Think X (formerly Twitter) hashtag examples might not be relevant for launching a marketing campaign? This post will show how using effective hashtag examples can elevate your X marketing strategy and drive better results. Before exploring how to make the most of these examples, we’ll highlight why they’re essential to maximizing campaign impact.
What Is a Hashtag Campaign?
A hashtag campaign uses targeted tags to promote a brand, product, or event. These campaigns encourage user-generated content and boost brand visibility by inviting followers to engage with specific terms.
Hashtags can be tailored to different goals, whether it’s increasing brand awareness, introducing a new product, or promoting an event. Notable examples include Nike’s #JustDoIt, Oreo’s #OreoHorrorStories, and Starbucks’ #RedCupContest—all of which effectively connected with audiences and established brand recognition over time.
Why Twitter Hashtag Examples Matter for Campaign Success
A common reason X campaigns fall short of expectations is missing critical elements in tweets—especially well-structured hashtags. These are undeniably powerful tools in Twitter marketing, and many users recognize their value by adding relevant ones to their tweets.
However, it’s not just about including hashtags; structuring them effectively is essential. While they might seem simple, a poor structure can reduce impact. Issues like adding unnecessary characters or creating overly long tags make them harder to remember and less engaging for users.
To make the most of your Twitter marketing efforts, creating a Twitter followers list can provide valuable insights into who’s engaging with your brand and help tailor content more effectively. Developing a focused list gives you a clearer understanding of your audience, allowing you to refine your hashtag use and overall campaign strategy for improved engagement.
Why Brands Should Run a Hashtag Campaign
When planned strategically, hashtag campaigns can bring tangible results such as increased traffic, enhanced brand awareness, and boosted sales. Here’s why a well-executed campaign is valuable for brands:
Raising Brand Awareness
A hashtag campaign effectively builds brand recognition by encouraging customers to create and share branded content. Choosing hashtags that align closely with your brand’s identity helps followers associate them with your brand. Frequent use of both branded and user-generated content strengthens this connection. Engaging with users throughout the campaign maximizes visibility and fosters loyalty.
Kylie Cosmetics’ tweet promoting the new “Cosmic Hair & Body Mist” with #cosmickyliejenner supports brand awareness. The post introduces the product with engaging details and invites followers to explore related content, reinforcing brand identity and highlighting its appeal.
Promoting Events and Driving Engagement
Whether it’s a virtual or in-person event, audience enthusiasm is key to success. A targeted campaign builds anticipation, engages attendees, and amplifies event reach. Contests, leaderboards, and rewards for active participation make the experience interactive and memorable, encouraging users to post content with the event hashtag.
The tweet from Lay’s announcing the four finalists for their “Do Us a Flavor” contest with the hashtag #DoUsAFlavor is an excellent example of engaging the audience through an event-driven campaign. By inviting followers to look for the new flavors in stores, it builds anticipation and encourages fans to participate by voting for or sharing their favorite, thus creating buzz and interaction around the brand.
Collecting User-Generated Content in One Place
Hashtag campaigns simplify gathering user-generated content, helping brands collect valuable social proof and display it in one central location. This strategy is particularly effective for aggregating content around a specific event, creating a repository of brand-aligned posts that showcase customer experiences and testimonials.
The tweet from PhytoGen Cottonseed encourages followers to share their own “cotton moments” using hashtags like #GrowWithPhytoGen, #NationalCottonDay, and #CottonFarming. By inviting users to participate in celebrating National Cotton Day, PhytoGen can gather user-generated content that highlights customer experiences and support, building a sense of community around the brand.
Steps to Build an Effective Hashtag Campaign
Understanding the benefits of hashtag campaigns is a great start. Now, here’s a simple, four-step guide to create your own successful campaign:
- Analyze Your Brand and Competitors
Start by assessing how your brand is perceived online and how customers discuss your products. Check if your brand or products are naturally mentioned on social media—if so, consider amplifying these mentions through a branded hashtag campaign. Encouraging user-generated content can expand your reach and showcase your most engaged customers.
