5 Excellent Branded Instagram Hashtag Campaigns to Copy
Learn from the best: Decoding 5 winning Instagram hashtag campaigns
Did you know that posts with hashtags get 60.61% more engagement than those without¹? This shows how powerful hashtags are in Instagram marketing. With over 700 million users, Instagram is a key place for brands to connect with people¹.
Branded hashtags are changing the game for businesses. They help spread the word and connect with people. From small startups to big brands, they use these hashtags to make noise, build a community, and get more content from users.
This article looks at five top branded Instagram hashtag campaigns. You'll see how they increased brand awareness, got more engagement, and made strong connections with their audience.
Key Takeaways
Instagram hashtags significantly boost post engagement
Branded hashtags are powerful tools for social media campaigns
Successful campaigns drive user-generated content and community building
Unique, memorable hashtags can lead to viral marketing success
Hashtag campaigns can align with brand values and social causes
Cross-platform integration enhances campaign reach and impact
The Power of Instagram Hashtag Campaigns
Instagram hashtag campaigns are a big deal in social media marketing. They're not just the latest trend; they're powerful tools for growing your brand. Let's explore how these campaigns can boost your Instagram marketing strategy.
Increasing Brand Visibility
Branded hashtags help you reach more people. They make your content stand out in a crowded space. Using a unique hashtag makes your posts easy to find. This increases brand awareness and gets more eyes on your posts.
In fact, posts with just one hashtag get 12.6% more engagement than those without².
Driving User Engagement
Hashtag campaigns start conversations. They encourage your audience to share and create. Words like "rewards," "gifts," and "contest" tied to your hashtag can really get people excited².
This engagement is great for your brand. It creates a buzz and keeps people coming back for more.
Building Brand Community
A strong hashtag campaign does more than promote. It builds a community around your brand. When users share content with your hashtag, they're part of your brand story.
This user-generated content is powerful. It builds trust, boosts engagement, and can even lead to more sales².
The magic number for hashtags is between two and five per post³. This sweet spot helps you reach your audience without overwhelming them. As you plan your social media strategy, remember that hashtags are more than just tags. They're bridges connecting you to your community.
By using Instagram hashtag campaigns, you're not just making your brand more visible. You're creating a space for engagement and community building. That's the real power of a well-crafted hashtag campaign.
Understanding Instagram Branded Hashtags
Instagram branded hashtags are key for your social media strategy. They help sort content, boost your brand, and make it easier to find. When done right, they become symbols of what your brand stands for.
Did you know 80% of brands lack a unique hashtag⁴? This is your chance to shine. A special hashtag can make you more visible and connect better with your audience.
There are three main types of branded hashtags:
Brand Name Hashtags
Taglines and Slogan Hashtags
Content and Campaign-Specific Branded Hashtags⁴
Using 20-30 hashtags in your posts can really help. It can increase your reach and get more people involved⁵. The best hashtags are short, easy to remember, and shouldn't be too long⁴.
Look for hashtags with 10K-200K posts for the best results. This range offers good visibility without too much competition⁵. Check the Instagram Explore page for trending hashtags to get ideas⁵.
"A branded hashtag is a key element of Instagram marketing, crucial for connecting with audiences and boosting brand visibility."
To make a memorable hashtag, brainstorm ideas, check how well they engage your audience, and sort them by theme⁶. Share your hashtags in your social bios, posts, and promotions to get more people involved and collect user content⁴.
Using a mix of popular and niche hashtags can help you reach more people and target specific groups⁶. To improve your hashtag strategy, use tools like Later's Hashtag Analytics to see which hashtags work best for your posts⁵.
Hashtag Type - Purpose
Brand Name: Increase brand recognition
Tagline: Reinforce brand message
Campaign-Specific: Drive engagement for specific initiatives
Example
Brand Name: #Nike
Tagline: #JustDoIt
Campaign-Specific: #ShareACoke
Mastering branded hashtags can boost your social media, increase community involvement, and make your brand louder online.
Airbnb's #WeAccept Campaign
Airbnb's #WeAccept campaign is a shining example of how to blend diversity marketing with social responsibility. It started during the 2017 Super Bowl. This campaign tackled discrimination in Airbnb's community and showed off the company's true values.
