How to go viral on TikTok using the Branded Hashtag Challenge

TikTok has redefined influencer marketing with the branded hashtag challenge. The phrase “everyone’s an influencer” is now a reality.

TikTok is a platform where anyone can have a voice, build a following, and endorse their favorite brands. Smart businesses have made the best use of the talk on TikTok by investing in the branded hashtag challenge.

What makes branded hashtag challenges so effective? Well, they don’t feel like an advertisement or paid endorsement. They are arguably the most authentic way to engage with the audience. This technique has helped many businesses break their band into the TikTok channel, build wide brand awareness, and improve conversions.

The effectiveness does come with a cost though! It is reported that a branded hashtag challenge can cost your business a minimum of $150,000 to run for 6 days.

To help you hit a home run on your next branded hashtag challenge, we at Acquire Agency looked at all the successful hashtags from the past. We put everything we learned into a list of tips that can get your brand trending on TikTok.

Tips to execute a successful Branded Hashtag Challenge.

Tip 1: Be Authentic

This is hands down the best way for your business to connect with the audience. So don’t make it feel like an advertisement.

In his book, “The End of Advertising” Andrew Essex goes deep explaining the hate Millenials and gen Z’s have for advertisements. Keep in mind they are the majority using the app.

To blend into this community of users, make sure your challenges are authentic, natural, and don’t feel forced. At the same time remember to not lose the voice of your brand and always keep your product at the focal point of the challenge.

Laura Mercier’s #readySETgo is a great example of an authentic hashtag challenge.

Source: TikTok

Tip 2: What’s in it for the audience? Keep the audience in mind.

The challenges that have had some incentive for the audience to participate have performed very well in the past. You can incentivize your audience through competitions, special participation offers, or exclusivity.

Congstar, a mobile network service company from Germany achieved huge success using this technique.

Source: TikTok

Tip 3: Hire a team of Influencers to get the ball rolling.

This technique can help your Branded Hashtag Challenge get that initial boost. Creators on Tik Tok love to participate in challenges that their favorite influencers participated in too.

You can partner with different influencers to reach a wider audience and tap into various communities on Tik Tok. Netflix and Asos used this technique perfectly to execute #WhatsYourPower and AsosFashunWeek.

Tip 4: Use Branded Effects and Sounds.

You can improve the quality of your hashtag challenge by including branded effects and sounds that the creators can use to participate in the challenge.

The effects are also a great way for the audience to connect with your product. It can also be used to engage the audience in the form of games.

Source: TikTok for Business — *Source:* *TikTok for Business*

Tip 5: Become part of the culture by joining trends.

The initial research can be the key to the success of your hashtag challenge. Search for what people are talking about, things that are trending, and topics that are viral on the platform.

It is proved on Tik Tok that brands that make a cultural impact also see a positive business impact.

Search for trends that align with your brand, then incorporate that into your hashtag challenge.

Tip 6: Keep it simple.

Some of the most memorable challenges also happen to be very simple to execute. Your challenge should be fun, easy to execute, and memorable.

The ice bucket Challenge is a great example of simplicity. Even though it was executed on a different platform, its principles can be used to execute a successful hashtag challenge on Tik Tok too.

Want to know more about TikTok Advertising? Contact our expert team at Acquire Agency today and let us help you take your marketing performance to the next level.
Acquire Agency is an official Facebook Marketing Partner and Shopify Partner. We have helped countless businesses optimize their social media campaigns and your business can be next.

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Sources:

https://www.tiktokforbusinesseurope.com/resources/7-tips-for-an-effective-branded-hashtag-challenge

https://growmojo.com/how-to-create-a-captivating-branded-hashtag-challenge-on-tiktok/

https://influencermarketinghub.com/tiktok-hashtag-challenge/

https://mediakix.com/blog/branded-hashtag-challenge/