If you’re new to hashtag strategies, review what your competitors and similar brands are doing on social media. Observing the successes and setbacks of others can provide valuable insights to help create a campaign that connects with your audience and strengthens brand visibility.
Successful campaigns benefit from a solid Twitter competitor analysis, as reviewing competitor performance can reveal powerful hashtag tactics that connect with target audiences. By analyzing how competitors engage their followers, you can identify effective strategies and adopt an informed approach to create stronger connections and increase campaign visibility.
- Create a memorable hashtag
A memorable hashtag is essential for any successful campaign, especially for short-term promotions or contests. Consider the language customers naturally use when interacting with your brand, whether online, through live chat, or in person. Catchy, relatable slogans or phrases often make the most engaging choice.
To ensure visibility, keep your hashtag short, unique, and easy to remember, avoiding phrases already used by others. This approach helps secure its place in search results, making it easier for audiences to find and engage with your campaign.
- Share Hashtag Content with Advocates on Social Media
Successful hashtag campaigns rely on advocates to amplify the message. These advocates can be team members and employees who share the campaign hashtag on their personal profiles, enhancing visibility. Collaborating with influencers is also beneficial—platforms like Traackr can help identify influential social media users who can boost your campaign through their followers.
However, the most impactful advocates are often loyal customers who naturally share content within their communities. Their authentic support can greatly enhance your campaign’s reach and engagement.
- Track and Measure Hashtag Campaign Results
Measuring your campaign’s success is as essential as creating it. Tracking metrics not only helps demonstrate the campaign’s value but also provides insights for future improvements. Depending on your goals, metrics like participant count, engagement levels (likes, comments, retweets), and website traffic are key indicators.
Keeping track of social mention is crucial for understanding your brand’s impact and reach on X, as these metrics reveal how followers interact with your content. Monitoring social mentions throughout your campaign provides feedback on engagement levels and helps fine-tune your approach to achieve optimal results across your marketing initiatives.
Choosing the Right Hashtag for a Successful Campaign
Creating a hashtag that connects with your audience and has viral potential is essential for a successful campaign. Here are some key tips for crafting effective hashtags on social media:
- Keep it Original: Make sure your hashtag stands out and doesn’t resemble your competitors’ tags;
- Be Clear and Concise: Use precise language to make your hashtag easy to understand;
- Limit Word Count: Aim for 3-4 words or fewer to keep it memorable;
- Use Title Case: Capitalize each word to improve readability;
- Avoid Over-Branding: Create a hashtag that relates to your campaign but isn’t solely about your brand;
- Consider Audience Appeal: Ensure your hashtag feels inclusive and accessible to your audience;
- Maintain Positivity: Avoid any language that may come off as negative, self-serving, or offensive;
- Incorporate Trends Carefully: While trending topics can boost visibility, avoid relying on them exclusively.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Hashtag Campaigns
If you’re new to hashtag campaigns, it’s easy to make missteps. To maximize your campaign’s effectiveness, avoid these common mistakes:
- Treat Each Platform Uniquely: Cross-platform promotion is useful, but remember that a hashtag that performs well on Twitter may not have the same impact on Instagram. Tailor your approach for each platform;
- Plan Thoroughly Before Launch: Skipping planning can lead to missed opportunities. Map out the entire campaign and ensure each step is aligned with your goals before launching;
- Focus on Organic Reach: Don’t rely solely on paid ads. A campaign that builds organic reach tends to foster more authentic engagement;
- Keep Hashtags Simple: Avoid lengthy or complex hashtags, as they can be hard to remember. Short and memorable hashtags are more effective;
- Double-Check Content: Review all content before posting to ensure clarity and consistency in your campaign message;
- Engage Actively with Your Audience: A campaign is more than just posting—engage with followers to build a sense of community and encourage interaction;
- Set Realistic Goals: Consider your resources and audience carefully. Avoid promising results you can’t deliver, as this can damage credibility;
- Select Influencers Wisely: Choose influencers based on relevance and expertise rather than follower count alone. A well-aligned influencer can bring more value to your campaign.