Campaign Overview
The #WeAccept campaign began with a 30-second ad seen by 113 million Super Bowl viewers⁷. It highlighted a big issue: Airbnb hosts were 16% less likely to accept guests with African-American-sounding names⁷. The campaign's message of acceptance really hit home, fitting perfectly with Airbnb's mission of welcoming everyone into homes.
Results and Impact
The campaign made a huge splash. It got over 87 million people talking, making it Airbnb's third-biggest campaign ever⁸. On social media, #WeAccept was everywhere. It was the top hashtag during the Super Bowl, with over 33,000 tweets in the first half alone⁹⁷⁸.
But the campaign's impact went beyond just online chatter. Airbnb saw a 13% jump in visitors from the US and Canada after the Super Bowl⁸. Even better, 15,400 hosts stepped up to welcome those in need⁸.
Lessons for Marketers
The #WeAccept campaign teaches marketers a lot:
Make sure your campaigns reflect your brand's true values
Tackle social issues to connect with people
Use big events to share important messages
Blend social responsibility into your marketing
By mixing diversity marketing with a strong social message, Airbnb created a campaign that went huge and made a real difference. It shows how brands can push for positive change and boost their market presence at the same time.
Metric - Result
Total Impressions: 87 million
Social Media Shares: 90,000+
Volunteer Host Signups: 15,400
Positive Reactions: 85%
For a deeper look at the campaign's strategy and results, check out this detailed breakdown.
Red Bull's #PutACanOnIt Challenge
Red Bull's #PutACanOnIt campaign showed off brand creativity and got people talking on social media. It started in 2015 and quickly became a hit, making Red Bull a big name¹⁰. The campaign was fun and creative, making people want to join in with the hashtag¹⁰.
It was simple: fans were asked to take pictures with Red Bull cans in cool ways. This let users show off their creativity and helped spread the brand through their own content¹⁰. Big brands like Pepsi and Perrier even joined in, making the campaign even bigger¹¹.
The #PutACanOnIt campaign was amazing because it got a lot of attention without costing a lot¹⁰. This creative hashtag campaign shows how letting fans be creative can really help a brand connect with people.
"The #PutACanOnIt campaign demonstrates the power of user engagement in driving brand visibility and awareness."
Red Bull's campaign shows how brands can get people involved in making content. By letting fans share their ideas, Red Bull grew its social media presence and built a stronger bond with its fans.
Campaign Aspect - Impact
User Engagement: High participation rate
Brand Visibility: Significant increase
Cost-Effectiveness: Low-cost, high-return
Cross-Brand Involvement: Pepsi, Perrier joined in
The #PutACanOnIt challenge is a great example for marketers wanting to boost user content and create viral trends. It shows that with a clever idea, brands can spark creativity and build strong connections with their audience.
KitKat's #MyBreak Campaign
KitKat's #MyBreak campaign is a great example of how to use marketing across different platforms. It made the brand more popular and got people more involved. It used Instagram well, knowing it's a place where people spend a lot of time¹².
Campaign Concept
The #MyBreak campaign was all about taking a break, fitting KitKat's "Have a break, have a KitKat" slogan. It asked users to share their break moments, making it easy for people to relate and get involved.
Cross-Platform Integration
KitKat used both online and offline tactics in the campaign. It went beyond just Instagram, using Google voice search and YouTube trending videos too. This mix helped the campaign reach more people and make a bigger impact.
User-Generated Content Success
KitKat put the #MyBreak hashtag on 22 million bars, sparking a lot of user content. This move worked well, getting over 37,000 posts on Instagram. This kind of content is key to getting customers to spend more online¹².
KitKat's campaign shows how digital campaigns can really engage customers and make a brand more known. By using Instagram's strong user interaction and other platforms, KitKat made a campaign that really spoke to its audience and got them involved¹².
Starbucks' #RedCupContest
Starbucks' #RedCupContest is a great example of how to use seasonal marketing. It combines social media contests with rewards for customers. People share their holiday-themed red cups on Instagram for a chance to win Starbucks gift cards.
In 2015, a photo was shared every 14 seconds in the first two days. This led to 40,000 entries during the contest¹³. This shows how successful the campaign was in making customers more loyal and creating excitement.
The #RedCupContest has turned into a holiday tradition. It got over 38,000 posts on Instagram¹⁴. The hashtag #RedCup got even more attention, with over 254,000 posts¹⁴. These numbers show how well the campaign worked in getting people involved and building a community among Starbucks fans.
