
Life is full of shortcuts. They make our lives easier, particularly in this fast-paced, virtual world. So, what if we told you there was a shortcut to building social media exposure that could help grow your business, too? Allow us to introduce you to the significant role of hashtags!
While you may recognize these word clusters by the characteristic pound sign (#), many people are either unsure of their usage or aren’t utilizing them to their full potential. But when done correctly, this quick and easy tool can give your social media channels a big boost. In fact, posts with at least one hashtag receive approximately 12.6% more engagement than those without.
Ready to up your hashtag game? Here’s what you need to know and how they can help your business:
Why do we need hashtags? Picture this. You spend time creating fresh new content for your brand. You post online and wait for the likes and comments to roll in, but don’t receive the traction you wanted. One likely culprit could be a lack of hashtags.
These keywords are like mini search engines. You’ll want to select hashtags that refer to the topics and themes of your post. We recommend a mix of trending terms like #MondayMotivation or #FridayFunny, plus words specific to your industry or location. Including these at the end of a post allows users to find your content on social media just like a Google search.
Is there a wrong way to hashtag? Even the best hashtags won’t get you very far if used incorrectly. For starters, no spaces are needed. Instead, try using capital letters to separate words. Another faux pas is using too many hashtags at once. While Instagram allows up to 30 per post, try sticking to those most relevant to your business and brand.
Can hashtags help me gain more followers? Yes! Hashtags are a great way to build your target audience. Platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram allow users to follow hashtag groups, helping grow your network of followers. So, whether you’re selling #Travel or #Toothpaste, remember to include brand-specific words in every post.
Are there any other ways to use hashtags? Did you know that you can add hashtags to Instagram stories, too? That’s right! Just hide them behind your photo or video to extend your story’s reach to new potential customers. You can also include hashtags in the comments section of a post to help bump it to the top of newsfeeds.
We hope these tips make you a #HashtagPro in no time. For additional questions, feel free to reach out to us anytime at alison@officiallysocial.com.