How to Find Effective X Hashtag Examples
Finding the right hashtag examples for your campaign can be straightforward with the right approach. Here are some methods to help you identify effective hashtags:
- Check Competitor Profiles: Competitor profiles are a great starting point for discovering relevant hashtags. Reviewing their recent tweets can provide insights into which hashtags capture audience interest. This approach helps identify successful hashtags and reveals engagement tactics that make their tweets stand out;
- Use Twitter Suggestions: Twitter’s autocomplete feature suggests popular hashtags when you start typing. These suggestions reflect commonly used tags that may increase your campaign’s visibility. However, this feature only shows existing hashtags, so it may not be useful if you’re aiming to create a unique, branded hashtag;
- Try a Hashtag Generator: Hashtag generators analyze your input and provide tailored hashtag suggestions. They’re particularly useful if you want to create a unique hashtag that aligns well with your campaign. These tools can help you brainstorm options that maximize reach and relevance.
Top Hashtag Campaigns That Made an Impact
Here’s a list of effective hashtag campaigns across different industries to help you find useful examples quickly. These campaigns demonstrate practical hashtag use that engaged audiences, increased brand visibility, and encouraged user-generated content. Refer to these examples as a starting point when planning your own campaign.
#JustDoIt by Nike
The #JustDoIt hashtag is central to Nike’s widely promoted “Just Do It” campaign, a key part of the brand’s digital marketing strategy. Unlike direct product advertising, #JustDoIt promotes an active lifestyle, encouraging audiences to incorporate movement into their daily routines.
Launched in 1987, the “Just Do It” slogan originally accompanied Nike’s television ads, each focused on different activities like running, walking, basketball, cross-training, and women’s fitness. The unifying tagline connected each spot, and over time, “Just Do It” became synonymous with the brand.
Today, #JustDoIt stands as one of the most successful hashtag campaigns, generating high user engagement and extensive user-generated content on social media daily. Over the last 30 days alone, the hashtag has been used over 74,000 times, resulting in a social media reach of 196 million, with most mentions appearing on Instagram and a substantial presence on X. Additionally, #JustDoIt’s Presence Score surpasses that of 74% of brands, underscoring its impact and sustained relevance.
#HereToCreate by Adidas
The #HereToCreate hashtag played a significant role in boosting Adidas’ brand awareness by tapping into the appeal of personalization. During the 2018 Boston Marathon, Adidas created customized videos for all 30,000 participating runners, who then shared these on their social profiles using #HereToCreate.
This campaign reached a wide audience, effectively connecting with those interested in sports and active lifestyles. Integrated as part of influencer marketing, #HereToCreate also featured prominent figures like Lionel Messi, Pharrell Williams, and David Beckham, who helped amplify the campaign’s reach.
Adidas fans continue to engage with #HereToCreate, with 452 mentions recorded over the last 30 days, the majority of which were on Instagram, underscoring the hashtag’s ongoing relevance.
#ShotoniPhone by Apple
In 2019, Apple launched a photo contest encouraging iPhone users to capture creative photos and share them on Instagram or Twitter with the #ShotoniPhone tag. Winning images were featured on Apple Newsroom, apple.com, and official Apple social media accounts, showcasing users’ impressive photography skills.
The campaign’s impact is evident, with millions of #ShotoniPhone posts now filling Instagram and X, highlighting stunning shots taken on iPhones. Over the last 30 days, the hashtag was used in over 10,000 posts, reaching an audience of 15 million, with Twitter being a primary platform. #ShotoniPhone remains one of the most popular branded hashtags.
#ThrowMeBack by Expedia
Expedia’s #ThrowMeBack campaign tapped into the popular #tbt trend, adding a nostalgic twist with its hashtag. Users shared their throwback posts tagged with #ThrowMeBack for a chance to win trips to their featured destinations. This approach generated significant engagement, with 300,000 interactions and a 96% increase in Instagram growth within just 10 weeks.
#ShareACoke by Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke campaign became a global success, replacing its logo with the phrase “Share a Coke” followed by names, nicknames, or titles. This personalized approach encouraged consumers to share photos of their custom bottles on social media with #ShareACoke for a chance to be featured on Coca-Cola’s U.S. banners.