User-generated content is a big part of this campaign's success. Studies show that 79% of people are more likely to buy something because of user-generated content, not brand-created content¹⁵. Starbucks uses this to make its customers help spread the word about the brand.
Hashtag - Instagram Posts
#RedCupContest: 38,000+
#RedCup: 254,000+
#RedCups: 129,000+
The #RedCupContest is a great example of how to use seasonal marketing, social media, and rewards to keep customers loyal. By encouraging people to share their own content, Starbucks has found a way to keep customers coming back every year.
Herschel Supply's #WellTraveled Series
Herschel Supply's #WellTraveled campaign is a big hit in the world of travel content. It has won the hearts of adventurers everywhere, with over 1.7 million posts on Instagram using the hashtag¹⁶.
Content Strategy
The brand uses travel photography from its fans to tell stories of global adventures. They've shared trips to 130 countries, aiming to visit every country on Earth¹⁷. This keeps their Instagram lively and shows off their products in real-life situations.
User Participation
The #WellTraveled campaign has become very popular, with over 300,000 followers on Instagram¹⁸. It's mainly for 18-25-year-olds, like students abroad or those traveling for fun. By asking users to share their stories, Herschel has built a community that loves the brand. This community often talks about their bags and adventures¹⁸.
Brand Alignment
This campaign fits perfectly with Herschel's travel gear. It has helped the brand grow from a small start-up to being known in major fashion blogs around the world¹⁸. The #WellTraveled series lets Herschel connect with customers worldwide and get unique photos of their products. This is a great way to use photography marketing.
Campaign Aspect Impact
Instagram Posts: 1.7 million+
Countries Documented: 130
Instagram Followers: 300,000+
Target Audience: 18-25 year-olds
Herschel's #WellTraveled campaign shows how Instagram can be a powerful tool for branding and marketing. By getting people involved and matching with their products, Herschel has built a strong platform for growth and engagement.
Key Elements of Successful Instagram Hashtag Campaigns
Creating a successful Instagram hashtag campaign takes careful planning and execution. Start by making unique, memorable hashtags that match your brand's values. This helps increase audience engagement and makes your brand more visible. With over 1 billion active users, Instagram is a huge platform for brand exposure¹⁹.
It's important to keep your brand consistent in hashtag campaigns. Choose a hashtag that is short, simple, and easy to remember. Try to keep it under ten characters for the best effect²⁰. This method works well, as 70% of the top hashtags on Instagram are branded ones made by companies²¹.
Creating engaging content is key to your campaign's success. Encourage your followers to share their own content using your hashtag. For instance, Benefit Cosmetics got over 11,900 selfies with their #realsies hashtag²¹. This not only gets more people involved but also builds a community around your brand.
Don't forget to cross-promote your hashtag on other social media platforms to reach more people. Posts with at least one Instagram hashtag tend to get 12.6% more engagement than those without²¹. By using these strategies, you can make a hashtag campaign that connects with your audience and sparks meaningful interactions²⁰.
How to Create Your Own Branded Hashtag Campaign
Creating a branded hashtag campaign is a great way to make your brand more visible and connect with your audience. Let's go through the main steps to make a campaign that works.
Defining Campaign Objectives
First, set clear goals for your hashtag campaign. Do you want to boost brand awareness, get more people involved, or highlight a new product? These goals will help shape your hashtag and how you promote it.
Choosing the Right Hashtag
Your branded hashtag should stand out, be easy to remember, and match your campaign's aims. It should be short, 1-3 words, and speak to your audience²². Make sure it doesn't have meanings that could cause confusion or social media mishaps²³.
Promoting Your Campaign
After picking the perfect hashtag, it's time to promote it and target your audience. Use your hashtag on all social media, but adjust how you use it for each platform. For example, Twitter and Facebook do well with 1-2 hashtags, while Instagram can handle up to 30²³²².
Get people to create content with your hashtag by asking them to. This can really increase engagement and spread the word²⁴. Remember, 92% of consumers trust brand advocates more, so using user content can greatly benefit your campaign²³.
Keep an eye on how your hashtag is doing with social media tools. Look at metrics like views, reach, engagement, and feelings to see how well your campaign is doing. This will help you make your strategy better²².
