emotions in people and compel them to participate.
3. #Sunday7Social By ISOLATED Talks
ISOLATED talks, a radio talk show, played a #Sunday7Social playlist every fortnight to build a sense of community amongst isolated people. People worldwide used the hashtag #Sunday7Social to share their stories and to become a part of the curated playlist. The campaign garnered immense amounts of User-Generated Content that was used by the brand in the form of a widget on their website.
#Sunday7Social is just wonderful ❤️ https://t.co/IWFWPdCDQSpic.twitter.com/Df8jnzowji— Oisín Lunny | Radio & Podcast Host Event MC Journo (@oisinlunny) April 18, 2021
The brand used Tagbox Widget, a responsive social media aggregator, to aggregate and embed the content using the hashtag #Sunday7Social as the content aggregation source. Adopting this strategy, they could increase their engagement by 46%!
4. #Letsdolunch By Domino’s Pizza
The famous pizza brand Domino’s ran a promotional hashtag contest. The brand asked the users to use the hashtag #Letsdolunch in all their tweets.
In return, the brand offered a huge discount on their star pizza – Pepperoni Passion by reducing the price of the pizza depending on the number of tweets garnered till lunchtime.
Domino’s played smart by offering special deals and discounts to its customers using the hashtag, which further motivated the users to purchase the pizza immediately!
5. #DoUsAFlavour Campaign By Lays
Lays is famous for setting ideal hashtag campaign examples. One of the most successful ones hosted by the brand is the #DoUsAFlavour campaign.
The outcome was the brand received over 14.4 million flavor submissions and, the winning flavor was gifted prize money of 1 million dollars!
This campaign is an example of how well creative contests can drive participation and engagement from brand users.
Starting with an objective to increase brand value and drive more traffic on its Facebook page, Lays played smart by asking its customers to give them ideas for the upcoming flavors that did not exist before.
6. #ShareYourEars Campaign by Disney
This charity-based hashtag campaign started when Disney collaborated with the Make a Wish foundation to raise funds.
The brand asked people to post their pictures wearing the iconic Mickey Mouse ears and upload them using the hashtag #ShareYourEars.
For every post, the brand donated $5 to the foundation. The campaign evoked emotions within social media users and, it instantly went viral. Moreover, the campaign received support from many famous influencers and celebrities as well.
7. #HOLLYWOODselfie By Pedigree Australia
The famous dog food chain Pedigree strategically launched a dog selfie app called DentaStix to raise awareness around pet dental health.
The selfie app used the camera of the iPhone combined with squeaky sounds to grab the pet’s attention for a perfect selfie. The brand encouraged the users to post the picture on social media using the hashtag #HOLLYWOODselfie.
The campaign garnered huge attention from the users. The brand received a lot of User-Generated Content that can be used effectively to build social proof, increase engagement, and boost sales.
8. #OreoHorrorStories By Oreo
Oreo got all creative by starting the ever famous hashtag #OreoHorrorStories. The campaign began during Halloween when Oreo posted vines, parodying a few iconic horror movie scenes with Oreo cookie as the main character of these scenes.
The brand used the hashtag #OreoHorrorStories and gained massive attention from its fans that got them trending all over social media.
She OD’d. @caraaaaw_ #oreohorrorstories #oreo #sprite #milk #gotmilk pic.twitter.com/OpckgiCEXW
— neffy (@Neffy116) January 3, 2014
Similarly, other brands can also incorporate this strategy and make the most of upcoming events/festivals to start exclusive campaigns.
9. #BeyondFiveStars By Uber
When your driver goes #BeyondFiveStars, share a compliment. Share some love. It only takes a few seconds, but it can go further than you think: https://t.co/CL3JJ9dmUB
— Uber (@Uber) January 24, 2018
Uber expanded its social media reach and presence when the brand urged its users to applaud their Uber drivers for their service using the hashtag #BeyondFiveStars.
Soon enough, the campaign became a massive hit when millions of Uber users posted content while thanking their Uber drives for their outstanding services.
The brand made the most of the content by using it in ads and highlighting the most highly applauded drivers.
