Some hashtags really feel like quaint relics of an web previous. However there’s one throwback hashtag that can by no means exit of fashion: #TBT.
Perhaps it’s as a result of this hashtag comes with nostalgia constructed proper in, however the #TBT (or #ThrowbackThursday) hashtag someway by no means will get previous. It appeals to individuals’s deep need to share their favourite moments from the previous.
In different phrases, #TBT is right here to remain. Right here’s easy methods to use it in 2023.
What does TBT imply?
TBT stands for “Throwback Thursday.” Social media customers use this hashtag on posts that “throwback” to an older model of themselves. Whereas the hashtag is most typical on Twitter and Instagram, you’ll find it used everywhere in the web.
TBT or Throwback Thursday posts may be selfies, audio or video recordings, and even textual content describing a reminiscence or a previous occasion. It’s a useful excuse to dredge up a reminiscence from the previous. (In truth, it may not even be a great reminiscence — a Throwback Thursday put up might additionally play properly because the “earlier than” to a “earlier than and after” put up.)
When did TBT begin?
The historical past of this social media development truly goes again fairly far. Vox says that blogger Mark Halfhill was one of many first to make use of the phrase on his sneaker weblog in 2006, whereas Time reviews {that a} man named Bobby first introduced the #ThrowbackThursday hashtag to life on Instagram with this photograph of Scorching Wheels in 2011:
Individuals now love throwing it again a lot that they’ve developed a sequence of competing hashtags for various days of the week, together with #MondayMemories, #TakeMeBackTuesday, #WaybackWednesday and #FlashbackFriday.
In fact, you don’t wish to maintain your followers hostage whilst you present them each web page of a household photograph album (metaphorically talking), so it’s finest to stay with simply considered one of these throwback days. You’ll possible get probably the most traction if you happen to use the preferred.
Why do you have to use #TBT?
Okay, so we’ve established what it’s, however why on earth do you have to put up your personal Throwback Thursday? Properly, it usually makes for good content material to your model. Right here’s why.
It’s enjoyable.
Except it actually doesn’t align along with your social media technique, sharing the occasional TBT put up is an easy option to have slightly enjoyable. Whether or not you’re laughing about your early model flubs or posting pics of your very first workplace in your dad and mom’ storage, trying again on the previous is an effective way to maintain it gentle and playful.
It boosts engagement.
Individuals love something that looks like a peek behind the scenes or insider entry, so #TBT posts usually see sturdy engagement. You possibly can even construct a call-to-action proper into the throwback. Publish the primary draft of your marketing strategy and ask individuals to share their early concepts within the feedback, or encourage readers to tag you in a throwback of their promenade photograph.
It expands your attain.
When you’re getting sturdy engagement, the algorithm will share your put up extra broadly (yup, that is true on mainly each social platform). And if you happen to’re increasing your attain, you’re introducing potential new followers to your model. When you’ve received enjoyable, attention-grabbing or distinctive TBT content material, you’ll construct model consciousness and achieve new followers very quickly.
It occurs each week.
We get it — it’s onerous to provide you with contemporary angles or new methods to current your content material. And whereas TBT shouldn’t be the one factor you put up, it’s a superb option to supply common, partaking content material. In any case, Thursday rolls round as soon as every week.
7 concepts to encourage your subsequent TBT put up
Now that you realize the ins and outs of Throwback Thursday, it’s time to start out placing it into follow. Listed below are some nice examples which may assist encourage you to succeed in TBT greatness.
1. Location, location, location
TBT is all about nostalgia, and few issues tug on the heartstrings fairly like remembering the locations from our pasts. Posting up a spot from your personal historical past may be an effective way to rake within the TBT likes.
The MLB tapped into nostalgia whereas opening up the remark part by asking their followers to touch upon which previous ballpark they beloved most:
You don’t want the legacy of America’s favourite pastime to get into the spirit, although.
Manufacturers of any measurement can get in on the enjoyable by exhibiting the evolution of their workplace through the years. This firm has been in the identical workplace for the reason that Nineteen Seventies, which makes for some nice earlier than and after pictures:
2. Go retro
In truth, if you happen to’ve received any sort of old-school pictures or movies kicking round from you, your life or your model, it’s all the time a fantastic thought to dig them out for TBT. Not solely do they make for attention-grabbing captions, however they often look aesthetically pleasing, so that they break up the monotony of somebody’s timeline.