Measuring the Success of Your Hashtag Campaign
It's key to know how well your hashtag campaign is doing. By looking at social media metrics, you can learn a lot about your campaign's success. This helps you make smarter choices.
Reach: See how many people saw your hashtag posts to know how many people you reached²⁵.
Engagement: Check likes, comments, and shares to see how much people interacted with your posts²⁶.
Post Volume: Count how many times your brand hashtag was used to see its popularity²⁷.
Unique Users: Look at how many different people used your hashtags²⁷.
Sentiment: Watch for both positive and negative feelings to see how people liked your campaign²⁵.
Use tools like Bazaarvoice's Social Commerce for easy tracking of social analytics. These tools help you see how well hashtags are doing, compare them, and test different ones to get better results²⁷.
Keep in mind, each social media platform has its own best ways to use hashtags. For example, Instagram lets you use up to 30 hashtags per post. But on Facebook and Twitter, 2-3 hashtags work best for getting more engagement²⁷.
Platform Recommended Hashtag Usage
Instagram: Up to 30 hashtags
Facebook: 2-3 hashtags
Twitter: 2-3 hashtags
LinkedIn: Few tags to avoid spam
TikTok: No limit, but focus on content
By always checking these metrics and tweaking your strategy, you can make your hashtag campaign better. Make sure to look at location data to hit your target audience. Also, watch how engagement changes over time to spot trends²⁵.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Hashtag Campaigns
Hashtag campaigns are great for managing your brand's reputation but can be tricky. It's important to know the common mistakes to avoid for success.
One big mistake is using too many hashtags. Hashtags help, but don't overdo it. Tweets with 1-2 hashtags get 21% more engagement²⁸. On Instagram, using 11+ hashtags can boost interactions by 79.5% for smaller accounts²⁹.
Another error is not doing your homework. Pick niche hashtags with fewer posts to stand out. Mix small and medium hashtags to spread out your reach²⁹.
Plan your hashtag campaign carefully to prevent crises. Avoid complex or unclear hashtags. Make sure your campaign doesn't mix with unrelated or negative content.
Lastly, interact with your audience. Hashtag campaigns work best when people talk back. Keep an eye on user-generated content and respond to build a strong community and stop negative hijacking.
"Quality over quantity is essential when it comes to hashtags. It's better to have five effective tags than thirty ineffective ones."
Remember, each platform has its own hashtag rules. Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest use hashtags more than LinkedIn. Adjust your strategy for each platform for the best results³⁰.
Platform - Optimal Hashtag Usage
Twitter: 1-2 hashtags
Instagram (: 11+ hashtags
LinkedIn: Fewer hashtags
Engagement Impact
Twitter 1-2 hashtags 21% increase
Instagram ( 11+ hashtags 79.5% increase
LinkedIn Fewer hashtags Platform-specific
Avoid these mistakes to make your hashtag campaigns successful. They'll help increase your brand's visibility and engage your audience.
Leveraging User-Generated Content from Hashtag Campaigns
Instagram hashtag campaigns are a treasure trove of user-generated content (UGC) for brands. This tool boosts brand visibility, offers social proof, and increases customer engagement. A whopping 90% of consumers trust UGC more than ads or search results³¹.
By curating content from hashtag campaigns, brands can show off real customer experiences. This approach connects deeply with potential customers, as 92% trust what their peers say more than brand content³¹. Using UGC, you're not just marketing; you're building a community around your brand.
Effective use of UGC boosts brand advocacy. Companies like GoPro excel at this, gaining over 17 million Instagram followers by sharing customer-made content³². This method cuts down on content costs and makes users feel part of something bigger.
To make the most of UGC, try these tips:
Run contests to get customers to share their stories
Showcase user reviews and testimonials
Use user-created tutorials to highlight product versatility
Add gamification to increase sharing and participation
Remember, it's key to moderate content well to keep it true to your brand. By looking at how people interact with UGC, you can learn a lot about what works for your marketing³². Using UGC across different platforms can really boost your campaign's success and grow your brand.
UGC Impact Statistic
Influence on buying decisions: 90% of consumers influenced by UGC
Trust in peer recommendations: 92% of consumers trust peer content
Product discovery: 48% find UGC effective for discovering new products
Web conversion increase: 29% increase when featuring UGC
By tapping into the power of UGC from hashtag campaigns, you're doing more than marketing. You're building a community-driven brand experience that connects with your audience and brings real results.
