In the world of social media, hashtags have become a powerful tool for enhancing discoverability and engagement. Understanding how to use them effectively can significantly impact your social media presence. But, they can be confusing too, with so many rumours around how best to take advantage of them. In this blog post, we bust open the myths that exist and share the best strategies for leveraging hashtags to maximise your reach and engagement.
What are hashtags and why are they important?
Put simply, they’re keywords or phrases preceded by the “#” symbol, used to categorise and organise content on social media platforms. They allow users to discover relevant content, join conversations, and connect with like-minded individuals. By incorporating hashtags into your posts, you can expand your reach, increase visibility, and drive engagement.
How do they work on different social media platforms?
Each social media platform has its own unique hashtag functionality. Familiarise yourself with the specific practices on the platforms that you use. Consider where your business is present – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or TikTok to optimise your hashtag usage.
How do you choose the right ones?
Research popular and relevant hashtags
Identify trending and industry-specific hashtags related to your niche. Use tools like Instagram’s Explore page, Twitter trends, and research tools (we love HashtagStack to discover popular tags that align with your content).
Mix popular and niche hashtags
Strategically blend popular hashtags with more niche or specific ones to strike a balance between reach and relevance. Niche hashtags can help you target a more specific audience, while popular ones increase the chances of your content being discovered by a broader audience.
Try to avoid using too many hashtags that have over 1,000,000 uses. A good strategy will focus largely on tags that have between 10k and 500k posts. Too many posts with the same hashtag and yours will get lost in the abyss. Too few posts and people probably won’t be searching for it (which is how you get found with hashtags – they’re essentially search terms).
To find how many times a hashtag has been used (a.k.a. the hashtag volume), search it on Instagram and it will display the number of posts using that tag at the top of the search grid.
Consider branded campaigns
Create unique branded hashtags that represent your brand and encourage user-generated content. Branded tags not only increase brand visibility but also foster a sense of community among your audience. These are things like #ShareACoke (Coca-Cola) and #TheFrankEffect (Frank Body).
Use a mix of hashtag types
When using hashtags, it’s important to use a variety of different types. A strong hashtag strategy has a good mix of the following:
- Location e.g. #PerthRealEstate and #EllenbrookLocal
- Branded e.g. #RayWhite and #TheDigitalContentCo
- Industry e.g. #RealEstateLife and #SettlementAgent
- Community e.g. #PerthHomeBuyers and #SellWithRayWhite
- Descriptive e.g. #HomeBuyerTips #eConveyancing
What are the best practices for hashtag use?
- Keep it concise and relevant
Use concise and relevant hashtags that directly relate to your content. Avoid using long or overly generic ones that may dilute the relevance of your posts.
- Be mindful of etiquette
Respect the culture and context of the platform you’re using. Understand the etiquette of using hashtags on each platform and adhere to the guidelines to maintain professionalism and avoid spammy practices.
- Test and analyse hashtag performance
Continuously monitor and analyse the performance of your hashtags. Assess which ones generate the most engagement, reach, and visibility for your posts. Experiment with different combinations and refine your strategy based on the insights gained.
How do I use hashtags on different platforms?
Utilise a mix of hashtag types relevant to your content. Use up to 30 tags per post, but ensure they are contextually relevant. Instagram actually recommends using between three to five highly-relevant hashtags per post. In our experience, however, it is best to use as close to 30 as possible, without using filler or irrelevant tags.
Incorporate relevant hashtags within your tweets to join conversations and increase discoverability. Keep the number per tweet limited to 2-3 for optimal engagement.
While hashtags are not as prevalent on Facebook, strategic use of industry-specific and trending tags can still amplify your reach and engagement.
Hashtags are an important part of a strong LinkedIn strategy. Use between three to five highly relevant tags on each post that you share to boost reach.
- TikTok
Take advantage of trending hashtags on TikTok to participate in challenges and leverage popular trends. Create your unique branded tags to encourage user-generated content and foster community engagement.
Unleash the power of hashtags: Are you ready to elevate your social media game?
Hashtags are a powerful tool for expanding your reach and engagement on social media platforms. By researching and using the right ones effectively, you can increase visibility, connect with your target audience, and enhance your overall social media presence. Stay up-to-date with the evolving trends and practices to ensure your content remains discoverable and relevant. Implement these strategies, track your results, and adapt your hashtag usage to optimise your social media success.