The Particular Olympics Minnesota is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this 12 months, so that they’ve been trying again on the previous with every Throwback Thursday. Some 19 years later, these pictures from 2004 appear like a blast from the previous:
MMA fighter John Maguire had these pics of his Ninja Turtles assortment in 1990 and managed to recreate it for a satisfying before-and-after TBT in 2023:
On a classier degree, the BBC Symphony Orchestra hopped on the hashtag to boast about their double bassoon recreation means again in 1942:
📸Double bassoon in 1942, with principal Archie Camden. #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/w1K50kklQq
— BBC Symphony Orchestra & Refrain (@BBCSO) January 12, 2023
3. Awkward enjoyable
Humor is likely one of the most infectious traits you possibly can have on-line, and Throwback Thursday is an ideal time to show you’re recreation for amusing. When all else fails, use the hashtag as an excuse to get foolish.
Well being influencer Dr. Shriram Nene proved he’s a great sport and in on the joke when he shared this hilarious promenade pic from his “awkward teenage years” for TBT:
Nothing like our awkward teenage years, proper? #ThrowbackThursday #TBT #ThursdayThoughts pic.twitter.com/YIgFQbIW34
— Dr. Shriram Nene (@DoctorNene) December 8, 2022
Different radio DJ St. Pete Sam pulled off a double whammy by incorporating the #NationalBaconDay hashtag into her TBT put up with this slow-motion video of herself munching on some bacon:
in honor of it being #nationalbaconday, right here’s a brilliant awkward #tbt video of me consuming bacon with @budlight at #kegsandeggs in 2019. 😂🥓 @stpetesam #bacon #budlight #brandambassador pic.twitter.com/6RdCx3INAd
— 97X (@97xonair) December 30, 2021
Creator Patricia Cornwell upped the ante with some ’90s cheese, posting a TBT pic straight out of 90210:
Right here’s a tacky pic taken in California after I was studying easy methods to scuba dive (mid-nineties).💕🤿#TBT pic.twitter.com/mVGpSc9E35
— Patricia Cornwell (@1pcornwell) December 8, 2022
4. Mark a milestone
Whether or not it’s an anniversary, a birthday or any previous event price remembering, TBT is a superb time to put up one thing from the previous. Use previous ephemera — assume posters, ticket stubs or different enjoyable objects — to focus on a singular milestone out of your model’s historical past.
The official Twitter for the Black Sabbath web page recurrently marks time with TBT posts, posting ticket stubs for live shows that occurred on that day previously:
January 12, 1999
Seattle, Washington#tbt #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/sCOAkBZ7jO— BlackSabbath (@BlackSabbath) January 12, 2023
The Broadway model of Beetlejuice celebrated its last present in NYC with a TBT put up highlighting the ups and downs of its run:
Hey guys? Love you guys. 🥺 As our present about demise involves an in depth, we’re dedicating this #TBT to a few of our favourite #BeetlejuiceBway moments. pic.twitter.com/lEtr7TqBDi
— Beetlejuice on Broadway (@BeetlejuiceBway) January 5, 2023
The Home of Blues took it a step additional and paid tribute to the late rapper DMX, sharing a clip from his last present at their venue to mark what would have been his 52nd birthday:
In honor of DMX’s birthday on Sunday, we received a BIG #tbt when he performed his final Chicago present at Home of Blues on Might 4, 2019! ❤️ 🖤
RIP a rap icon, hip-hop legend and Ruff Ryder, @DMX 🙏🐕🦺 pic.twitter.com/VVhCogsyrY
— Home of Blues Chicago (@HOBChicago) December 15, 2022
5. Share an previous product
Throwback Thursday can also be nice to point out how far you’ve come as a model by sharing your authentic merchandise. Simply ensure that your put up is clearly labeled as being from the previous, so that you don’t confuse your viewers!
The London-based recumbent bicycle model Brompton demonstrated simply how lengthy they’ve been within the recreation with this put up of their 1977 mannequin, The Fold:
#TBT to our awkward pre teenage years! The Fold from 1977! #MyBrompton #MadeForCities pic.twitter.com/NRAU9DKqJ6
— Brompton Bicycle (@BromptonBicycle) June 29, 2021
Archie Comics went much more retro, utilizing Throwback Thursday as a possibility to showcase an previous comedian ebook from the late Fifties:
Because it’s #ThrowbackThursday, let’s journey again to the Fifties for some #KatyKeene vogue enjoyable! pic.twitter.com/YCStUBaWSO
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) January 12, 2023
BMW makes use of its BMW Traditional account to focus on its historical past of lovely vehicles. Right here’s a put up that makes use of the #ThrowbackThursday hashtag nicely:
6. …or share a brand new product
TBT may immediately drive gross sales, significantly if you happen to focus on classic, vintage or in any other case old-timey objects. Listed below are some examples of the way individuals use the hashtag to promote.
