Previously known as the pound sign (#), the hashtag has revolutionized social media marketing in a way that no one could have imagined. Today, social media marketing depends largely on the effective use of hashtags. As a digital marketer, you need to understand how to use hashtags for maximum impact.
Hashtags originated with Twitter but have become essential to every social media channel like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and more. They offer visibility that allow your content to become visible to a larger audience. However, overusing hashtags will not give you the desired results. So, how can you use hashtags to your marketing advantage?
Here are some effective ways to determine hashtags for social media marketing.
#1 Use Relevant Hashtags
The primary reason for using hashtags is to make your content more popular and reach interested audiences. It is akin to labeling your content so that your target audience can find it easily. Therefore, you need to use relevant hashtags to make your content more discoverable.
Do not use hashtags that are not related to your content as it might affect your credibility. Instead, search for and use hashtags that are trending and relevant so that you can direct traffic to your business.
#2 Use Limited Hashtags
One of the most common mistakes that can be seen with social media posts is the overuse of hashtags. While platforms such as Instagram allow users to implement as many as 30 hashtags on regular posts, it may not always work in your favor. At the same time, social media platforms offer you the freedom to use hashtags and vary in their limits.
It is recommended to limit the use of hashtags ideally to less than five for optimum results. While it may seem that using more hashtags will attract an increased amount of traffic, that is simply not the case. Your social media post actually may get buried under other posts that use the same hashtags that you did. And that is the opposite of what you use hashtags for.
Another mistake is using the most popular hashtags. For instance, #art is one of the most popular hashtags and it has been used for over a several million times already. If you are going to post your content with #art, you would simply be competing with millions of other pages. The trick therefore is to find niche hashtags and use them wisely in a limited way. For Facebook, for instance, you can use up to 5 hashtags for best results while the number can go up for Instagram posts to about 20. Limiting hashtags usage is one of the most effective ways to gain more likes and followers and increase audience engagement.
#3 Research Your Hashtags
Before you embark on using hashtags, you must first research them to know which ones will work the best for you. As mentioned before, you need to use niche hashtags. But how do you decide which hashtags are relevant and important to gain you the much needed attention from the audience?
You can use research tools to search for the right hashtags for you. There are numerous research tools available in the market that can help you find hashtags that work for you. In addition, you can use the hashtags that influencers in your domain are using. You can search for influencers too, with the help of tools, and see what hashtags they are using when creating content. Your research on hashtags will go a long way in making your social media posts a success.
#4 Use Short Hashtags
Always choose hashtags that are short and more likely to catch on. Avoid using very long hashtags as they are seldom memorable and are unlike trends. Using a maximum of 3 to 4 words for a hashtag is a great way to garner attention to your post. For instance, #likeforlife and #photooftheday are some of the most trending hashtags. Do not use hashtags that are uncommon as they may not be searched for at all.
Making your hashtags memorable is a necessary way to spell success for your social media marketing. Remember that hashtags have the power to bring about change and your social media campaign could be the next success story. For instance, #HeForShe – introduced in 2014 by actress Emma Watson for UN became one of the most popular hashtags in a short time.
You can find inspiration for your campaigns from social justice movements or anything that is of importance in your local community. Your hashtag helps to make a statement that remains in the minds of your audience. Therefore, choose well!
#5 Unique Hashtag
Hashtags are a great way to create brand awareness. The hashtag that you choose will reflect your brand and become a means to encourage customer engagement. It can be a great conversation starter on social media platforms and propel your brand to new levels. Choose a hashtag that is not just relevant but unique. It could be related to your business or it may just be in support of a social movement or community issue to which your brand lends support. For example, #Let’sDoLunch by Domino’s Pizza, #HaveABreak by KitKat are examples of some of the most successful hashtags associated uniquely with a brand. Therefore, choose a hashtag that will interest your audience and is conversational. Most importantly, your hashtag must be a reflection of what you do and what your brand stands for.
Conclusion
Hashtags are a surefire way to garner attention on social media platforms. However, there is no one way that can lead you to the success that you desire. However, you need to focus your efforts on using hashtags and analyzing the impact they are making for your posts. Social media platforms are not the same and work differently. You have to know how you can use hashtags for each platform effectively to get the desired results. At the same time, you need to identify and understand your target audience to know what interests them. Use hashtags to communicate with your followers and analyze how you can build social media campaigns to create brand awareness. Hashtags are an essential part of your social media strategy and can help your brand become more profitable.
Author Bio:
Sachin Agrawal is an Enterprise Architect and heads up Business & Technology at Tarika Technologies. He carries expertise and a flair for writing on Management Consulting, Software & Analytics and Digital Media. Apart from distilling his technical ideas into creating innovative solutions, he is a practitioner of Haidong Gumdo and at his leisure, taps the Cajon and strums his Guitar!