10. #Trippinwithtarte by Tarte Cosmetics
Tarte is a famous cosmetics brand that uses influencer marketing campaign to increase its brand reach on social media. The brand is known for sending influencers to all-sponsored trips to different locations.
In return, the influencers post content around Tarte cosmetics using the hashtag #Trippinwithtarte. This marketing campaign helped the brand get millions of followers on social media.
This campaign reflects how influencer marketing can help you tremendously improve your brand reach and followers on social media with the power of hashtags.
11. #ShareACoke by Coca-Cola
My song “I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH” https://t.co/SXxPlVltHw was chosen for the Coca-Cola #shareacoke #shareasong campaign and was printed on coke bottles and cans.
— JIMMY WAYNE (@JimmyWayne) February 20, 2024
Read #WalkToBeautiful and find out how #cocacola played a MAJOR roll in my life @amazon ➡️ https://t.co/wESqiegqrG pic.twitter.com/oRcrePPJS7
Coca-Cola understood the importance of making its customers central to its campaign. Keeping this idea in mind, they started printing and distributing bottles with the most common names, which mustered excitement and became a big hit on social media.
Furthermore, the brand collaborated with celebrities to gain a wider reach.
12. #WantAnR8 by Audi
Never stop #wantAnR8 @AudiOfficial @dtmarketgr cars and coffee. pic.twitter.com/E1fvK32S0z
— Rick (@slate74) July 15, 2023
Another hashtag example is the launch of the Audi R8, which created a massive buzz in the market. As a result, a fan posted her wish to ride the car. Understanding the value of the customer’s word, the company surprised her and granted her wish.
Later, many other followers did the same, and the hashtag got retweeted almost 75,000 times, driving high engagement on Social media channels. This is a classic example of how you can reap the benefits of user-generated content.
13. #ShotoniPhone by Apple
When starting a hashtag campaign, aim to benefit from it in the long run; Apple did, too. The brand encouraged people to get creative and share their talent with others using their hashtag on social media platforms.
Like many others, this successful hashtag campaign achieved its goals thanks to the active participation of social media users. This strategy helped the brand to showcase its products’ potential and create a positive brand image.
14. #ChipotleLidFlip by Chipotle
@itsdarrellk Have you participated in any viral challenges?🌯 Sign up for my latest webinar at Candyboxmarketing.com💻
♬ original sound – Darrell Keezer
As mentioned above, knowing which social media works best for you and who your target audience is can elevate your marketing efforts.
Chipotle got a hold of this and learned that most of its leads are Gen Z. They kick-started their campaign with the help of a widely known influencer and asked them to share content on TikTok using the brand hashtag, which soon turned into a trend.
Benefits Of Running A Hashtag Campaign
1. Get A Better Understanding Of The Audience
To increase sales and conversions, it is mandatory for brands to understand the requirements and needs of the customers.
Hosting hashtag campaigns are a golden chance for brands to get detailed insights into information like engagement level, demographics, the number of new followers, behavioral analysis, etc.
Leveraging such information is crucial to achieving your brand targets.
2. For Setting A Brand Image
If you have a positive impression of your followers, they are more likely to engage with you. Hashtag contest also reflects the experiences of your existing customers with the brand. Also, they reflect on the causes you stand up for.
These factors work together to build your brand image and help your users to see you in a different light. Once the image is right, they would be compelled to interact and engage with you on a personal level as well.
3. Increase User Engagement
User engagement is a crucial factor in determining the interest of your audience in your brand.
Hashtag campaigns are instrumental to generate user engagement since it pushes your followers to tweet or post content using a specific hashtag.
They work great to drive content in favor of your brand as your customers tell their success stories, the products they love, etc. and it further does the job to urge other social media users to post content on their social media handles. This strategy works effectively to increase the overall engagement of your brand users.
4. Collect UGC
Are you looking for ways to collect more user-generated content that can help you create a credible brand image?
Running a successful social media campaign can motivate people to participate actively.
Ask your audience to share more content with the campaign hashtag. Your online followers will create excellent content, and everyone who sees it will learn about your idea.
5. Reach wider and convert
Expanding your reach means connecting with a larger audience, potentially reaching more individuals interested in your products or services. This broader exposure can increase brand visibility and attract new customers.
