In today's digital universe, the hashtag is one of the best ways to boost your brand's online presence. What originally started as a hash or pound on Twitter on August 23, 2007, by Chris Messina, is now not just something that is used for show, but it helps build your profit while keeping users connected! Here are just some of the many benefits of using hashtags:
They amplify your brand
They hone in on your target audience
They help users find your content
They improve your SEO
Now that we know the benefits, it is important to develop an actual hashtag strategy for social media, so here are our top tips for doing just that.
1. Consider Hashtag Limits
Different platforms have different rules about how many hashtags you can add to your posts. Here are the Hashtag limits for each social media platform and how you can use them effectively:
Twitter:
Despite being the birthplace of the hashtag, Twitter recommends using no more than two hashtags per Tweet within the character limit. This is not the platform to use excessive hashtags and they should be used to highlight an important topic or keyword rather than ending your statement with them sprinkled as an afterthought.
Facebook:
This platform does not have such a big hashtag culture. In fact, it has been reported that posts without a hashtag fare better than those with a hashtag. However, if you do choose to use them on Facebook, be sure to use a branded hashtag so that customers can easily find you.
Instagram Hashtags:
Hashtags are very popular on this platform. Make sure you are using no more than 30 hashtags per post on Instagram, or your post will be considered spam. Your 30 are counted in both captions and comments. For Instagram Stories, the hashtag limit is 10 per story.
YouTube:
You can add up to 30 hashtags on Youtube, which is the same limit as Instagram. These 30 can be added to your video title and descriptions to improve a video’s discoverability.
Pinterest:
Each pin has a 20 hashtag limit and using them is an absolute must on Pinterest as this platform relies heavily on search. So to make sure you are adding your 20 hashtags wherever possible and it makes sense.
2. Use Branded Hashtags
The point of a branded hashtag is to create your own SEO snippet on social media that allows social media users to find you easily. They are just as relevant to use as your popular hashtags. Lots of big brands have built their online presence by using hashtags to connect and attract new customers and users. It is a good idea to do your due diligence before launching your branded hashtag to check who else may be using it and that it doesn't have any negative connotations.
3. Ask Customers To Tag & Use Your Branded Hashtags
This is an integral part of your strategy as it will play a significant role in boosting and effortlessly finding UGC on your social media platforms. This means you will increase content created by individuals outside of the organization or business and can be images, videos, sound clips, social media posts, and more. It will also encourage social listening which is incredibly important. You need to know and be aware of what people and customers have to say about your brand outside your online platforms.
4. Use Popular Hashtags Based On Your Industry
Make sure you research what your customers are searching for within your particular industry and use these hashtags appropriately. Some may not work as well for you, and it may take a bit of time to work out which specific hashtags work best for you.
5. Look At Popular Influencers
Take a look at the type of hashtags that influencers within your niche are using and add them to your list. These people are known to connect with their followers and easily find popular hashtags and content. You could also work with an influencer and get them to add your branded hashtag to their content.
In summary, with the use of a proper hashtag strategy, you can make sure that your content is more visible, connecting more with your audience. You will need to test which approaches work best for your brand and it can be a bit of trial and error however with these 5 effortless pointers, you should be off to a flying start.
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