The way we communicate and share information has drastically changed with the invention of social media. Today, over 70% of Americans have a profile on at least one social network. Social media’s influence as a communication platform is expanding at such an exponential rate that businesses can no longer ignore this new way to engage with customers.
Recent social media trends changing content creation include hashtags, Instagram filters, and Snapchat. Most social media users employ them to search for and organize information. They have changed content creation culture by allowing people to share and find the information they need quickly.
Read on for more insights into brands that have leveraged hashtags successfully and valuable tips on creating content that resonates with your audience.
4 Examples of Successful Social Media Campaigns That Leveraged Hashtags
Several successful social media campaigns have leveraged hashtags to engage with their audience and generate buzz around products and events.
In May 2017, Nike revealed a new running shoe (the “Vaporfly Elite”) that they hoped would allow runners to break the two-hour marathon time.
To market this product, Nike hosted an event called “Breaking2” and asked people to post content with #Breaking2 and #JustDoIt.
This campaign aimed for users to share their stories about breaking two hours in a marathon and drive sales for the new running shoe. It was a huge success and demonstrated the power of using hashtags to engage with customers.
In August 2015, Under Armour launched a “Rule Yourself” campaign that encouraged people to push their limits and stop excuses to get what they wanted out of life.
The campaign used video content challenges on Instagram and Facebook and tagged them with #RuleYourself and #BeThere to create a community around the campaign.
Apple ran a “Shot on iPhone” campaign that invited photographers to share their best work through Instagram with the hashtag #ShotoniPhone.
The campaign’s purpose was to showcase how powerful Apple’s new cameras were on iPhones and show that anyone could take professional-quality photographs.
The campaign was a huge success and demonstrated how organizations can use social media platforms to encourage creativity.
To promote its streaming service, Netflix launched the “#NetflixEverywhere” campaign. The company encouraged users to post photos of themselves watching Netflix using hashtags such as #WatchingNetflix and #NetflixEverywhere.
Netflix also promoted the campaign on Twitter. They used hashtags to engage with customers and demonstrate their commitment to the product.
These are just a few successful social media campaigns that leveraged hashtags to get more people involved with their brand.
And while using hashtags isn’t always necessary for engagement, they are an easy way for users to find and connect quickly.
The Evolution of Hashtags From a Way To Categorize Posts to a Form of Expression
Twitter first introduced hashtags in 2007. “At the time, they were labeled simply ‘#’ followed by a word or phrase, which helped categorize tweets into searchable groups.”
While they were created to help group content in general conversations on Twitter, hashtags have evolved immensely since their introduction. Now, hashtags are a way for social media users to make a statement or show their opinion visible in their posts.
How Instagram Filters Have Changed the Way We See Ourselves
Instagram is one of the top social media sites for sharing photos and videos with your audience. In 2010, they introduced a feature called “filters.” Many social media users have filters on their pictures that make the picture either brighter, colorful, vintage-looking, to mention a few.
This goes along with the evolution of hashtags because social media users utilize both to give their pictures more depth and tell a story.
Why Snapchat Is Becoming More Popular Than Facebook or Twitter Among Teens
Snapchat is an app that allows you to send photos, videos, and text messages, only for up to 60 seconds.
It is popular with teens because they can add filters and other creative elements to make messages unique.
Snapchat is also straightforward to use. There’s no long-term commitment between users, making it an excellent app for casual interactions.
How These Platforms Are Impacting Journalism, Marketing, and Advertising Industries
More and more news organizations are turning to social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for breaking news.
Since these sites allow them to reach a much larger audience at one time than traditional mediums (i.e., print), it helps them show up in trending topics, which gives their organization greater visibility among potential readers.
Social media platforms are also used to collect information for marketing purposes.
Companies can learn about their customers’ interests and preferences by analyzing what they post on social media. Arguably, this can help them better target their audience with the products they offer.
The way we communicate has changed dramatically because of social media, particularly how it influences our daily lives.
It is now an essential form of communication for many, so marketers must ensure they communicate in ways that benefit their organization.
6 Tips for Creating Engaging Content on Social Media Channels That Resonate With Your Audience
Provide Personalized Information
Social media platforms allow for two-way communication, which is beneficial to both social media users and organizations.
When creating content on social media, use hashtags and filters as a way to reach out and customize the information you provide for your audience.
This will help you connect with your audience better and make the information more relatable to them.
Be Transparent
Social media users want to know that they can trust what you are putting out into the world. Hence, organizations need to be transparent in everything they do.
Be honest about everything from mistakes made to general updates about what’s going on with your company.
This helps people feel like they know the organization and can trust them, which is why it’s essential to be as authentic as possible.
Take Risks
If you want to stand out online and increase engagement, you need to post original and unique content.
Take risks by posting content that gets people talking and makes them want to share it with their friends.
You can even research by looking at what your competitors are doing and producing better content than theirs.
Be Consistent
Nowadays, there is much noise on social media because everyone is trying to grab people’s attention.
To be successful, you need to find a way to stand out among the crowd and be consistent in your content creation.
This means having a schedule for posting new content, making it easier for social media users to know what to expect.
Posting quality content consistently will help build trust between your organization and its audience. It will also increase your presence online.
Create Lists
Lists are a great way to engage with people because they help give readers something to talk about and share online.
Whether you create lists where people can vote on their favorite content or list the top athletes at your organization, this strategy is a great way to increase engagement.
Be Available
This is something that social media users value highly because it helps them feel like they have access to the organization whenever they need it.
Make it easy for people to contact you on social media by answering questions and solving problems.
By increasing your presence online and making yourself accessible, your audience will feel more comfortable engaging with you and sharing their ideas.
Conclusion
The way we create content has changed over the years as social media continues to grow in popularity. It’s now become a platform for people to share ideas, engage with others, and develop relationships that extend beyond online activity.
If you want to be successful online, it will help to produce content that resonates with social media users so they can achieve their goals. This includes hashtags, filters, and providing personalized information to make your content more engaging and relatable.