Conclusion
Instagram hashtag campaigns are key in today's digital marketing. They help increase brand visibility, engage users, and build a community. Using 5-15 relevant hashtags per post can help your content reach more people without looking spammy³³.
Branded hashtags, like Coca-Cola's #ShareACoke, show how companies can create catchy phrases that stick with their audience³³. These hashtags can boost engagement 70% faster than without them, making them crucial for your Instagram strategy³⁴. For example, Nike's #JustDoIt hashtag got nearly 50,000 mentions in 30 days, reaching 79 million users³⁵.
To use social media trends well, mix popular, niche, and branded hashtags in your posts. This helps increase visibility without overwhelming your followers³⁵. Keep your branded hashtags short, simple, and easy to remember for better engagement³⁴. By learning from successful campaigns and best practices, you can create hashtags that connect with your audience and meet your brand goals.
FAQ
What are the benefits of Instagram hashtag campaigns?
Instagram hashtag campaigns boost brand visibility by reaching more people. They increase user interaction through likes, comments, and shares. They also help build a community by encouraging users to share their own content.
What makes a good branded hashtag?
A good branded hashtag is unique, easy to remember, and reflects the brand's values. For example, #ExpressWithPride by Tagbox and #WorthSaying by L'Oreal Paris are great examples.
How did Airbnb's #WeAccept campaign succeed?
The #WeAccept campaign tackled issues of diversity and acceptance in Airbnb's community. It showed how the brand welcomes strangers into homes. This campaign highlighted the brand's core values.
What made Red Bull's #PutACanOnIt campaign successful?
The #PutACanOnIt campaign got followers to post creative photos with Red Bull cans. This led to nearly 10,000 unique photos on Instagram and Twitter. It showed how giving fans creative freedom boosts engagement and loyalty.
How did KitKat integrate its #MyBreak campaign across platforms?
The #MyBreak campaign used online and offline tactics. It combined Google voice search with YouTube trending videos and put the hashtag on 22 million KitKat bars.
How does Starbucks use its annual #RedCupContest?
The #RedCupContest lets customers post photos for a chance to win Starbucks gift cards. It creates excitement, increases brand awareness, and boosts sales, with over 40,000 Instagram posts.
What makes Herschel Supply's #WellTraveled campaign successful?
The #WellTraveled campaign shares travel stories and photos, fitting Herschel's travel products and audience. It has gotten over 700,000 images on Instagram.
What are the key elements of successful Instagram hashtag campaigns?
Successful campaigns have unique hashtags, align with brand values, and have clear goals. They encourage user content, use multiple platforms, and stay relevant.
How can brands create their own branded hashtag campaign?
Brands should set clear goals, pick a unique hashtag, and promote it well. Think about your audience, campaign length, and how it fits with other marketing.
How can brands measure the success of their hashtag campaigns?
Brands can track success with metrics like reach, engagement, content volume, and conversions. Use Instagram Insights and third-party tools for this.
What are common mistakes to avoid in hashtag campaigns?
Avoid using hard-to-remember hashtags, not checking existing hashtags, ignoring participants, lacking a strategy, and hashtag hijacking.
How can brands leverage user-generated content from hashtag campaigns?
User-generated content is great for marketing. It builds trust, offers social proof, and increases engagement. Always give proper credit and permission when using this content.
Source Links
How to Create a Branded Hashtag That People Will Actually Use
Instagram Hashtags: Everything You Need To Know in 2024 | Later
Creating Hashtags: The Art of Making Great Hashtags for your Brand
Starbucks' holiday cup: the skinny, the grande and the ugly. - Brogan & Partners
7 Examples of Brands Who are Winning with Instagram Influencer Marketing
How Herschel Supply's branded content inspired a new product launch
5 Ways Branded Hashtags on Instagram Can Boost Your Engagement
How do you create and promote your own branded hashtags to boost engagement and awareness?
What is User Generated Content? The Definitive Guide to Leverage UGC for Marketing
User Generated Content on Instagram - Leverage The Power Of UGC
Instagram Hashtag Guide To Find & Use Instagram Hashtags In 2024
How can Instagram Hashtags Help You Get More Views? | Brand24
Sai Rahul
Jul 24, 2024
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