In 2014, statistics proved that the hashtag #tbt has been used 193 million times on Instagram and #throwbackthursday 38 million times. Within the last year, those numbers have increased even more.
Surely, most of you out there are well educated on the term “Throwback Thursday.” Even if you haven’t tried using this phrase, you’ve probably seen or at least heard about the hashtags #throwbackthursday and #TBT. This phenomenon entails posting an older picture on social media, often on Instagram, on Thursday. Every Thursday of every week, these well known hashtags will make an appearance on various social media sites. Throwback posts are most commonly used on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
The Basics:
What Is Throwback Thursday?
Throwback Thursday posts with the hashtags #TBT or #throwbackthursday can be discovered on almost any social platform, especially on Instagram. If you don’t have a big presence on Instagram, don’t worry! We would suggest using the hashtags in relevant YouTube videos and blog posts. If you have old photos you would like to share on your social sites, we encourage you to upload the picture on a Thursday and use one or both of these hashtags.
How Did #TBT Start?
In 2006, Matt Halfhill, founder and publisher of NiceKicks.com, came up with the saying “Throwback Thursday” and used it in his blog posts. In wasn’t until 2008, when #ThrowbackThursday made a Twitter appearance. Then in 2011, #TBT made it to Instagram. Little did Halfhill know that Throwback Thursday would turn into such a huge phenomenon used by millions of people.
Qualities of Good #TBT Posts
First, come up with a short list of things that relate to your business. Then, make sure your posts fit the P.R.A.I.S.E. criteria:
Past: Aim for a photo aged at least 3 years
Relevant/Relatable: Make sure your audience can relate to your business Appealing: Capture the reader’s attention with a funny or entertaining caption
Interesting: Your content should draw in readers from not just inside the company
Shareable: Create a post that others want to share
Exciting: Choose interesting topics that create discussion and excitement
Here are some examples of brands that successfully used #TBT in their marketing campaigns:
Wendy’s
Wendy’s launched an effective #TBT marketing campaign in 2013. Here is a photo Wendy’s posted, which meets the P.R.A.I.S.E. criteria listed above.
Sport’s Highlights
Here is a Throwback Thursday YouTube video that features Arsenal player, Alexis Sanchez. This call-to-action video reminds fans of the great success the team has had in years past.
