15/05/2024
If you’re not already, it’s time to start using hashtags in your social media posts. Even though they first gained popularity in 2007, they’re even more useful today for your brand!
Here, find simple, easy-to-read tips for using hashtags.
Consistency – the more you use a specific hashtag, the greater your chances are to grow an audience. Don’t change your hashtag every week. Consistency is the key.
Don’t overuse – posts should be concise, and using too many hashtags can make your message seem cluttered and unprofessional. Including one to three hashtags per post is sufficient.
Up-to-date – check replies of other leading industry organizations to learn what hashtags they are using. This will keep you up to date with what’s trending and what people are following.
Popular – spend just a few minutes researching popular hashtags and you’re sure to find what works for you.
Best fit – use tags that are relevant to your brand’s unique products or services, and be sure to include location-specific information when necessary.
Less is best – keep in mind that more is not always better. In fact, posts that have fewer tags tend to see better results.
Branded hashtags – specify the name of your brand. This will help you to monitor the performance of your campaign, simply by focusing on your branded hashtags. And every time a user puts one of your branded hashtags inside one of their posts, they are increasing your presence on social media.
Ideal location – if you have a smaller following (under 5000 followers) or a moderate-sized following (10,000 to 100,000 followers), placing hashtags in the caption seems to be the most effective option. If you have a following of 5,000 to 10,000 or a following of over 100,000, however, placing them in the first comment seems to generate more engagement.
Third-party tools – a social listening tool lets your brand use search streams to discover which hashtags are the best for each social network you’re on. Put simply, search streams make it easy to see which hashtags are the most popular and the most effective.
Ultimately if you are using social media to reach a specific target audience then you should be using relevant hashtags to get your results. Who knows, you might even discover keywords that have the potential of going viral that will help your brand flourish!