We are running a hashtag/branding contest through St. Patrick's Day at
http://hotblogtips.com/hashtag-branding-contest
Detailed tips and examples of over a dozen brands using social media hashtags and Hashtag Hijacking to promote and create brand awareness. These forms of Hashtag Hijacking are NOT spam but a creative and relevant form of social media promotion and engagement.
I used Twitter examples but the social strategies used here could easily be implemented across any social network that incorporates hyperlinked "clickable" hashtags. For example, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Google Plus all use hashtags. Be where your audience is.
Find trending topics or hashtags and create a social strategy that will fit your brand's message perfectly into the conversation.
Important criteria for social branding, hashtag hijacking, and trend jacking:
1. Use high quality images or photographs.
2. Offer real value for your followers.
3. Build authority.
4. Brand every image with a logo or identifying watermark.
5. Every post and image should link to the appropriate page.
6. Hashtags should be used properly and never used to inject content into irrelevant conversations, trends, or topics.
7. Use a single and clear call to action.
8. Your image and/or post should tell a story, peak interest and inspire action.
9. Try to solve a problem, answer a question or give fantastic value with every piece of content.
Featured Tweets and Brands:
Mr.Tayto Ireland @MrTaytoIreland
https://twitter.com/MrTaytoIreland/status/444140335124717568
Baileys US @BaileysOriginal
https://twitter.com/BaileysOriginal/status/444880723980214272
Parents Magazine @parentsmagazine
https://twitter.com/parentsmagazine/status/444149034677051393
Pensacola Florida @VisitPensacola
https://twitter.com/VisitPensacola/status/444184779890515968
Sassy Girlz @SassyGirlzBlog
https://twitter.com/SassyGirlzBlog/status/444195905386708992
Mr Owl @MrOwl
https://twitter.com/MrOwl/status/444461832133017600
Smuggling Duds @SmugglingDuds
https://twitter.com/SmugglingDuds/status/441256562170949632
Chaucer and Molly @ChaucerandMolly
https://twitter.com/ChaucerandMolly/status/442791319929241600
Z100 New York @Z100NewYork
https://twitter.com/Z100NewYork/status/443598796719550464
WhiskeyDisks™ @WhiskeyDisks
https://twitter.com/WhiskeyDisks/status/443778778372644864
Food Network UK @FoodNetwork_UK
https://twitter.com/FoodNetwork_UK/status/444121966245449728
https://twitter.com/pamperedchef/status/444895849219641345
The Pampered Chef @pamperedchef
Victoria's Secret @VictoriasSecret
https://twitter.com/VictoriasSecret/status/444231498174955520
Image credit - Pot of Gold
© Vovk27 | Dreamstime Stock Photos
http://www.dreamstime.com/
& Stock Free Images
http://www.stockfreeimages.com/
