A successful hashtag campaign is one that is able to tap into a trend or conversation that is already happening and amplifies it. A good way to think about a successful hashtag campaign is like a megaphone – it takes what is already being talked about and makes it louder.
Some examples of successful hashtag campaigns are:
-#metoo – this campaign was started in response to the allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The goal of the campaign was to give voice to survivors of sexual assault and harassment and show just how widespread the problem truly is. The #metoo movement has since been credited with sparking a global conversation about sexual misconduct and has led to real change, with many high-profile individuals being held accountable for their actions.
-#blacklivesmatter – this hashtag was created in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The goal of the #blacklivesmatter movement is to bring attention to the disparities in how black people are treated by law enforcement and the criminal justice system as a whole. The movement has since grown exponentially, with chapters all over the world working towards creating lasting change.
-#icebucketchallenge – this viral challenge involved.
Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke. How could we start this list with anything else?
Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke campaign was one of the most successful hashtag campaigns of all time. The campaign was simple: encourage people to share photos of themselves drinking Coca-Cola with the hashtag #ShareACoke.
Coca-Cola’s marketing team worked hard to get the hashtag trending on social media, and it paid off. The campaign generated a to n of buzz and resulted in millions of people sharing photos of themselves with Coca-Cola.
The success of the #ShareACoke campaign is a testament to the power of social media marketing. If you can get your hashtag trending, you can reach a huge audience and generate a lot of buzz for your brand.
Always’ #LikeAGirl
Since its launch in July 2014, the #LikeAGirl campaign has been a runaway success, with the original YouTube video garnering over 84 million views to date. The premise of the campaign is simple: to inspire confidence in girls by showing them that doing things “like a girl” doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Other posts of interest:
The #LikeAGirl video features girls of all ages being asked to do various activities “like a girl” (e.g. run like a girl, fight like a girl). The girls initially approach these activities with trepidation and embarrassment, but after being encouraged to really go for it, they end up excelling at them. The point of the video is that when we tell girls they’re doing something wrong just because they’re doing it “like a girl,” we are inadvertently teaching them to doubt their own abilities. Girls should be proud to do things “like a girl” – it means they’re doing them with strength, power and determination.
The #LikeAGirl campaign has resonated with people all over the world, and has sparked some important conversations about gender stereotypes and how we can empower young girls to be confident and successful in everything they do. If you haven’t seen the original video yet, definitely check it out – it’s sure to leave you feeling inspired!
ALS Association’s #IceBucketChallenge
The ALS Association’s #IceBucketChallenge was one of the most successful hashtag campaigns of recent years. The challenge went viral on social media, with people from all over the world taking part. The campaign raised awareness of ALS, and also raised funds for research into the disease.
TNT’s #DontKillSeanBean
The death of Sean Bean’s character was met with a lot of backlash from fans, who were angry that such a major character had been killed off without any warning. In response, TNT started the #DontKillSeanBean campaign, which encouraged fans to tweet their support for Sean Bean and his character.
The campaign was an instant success, and within days it had become one of the top trending topics on Twitter. The support from fans helped to convince TNT to keep Sean Bean alive in “Legends” for at least one more season.
Thanks to the success of the #DontKillSeanBean campaign, Sean Bean has now become an even bigger star than he was before. His character has been given a new lease on life, and fans can look forward to seeing more of him on “Legends” in the future.
RedBull’s #PutACanOnIt
In 2013, Red Bull launched a campaign called #PutACanOnIt, which encouraged people to share photos and videos of themselves doing creative and extreme stunts with a Red Bull can. The campaign was a huge success, generating millions of views and social media interactions.
The #PutACanOnIt campaign was created to promote Red Bull’s new line of energy drinks, which come in cans instead of the traditional bottles. The idea behind the campaign was to show that Red Bull cans are strong and durable, and can be used for more than just drinking.
To participate in the campaign, people were encouraged to share photos and videos of themselves doing creative or extreme stunts with a Red Bull can. The best submissions were featured on the Red Bull website and social media channels.
The response to the campaign was incredible, with millions of views and social media interactions. It also generated a lot of positive press for Red Bull.
Esurance’s #EsuranceSave30
#EsuranceSave30 was a hugely successful hashtag campaign by Esurance. The company offered a 30% discount on car insurance to customers who used the hashtag when they signed up. The campaign was so successful that Esurance extended the offer to include other products, such as home and life insurance.
Nest’s #CaughtOnDropCam
Most people are familiar with the feeling of losing their phone. It’s a sickening feeling when you realize it’s gone, and your mind races through all the possible scenarios of where it could be and who might have it.
For many, the next step is to frantically search through couch cushions, pockets, and purses in the hopes of finding it. But for some, that search comes up empty. And then they’re left with the daunting task of trying to track down their lost phone.
Enter Nest’s #CaughtOnDropCam campaign. The home security company teamed up with Twitter to help people find their lost phones by using Nest Cam footage.
Here’s how it worked: People who tweet ed at Nest with the hashtag #CaughtOnDropCam were given access to footage from any public Nest Cam in their area. They could then scroll through the footage to see if they could spot their lost phone.
The campaign was a huge success, helping people find their lost phones and raising awareness for Nest Cam at the same time.
Charmin’s #TweetFromTheSeat
The campaign was designed to increase brand awareness and engagement with Charmin’s social media channels. It also aimed to generate user-generated content (UGC) that could be used in future marketing initiatives. To encourage participation, Charmin offered weekly prizes for the best #TweetFromTheSeat submissions.
The response to the campaign was overwhelmingly positive, with many users calling it “hilarious” and “brilliant”. The UGC generated by the campaign has been used in a number of subsequent marketing initiatives, including a TV commercial which aired during the 2015 Super Bowl.