Top 10 Trending Hashtags in 2014

It’s been widely reported* — and you’ll probably remember all of them — because the following are the top ten trending hashtags used in 2014:

1. #ICantBreathe
2. #IAmMikeBrown
3. #IceBucketChallenge
4. #BringBackOurGirls
5. #WorldCup
6. #WhyIStayed
7. #UmbrellaRevolution
8. #YesAllWomen
9. #TanSuit
10. #AlexFromTarget

What does this mean for marketers? To me it demonstrates the power of people’s responses to current events. It also tells me that social media marketers need to be up on breaking news and have sharp enough analytical skills to know which trends’ use will benefit their brand and act fast enough to be relevant. For example, DiGiorno Pizza blew it on the use of domestic violence awareness hashtag #WhyIStayed (“You had pizza.”)

*From CNN.