Hashtag campaigns can create buzz around your brand or products on social media.
Using hashtags strategically, you can tap into trending topics, participate in conversations relevant to your brand, and encourage user-generated content.
Overall, hashtag campaigns can be a powerful tool for expanding your reach, increasing brand awareness, and ultimately driving sales.
How To Choose A Right Hashtag
Choosing the right hashtag for your hashtag campaign is as important as running the campaign for its success. While there are many points to consider, here are some tips to help you select the perfect hashtag:
1. Keep it short and unique
When starting your hashtag campaign, the first thing to ensure is that it is short and to the point.
People only engage with unique and easy-to-remember hashtags. Keeping your hashtag brand-specific gives you an edge over others in the market.
2. Analyze competitor’s campaigns
When analyzing your market for trending hashtags that can help you make an impact through your successful social media campaigns, make it a point to track down your competitors’ strategies and content. You can do this by following them on social media.
When looking for hashtags for your product launch, for example, you can copy their strategy or choose an entirely new topic that can give you an edge over them and help you attract newer audiences.
3. Stay Trendy
Another method to help you find fashionable hashtags for your campaign is staying updated on what’s happening in the market.
This approach helps share content that people on social media channels prefer. Furthermore, it can help you get closer to your target audience by posting what they might be interested in.
4. Take Niche Hashtags
Don’t settle for popular hashtags. When searching, consider what’s trending in your industry—are there trendsetting topics or themes everyone’s buzzing about?
Use hashtags related to those trends to jump into existing conversations and reach a wider audience interested in that area. Hashtag finder tools can be helpful, but remember the bigger industry picture when choosing the best hashtags to connect your brand with the right people.
Mistakes To Avoid While Running A Hashtag Campaign
Running a hashtag campaign can be a great way to increase brand awareness and interaction with your audience.
Below, we have mentioned some of the mistakes you should steer clear of.
1. Opting For Popular Hashtags
As impactful as it is to go with hashtags that are popular and more commonly used by people, opt to go with hashtags that can help you reach your goals.
Use industry or niche-specific hashtags to help you create an impact while pushing you toward your aim.
2. Avoiding Research
Avoiding research when picking a hashtag can lead to a controversial hashtag that could damage your reputation.
Stick to hashtags that reflect your post’s theme—don’t chase trends that don’t align with your brand or confuse your audience.
3. Not Using A Hashtag Tracking Tool
A hashtag tracking tool can help you gain valuable insights about your hashtag campaign so that you can perform better in the future.
Use a hashtag tracking tool to track your work and growth. Choose a tool that gives you an analysis of sentiments, engagement, and top creators for your hashtag campaign.
4. Going With A Long Hashtag
As a brand, you must understand that short hashtags are the key to the success of your hashtag campaign.
In addition, easy-to-type, read and remember hashtags are perfect for your event attendees who want to have fun while engaging.
Conclusion
More than 90% of marketers feel that leveraging social media marketing campaigns is an important strategy for their brand’s growth.
Since hashtags are ubiquitous, they play a primary role in expanding your brand exposure. Moreover, due to their strong and quirky presence, they hold the extreme potential to make your content go viral.
Be it for supporting a noble cause or with influencer marketing; you are now aware of the different methods and techniques adopted by brands to run a successful hashtag campaign.
For further upscaling your marketing efforts, you can display these hashtag feeds on various touch-points like websites, digital screens, social ads, emailers, and eCommerce stores using a tool like Tagbox for additional benefits.
What are you waiting for now? Go on, pick your inspiration and run your hashtag campaign for reaping the mentioned benefits and more!
FAQs
When running a hashtag campaign, you must know your target audience and which social media platform can help you achieve your goals fastest and effectively. You can also exercise a cross-channel sharing strategy to reach broader.
While running a successful hashtag campaign is compelling enough, help your followers learn more by providing them with a CTA. Use social media walls to increase engagement using gamification elements like polls, quizzes, and more.
A hashtag aggregator tool helps brands collect, personalize, and publish their most influential and exciting content to people using social media walls at events, websites, and more.