Nothing ages fairly like wine, so Ranchero Cellars cleverly makes use of the hashtag to promote this classic vino from 2010 — a product they nonetheless have on the market.
Shout! Manufacturing unit, an organization that reissues basic TV on Blu-ray and DVD, equally used the hashtag to advertise their new Little Rascals field set:
7. Name to motion
As a result of they’re so partaking, Throwback Thursday posts are highly effective methods to ascertain authority in your business, make some extent, or drive visitors to an article or name to motion on a product.
Boeing is discontinuing its 747 jets, however they’ve used that as a robust launch pad for a complete narrative that establishes them as an business chief. This 1974 pic of a Boeing over Mount Rainier factors readers to a listicle about how the jet modified the flight business:
#TBT The unique 747 soars excessive above Mount Rainier in Washington state in 1974. 🛫 Although manufacturing is ending on the 747, the primary jumbo jet’s legacy will endure for many years.
Discover seven 747 improvements that modified the business: https://t.co/bKHKETd9Nq pic.twitter.com/WRV4LWxZ9h
— The Boeing Firm (@Boeing) January 5, 2023
Shark Tank host Daymond John doesn’t must hyperlink out wherever. As a substitute, he makes use of his TBT to make some extent about bodily promoting with a photograph of a FUBU billboard from again within the day:
Today numerous manufacturers are fixated on their digital presence. For good purpose, however research are additionally exhibiting that, post-covid, individuals are extremely receptive to bodily adverts. That is to not say you want a billboard, however keep in mind to assume outdoors the telephone!#TBT #FUBU pic.twitter.com/2D0ftmf9VT
— Daymond John (@TheSharkDaymond) August 11, 2022
Arnold Schwarzenegger leans into his standing as a strolling meme with these comical previous pics of his former health pamphlets. But it surely’s a part of a much bigger marketing campaign as a result of it factors to a brand new health e book out there in his bio:
Throwback Thursday finest practices
Prepared to start out creating your personal TBT posts? Simply hold the following tips in thoughts.
Publish on a Thursday
It goes with out saying that it is best to do the Thursday hashtag on, nicely, the precise day in its title. In case your viewers spans a number of time zones, strive posting early within the morning to make sure you’re not exhibiting up too late to the get together. It varies from app to app, however we recommend you put up on Instagram between 9 a.m. and midday.
Use the hashtags
When you’re going to take part within the hashtag, it’s important to use the hashtag! Whereas it’s true that social media websites have tailored to make use of context clues and captions in searches, you continue to need your put up to point out up on the clickable tag. Don’t be shy! Use each #TBT and #ThrowbackThursday.
Share previous content material
Once more, it might sound apparent, but it surely bears repeating. The entire level of Throwback Thursday is to throw it again to one thing from the previous. Be sure that your posts embody previous content material. And ensure it’s clear that the content material is previous — you don’t wish to confuse customers into considering a product you not have out there has come again.
Have a plan
Some intelligent copywriting could make TBT an integral a part of your advertising and marketing plan. Perhaps you’re about to launch your newest vogue line — why not level to it by throwing again to your first-ever launch? These sorts of benchmarks will assist spotlight simply how far you’ve come as a model.
The quickest option to create your personal Throwback Thursday put up
When you’re in search of a TBT shortcut, Hootsuite’s received you coated.
Our Content material Inspiration tab is a useful useful resource that helps you create posts in document time. (We advocate bookmarking it whether or not you’re in search of a put up template for Throwback Thursday or one thing else totally.)
Simply observe these steps:
1. Navigate to the Content material Inspiration tab. Be sure to’re logged into your Hootsuite account.
2. Click on into the Throwback Thursday thought. It will supply an outline of the idea.
3. (Optionally available) Click on Extra about this concept. The dropdown menu will supply loads of thought-starters to encourage your TBT.
4. Click on Use this concept. You’ll have the ability to full your Throwback Thursday put up with out even leaving the Hootsuite dashboard.
5. Replace your imagery. You possibly can add a number of pics, or use our cool cassette graphic.
6. Customise your caption. Use the prompts as a place to begin to make it your personal. Along with #ThrowbackThursday and #TBT, add a few hashtags that relate to your subject.
7. Publish your put up. Hootsuite saves your entire social accounts when you’ve related them, so you possibly can simply select from the dropdown menu.
With Hootsuite you possibly can arrange streams to watch hashtags—together with #TBT—and see how successfully you’re utilizing them. Strive it free at present.
Do it higher with Hootsuite, the all-in-one social media instrument. Keep up to the mark, develop, and beat the competitors.