The campaign not only went viral but also reversed a decline in Coca-Cola consumption and won multiple awards, surpassing initial campaign goals. The hashtag remains active, with 278 mentions across the internet in the past 30 days, primarily on Instagram.
#PutACanOnIt by Red Bull
Red Bull’s #PutACanOnIt campaign transformed a fan’s photo—where a Red Bull can was creatively positioned behind a Mini Cooper—into a social media phenomenon. Fans were inspired to “put a can on” various objects, from cars to animals, contributing to a lively series of user-generated content. Other brands, including Pepsi and Perrier, joined in, playfully adding their cans to the mix, which fueled even greater audience engagement.
This award-winning campaign resulted in over 10,000 tagged photos, showcasing Red Bull’s iconic can across diverse settings. Although #PutACanOnIt is now less active with only three mentions in the past 30 days, Red Bull’s current primary hashtag, #givesyouwiiings, has gathered 133 mentions over the same period.
#foxatplanetaterra by Volkswagen
To celebrate its sponsorship of Brazil’s Planeta Terra Festival, Volkswagen launched the #foxatplanetaterra campaign, hiding tickets throughout São Paulo and sharing their locations via an interactive map. The map would only zoom in as the hashtag #foxatplanetaterra gained shares, creating a buzz and driving engagement. Within two hours, the campaign became a trending topic in Brazil, marking a significant success for Volkswagen.
#MyCalvins by Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein’s #MyCalvins campaign invited users to share selfies featuring the brand’s iconic waistband, with the hashtag “show yours. #mycalvins.” This campaign coincided with the launch of the Calvin Klein Dual Tone underwear collection, supported by over 100 style influencers who kickstarted the hashtag trend on social media.
The Calvin Klein team curated the best posts on Instagram to feature on the brand’s official feed, giving users a moment in the spotlight. Fans continue to use #MyCalvins, with 565 mentions recorded in the last 30 days, particularly popular on Instagram, though it has notable mentions on Twitter as well.
#Letsdolunch by Domino’s Pizza
The #letsdolunch campaign by Domino’s Pizza is a notable example of effective social media engagement. In 2012, Domino’s targeted its followers with a one-day promotion offering a price reduction on pizzas. From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., each tweet using #letsdolunch reduced the pizza price by one penny. After 85,000 tweets, the price dropped from $20.79 to $10.06, remaining there until 3 p.m. This campaign successfully used social interaction to drive sales and boost engagement.
#OreoHorrorStories by Oreo
Oreo’s #OreoHorrorStories campaign stands as a memorable example of creative brand engagement on platforms like X and Instagram. During Halloween, Oreo shared humorous vines parodying classic horror movie scenes, casting Oreo cookies as the star. This campaign quickly gained popularity, trending throughout the holiday season and demonstrating the brand’s knack for festive engagement. Event-oriented campaigns like these can significantly boost visibility, especially when aligned with widely celebrated holidays.
#FairTweets by Ben and Jerry’s
For World Fair Trade Day, Ben & Jerry’s launched the #FairTweets campaign, creating a unique microsite for Twitter users. Any tweet shorter than 140 characters was supplemented with fair trade messaging and the hashtag #FairTrade. This inventive approach generated around 40 million impressions, increasing awareness for fair trade and underscoring Ben & Jerry’s commitment to social causes.
#ShareYourEars by Disney
Disney’s #ShareYourEars campaign, a collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, exemplified a successful charity-driven initiative. Disney encouraged fans to post photos of themselves wearing Mickey Mouse ears, pledging a $5 donation to Make-A-Wish for each tagged photo. The campaign went viral, gaining support from celebrities and generating 1.77 million photos and 420 million social media impressions. Originally set for a $1 million donation, Disney doubled this to $2 million due to the campaign’s success. Though the campaign has ended, #ShareYourEars remains a nostalgic hashtag that fans continue to use.
