5 Alternatives to Branded Hashtags for Social Media Campaigns

To explore innovative alternatives to branded hashtags for social media campaigns, we asked marketing executives and business founders this question for their expert opinions. From micro-influencer partnerships offering a targeted approach to initiating challenge series for brand engagement, here are the top five alternatives these leaders recommend.

Want to get quoted in MarketerInterview.com content just like this? Apply to become a contributor today!

Micro-Influencer Partnerships Offer Targeted Approach

From my personal experience, micro-influencer partnerships offer a more personalized and targeted approach compared to broader hashtag campaigns. They allow us to craft specific messages and deliver them to niche communities, ensuring higher relevance and engagement. 

Additionally, these collaborations often result in more meaningful interactions and higher conversion rates because the audience views the influencer as a trusted source. This method not only diversifies our content strategy but also helps in building long-term relationships with both influencers and their followers, thereby creating a loyal customer base over time.

Dinesh Agarwal, Founder, CEO, RecurPost

Use Custom Emojis for Visual Engagement

Instead of using branded hashtags, consider using custom emojis for your social media campaigns.

Why? Custom emojis can make your campaign more visually engaging and memorable. They stand out in social feeds and add a fun element that can encourage more people to get involved. For example, if you’re launching a new product, a unique emoji related to it can become a recognizable symbol for your campaign.

People love using emojis in their posts and messages, so creating one for your campaign can boost interaction and help your campaign stick in people’s minds. Plus, custom emojis can give your brand a playful and distinctive edge that generic hashtags might not achieve.

Roshan Singh, SEO Executive, Urban Monkey

Encourage User-Generated Content Contests

The key to this is user-generated content (UGC) contests. Instead of relying on a specific hashtag, brands can encourage their followers to create and share content related to their products or services. This strategy taps into the audience’s creativity while also producing genuine promotional content for the brand. By inviting customers to share their experiences, brands can foster a sense of community and engagement that goes beyond simple hashtag usage.

The primary advantage of UGC contests over branded hashtags is the depth of engagement they create. While hashtags can help track mentions and increase visibility, UGC contests actively involve users in the brand’s narrative. This leads to more meaningful interactions and often results in higher-quality content that resonates with other potential customers. Also, UGC contests can provide brands with valuable insights into how their products are being used and perceived in real-world scenarios, informing future marketing strategies and product development.

Tom Richards, Director and Founder, Adbetter

Utilize Targeted Social Media Advertising

Utilizing targeted social media advertising is a powerful alternative to branded hashtags. These ads can be customized to reach specific demographics, interests, and even behaviors, ensuring that the content is seen by a finely-tuned audience. At our company, we leverage the sophisticated targeting tools offered by platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn to deliver our content directly to the feeds of potential clients or customers without relying on them to search for a hashtag. This direct approach ensures that our campaigns are seen by those most likely to be interested in our services, improving both reach and conversion rates.

Jason Hennessey, CEO, Hennessey Digital

Initiate Challenge Series for Brand Engagement

A strategy similar to branded hashtags that can significantly boost your brand’s social media presence is initiating a challenge series. Much like the popular “75 Hard Challenge,” this approach involves creating a structured, time-bound program centered around your brand’s core values or products. You can foster a loyal community, increase brand awareness, and drive engagement by providing daily or weekly prompts, challenges, or tips. 

If you’re a fitness brand, you can start a “30-Day Fit Challenge.” Participants would commit to following a specific workout routine or nutrition plan, sharing their progress using a dedicated challenge hashtag. 

Beyond fitness, the possibilities are endless. A skincare brand could introduce a “Glow Up Challenge,” offering skincare tips and product recommendations for 21 days. A cooking brand might host a “Recipe Reinvention Challenge,” encouraging users to experiment with their products and share their culinary creations. 

The key to a successful challenge series lies in its ability to inspire, educate, and entertain. Provide clear guidelines, offer valuable content, and create incentives for participation. Consider partnering with influencers or brand ambassadors to amplify the challenge’s reach. Most importantly, actively engage with participants, celebrate their achievements, and build a strong community around your brand.

Raviraj Hegde, SVP of Growth & Sales, Donorbox

Want to get quoted in MarketerInterview.com content just like this? Apply to become a contributor today!