Social conversion platform Chirpify is releasing a feature/program it believes is the logical evolution of hashtags.
The company's new #actiontags provide social media marketers and advertisers with the ability to use hashtags as a means to drive cross-channel conversions. Users make a purchase, enter a contest, donate, subscribe to a newsletter or any type of activity simply by posting a hashtag on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Chirpify is arguably the first network to offer such a direct capability and it is already proving attractive to brand advertisers - particuarly those who engage in offline channels including live events and TV shows. Brands including Forever 21, MasterCard and NPR's Live Wire are currently leveraging the platform.
"In 1995 using an actual URL in advertisements was commonplace. In 2010 that evolved to Twitter and Facebook brand pages. Today, hashtags are the new URL," said Chirpify CEO Chris Teso. "The opportunity is leveraging those hashtags in what we call 'real-world' settings with second screen devices. For example, a recent study1 claims about half of all smatphone and tablet owners use their device while they're watching TV. Chirpify's #actiontags connect the dots -- in this case between TV ads and mobile devices."