#TweetFromtheSeat by Charmin
In 2013, Charmin’s #TweetFromtheSeat campaign turned toilet paper into a source of humor aimed at younger audiences, specifically ages 18-24. The brand encouraged users to share their humorous thoughts from the bathroom using the hashtag, making an unglamorous product relatable and amusing. This approach has proven effective, with Charmin now having around 70,000 followers.
#WantAnR8 by Audi
Audi’s #WantAnR8 campaign is regarded as one of X’s most successful. It began when a fan persistently asked for the chance to drive an Audi R8. In response, Audi launched a campaign offering five lucky participants the chance to drive their dream car for a weekend. This campaign generated over 100 million impressions, showcasing Audi’s engagement with its fans.
#SFBatKid by Make-a-Wish Foundation
In 2013, the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s #SFBatKid campaign made a global impact by granting 5-year-old cancer patient Miles Scott’s wish to become “Batkid” for a day. The campaign went viral, with 500,000 tweets from 117 countries and a total of 1.7 billion impressions. This effort highlighted the power of social media in rallying support for charitable causes and creating unforgettable experiences.
#IceBucketChallenge by ALS Association
The #IceBucketChallenge by the ALS Association stands as one of the most iconic viral campaigns. The challenge began with a video from baseball player Pete Frates, who had ALS, and soon attracted athletes, politicians, and celebrities worldwide. Participants poured a bucket of ice-cold water over themselves and nominated others to do the same within 24 hours or donate $100 to ALS research. This effort raised over $115 million for the ALS Association, greatly advancing the fight against ALS. The challenge remains active, with 251 mentions over the last 30 days, as people continue to take part in this memorable campaign.
#GoProAwards by GoPro
GoPro’s #GoProAwards campaign taps into customer advocacy by showcasing the most captivating images and thrilling videos shared by users on social media. This hashtag encourages GoPro customers to create and post branded content, helping the brand reach new audiences and drive organic engagement. The resulting user-generated content also serves as social proof, enhancing credibility and contributing to increased sales when displayed on GoPro’s website.
#NHMLEGO by Natural History Museum in London and LEGO
The #NHMLEGO campaign, a collaboration between the Natural History Museum in London and LEGO, encouraged schoolchildren to use LEGO to design imaginative life forms that could survive in various environments. This creative partnership allowed both brands to connect with a shared audience, inspiring young minds and showcasing the power of creativity. #NHMLEGO exemplifies the impact of cross-brand campaigns that align with both partners’ values.
#JeRedécouvrelaFrance by France.fr
The #JeRedécouvrelaFrance campaign by France.fr, a tourism marketing site, encourages travelers to share their memorable experiences across France. The site curates these user-generated posts, creating a visually engaging feed of the country’s scenic destinations and attractions. This social media wall keeps visitors engaged on the site longer, often prompting them to plan their next trip. Using user-generated content not only expands brand reach and awareness but also boosts bookings and improves customer satisfaction.
#STEAMDays by Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Schools share a significant amount of content on social media and through internal channels, aiming to reach diverse stakeholders, including teachers, staff, students, parents, government bodies, donors, alumni, and more. Hashtags play a crucial role in helping these varied audiences access relevant content. The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) uses Flockler’s technology to categorize and display content by hashtag, enabling users to filter and view relevant content directly on specific website pages, without additional work.
During the pandemic, when schools transitioned to online learning, WCDSB used the #STEAMDays hashtag to support and enhance virtual educational experiences, making content accessible and engaging for its community.
#EqualEverywhere by United Nations Foundation
Nonprofits increasingly use social media to fundraise and raise awareness for important causes, alongside traditional channels. The #EqualEverywhere campaign, launched by the United Nations Foundation, advocates for equality for all girls and women, globally. This campaign effectively uses social media to reach new audiences, building broader awareness for gender equality.
#opusartweek by Opus Art Supplies
Opus Art Supplies, a webshop offering art materials, digital printing, and more, launched #opusartweek as a weekly competition to engage Canada’s art community. Participants are encouraged to create and share artwork around themes such as Canadian faces, wildlife, and landscapes, building a virtual art tour and gallery of community-created images.
