Hashtags are among the most used tools on Twitter and other social media networks since these easily drive relevant users to the right topic.
Companies are becoming more aware of how their hashtag campaigns fare by using programs and analytics. There are also more basic methods in identifying the various factors that comprise the campaign. These can be adjusted based on the results.
1. Hashtag apps
There are several hashtag applications created that allow businesses to easily track the progress and results of each campaign. Some of the basic apps will show the stream of tweets pertaining to the hashtag you just created. You can see the people who are responding to the hashtag. There may also be tools that let you communicate with participants immediately. You can check lists conveniently as well as determine where the responses originate from.2. Social analytics tools
These tools are specifically intended to help hashtag makers determine how well their campaigns did within a span of 24 hours up to 7 days or more. You can get clear and accurate information such as the total impressions made and the full reach or extent of the campaign. The recently trending hashtag #PresidentialAddress, for instance, generated 6,900 tweets and over 4 million impressions in 24 hours. Peaking at 5,200 tweets at 8:00pm. #PresidentialAddress refers to the 9/11 commemoration speech US President Barack Obama delivered on September 11, 2013. Courtesy of Hashtags.org Analytics
Courtesy of Hashtags.org Analytics
Courtesy of Hashtags.org Analytics
Some tools will provide graphs and charts so you can compare these with previous and future campaigns. Other tools will even show you the actual tweets from users.
In the case of #PresidentialAddress, the top related hashtags are #Obama and #Syria.
Courtesy of Hashtags.org Analytics
3. Actual responses
Other basic methods to check hashtag performance is visiting the conversation and determining how people discuss the topic. A good hashtag will include a number of key users who have a huge following. Users may share photos, good quality content and other online materials that relate well to the issue. Check the tweets and answer questions within a reasonable amount of time. You can also see how well the hashtag did by observing for positive tweets. Your post may be retweeted or shared by others online, thereby spreading your influence immediately. Let's see what people were saying with the hashtag #PresidentialAddress. Courtesy of Hashtags.org Analytics