The quick-guide to using hashtags in your business marketing

Hashtags – those little # pound signs followed by a word or phrase – have become an integral part of social media culture. They’re not just a trend; they’re a powerful tool for amplifying your social media presence. In this blog post, we’ll explore why we use hashtags, provide a guide on creating effective ones, and share best practices for using them on various social media platforms.

Why Use Hashtags?

Hashtags serve several essential purposes in the world of social media:

1. Discoverability: Hashtags puts your content into categories, making it easier for people to find posts related to specific topics, events, or trends. By using relevant hashtags, you increase the chances of your content reaching a broader and more targeted audience.
2. Engagement: Hashtags encourage engagement. Posts with relevant hashtags often receive more likes, comments, and shares because they connect with users who have a genuine interest in those topics.
3. Branding: Hashtags can help create and promote your brand. By creating a unique, branded hashtag, you can foster a sense of community around your products or services.
4. Trending Topics: Jumping on trending hashtags can give your content a boost in visibility. However, be cautious and make sure your content aligns with the hashtag’s theme.

Creating Effective Hashtags

Now, let’s dive into creating hashtags that work for your social media strategy:

1. Relevance is Key: Make sure your hashtags are directly related to the content of your post. Irrelevant or overly broad hashtags can confuse your audience and lead to decreased engagement.
2. Keep It Concise: Long, complicated hashtags can be challenging to read and remember. Stick to concise and clear phrases to maximise their impact.
3. Unique Branding: If you’re using hashtags for branding, make them unique to your business. Keep them short, easy to remember, and reflective of your brand’s identity.
4. Research Popular Hashtags: Tools like Hashtagify, Trendsmap, and even native platform suggestions can help you find popular and trending hashtags in your niche.
5. Use a Mix: Combine popular, trending hashtags with niche-specific ones. This broadens your reach while ensuring you’re still targeting your core audience.

Best Practices for Using Hashtags

Different social media platforms have their own best practices for using hashtags:

1. Instagram: Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but it’s important to keep your caption readable. I suggest using 10-15 relevant hashtags and placing them at the end of your caption and not in your comments.
2. Facebook: While hashtags are less common on Facebook, you can still use 1-2 relevant ones in your posts. They can help your content appear in searches within the platform.
3. LinkedIn: On LinkedIn, use 3-5 relevant hashtags in your posts. It can help increase visibility among your professional network.
4. TikTok: On TikTok, creative and trending hashtags are essential. Joining challenges and using popular hashtags can get your content in front of a larger audience.
5. YouTube: In video descriptions and comments, use hashtags to categorize your content. Up to 15 hashtags are allowed per video.

Remember that while hashtags can amplify your social media strategy, overusing them or using irrelevant ones can backfire and confuse people or even put them off. It’s important to get a balance and keep your content user-friendly.

In conclusion, hashtags are a powerful tool for improving your social media presence, increasing engagement, and expanding your reach. By creating relevant and effective hashtags and following platform-specific best practices, you can use the potential of hashtags to boost your social media success.

If you want support with your small business marketing, please reach out for a 1:1 session.