Entries can also be uploaded directly to the Opus website, and these images are then shared on Opus’ social media channels. Inviting customers to share their artistic experiences creates an authentic connection and strengthens brand loyalty. When these experiences involve family and friends, hashtag campaigns like #opusartweek have the potential to reach a wider audience and achieve viral engagement.
#makeityourown by Sohome
Sohome, an online home store, uses the hashtag #makeityourown to invite customers to share how they personalize Sohome furniture. Customers are encouraged to add their unique style to products and share the results using #sohome and #makeityourown. The best posts are showcased on a social media feed embedded directly on the Sohome website, creating a visual display of customer creativity.
To enhance the experience, Sohome makes the social feed shoppable. Clicking on a post opens a pop-up with product details and a call to action to purchase, reducing buyer friction by providing social proof and enabling easy shopping directly from the social wall.
#forbeautywithoutanimaltesting by Loreal
L’Oréal’s #forbeautywithoutanimaltesting campaign reflects the brand’s long-standing commitment to cruelty-free products, launched 14 years before anti-animal testing laws were enacted. Today, #forbeautywithoutanimaltesting is strongly associated with L’Oréal’s identity and stands as a global symbol of the brand’s ethical approach to cosmetics.
As more brands adopt cruelty-free practices, hashtags like #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting by The Body Shop, #CrueltyFree by NYX Professional Makeup, and #FightingAnimalTesting by Lush have gained traction, supporting solidarity in cruelty-free cosmetics.
#WorthSaying by L’Oréal Paris
The #WorthSaying campaign by L’Oréal Paris, created in collaboration with the Golden Globes, aimed to empower women by encouraging them to speak about what truly matters to them. Supported by celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Blake Lively, the campaign promoted female empowerment, aligning closely with the brand’s tagline, “Because you’re worth it.” #WorthSaying effectively encouraged women worldwide to participate, showcasing a campaign deeply relevant to its audience.
#EsuranceSave30 by Esurance
Following the 2015 Super Bowl, Esurance launched the #EsuranceSave30 campaign, buying the first ad slot and promoting a sweepstake where participants could enter by tweeting #EsuranceSave30. This bold campaign saw immense success, with 5.4 million hashtag mentions and an impressive 2.6 billion Twitter impressions, making it one of the platform’s most notable campaigns.
#HOLLYWOODselfie by Pedigree Australia
Pedigree Australia launched #HOLLYWOODselfie to promote pet dental health through a creative dog selfie app called DentaStix. The app used squeaky sounds to capture a pet’s attention, allowing users to snap perfect selfies of their dogs. Pedigree encouraged users to share these photos on social media with the hashtag #HOLLYWOODselfie, generating significant user engagement. The campaign yielded a substantial amount of user-generated content, providing social proof, increasing engagement, and supporting brand visibility and sales.
#BeyondFiveStars by Uber
Uber’s #BeyondFiveStars campaign invited users to celebrate their drivers for excellent service. By encouraging customers to publicly thank drivers with #BeyondFiveStars, the campaign quickly gained traction, with millions sharing their positive experiences. Uber capitalized on this content by featuring highly rated drivers in advertisements, enhancing both social engagement and brand loyalty.
#Trippinwithtarte by Tarte Cosmetics
Tarte Cosmetics used influencer marketing in the #Trippinwithtarte campaign, inviting influencers on fully sponsored trips to various destinations. In return, influencers shared content showcasing Tarte products using the hashtag #Trippinwithtarte. This campaign successfully boosted Tarte’s social media following and brand reach, highlighting the effectiveness of influencer partnerships and strategic hashtags in amplifying brand visibility.
Final Thoughts
Effective hashtag campaigns can strongly impact brand visibility, boost engagement, and encourage authentic user-generated content. Using creative hashtags that align with brand values and audience interests, businesses can build meaningful connections on social media, increase organic reach, and even spark viral success. These examples show that well-planned hashtag strategies, from influencer partnerships to user-driven content, play an essential role in strengthening marketing campaigns and enhancing brand presence across platforms.
