How do you use hashtags effectively to boost your online visibility and reach?

Hashtags continue to be an important tool for organizing and discovering content on social media platforms in 2023. By using relevant and popular hashtags, individuals and businesses can increase the visibility and reach of their posts, connect with like-minded individuals, and participate in larger conversations and trends. Hashtags also provide a way for users to filter through the vast amount of content available on social media, making it easier to find specific information and engage with topics of interest. Overall, hashtags remain a crucial aspect of social media strategy and communication in our current time.

In my experience connecting with your audience on LinkedIn can be highly beneficial. I'm learning how to use hash tags which should help even more. #linkedin

Hashtags are like the signposts of the social media world. Just as we use landmarks to navigate in the real world, hashtags help us navigate the vast landscape of social media. They connect conversations, amplify messages, and create communities around shared interests. Think of them as the pulse points where the heartbeat of online conversations can be felt.

Hashtags are words or phrases preceded by '#' and they are generally used to categorize content on social media. Nowadays, hashtags are everywhere in social media platform as it brings more attention by dragging viewers from different groups and categories. Good for companies and attention seekers to target audience as well as easy tool for people to find their group or interest, so in both ways its a shortcut.

Hashtags work best with relevant content. For brands, using their brand name builds long-term recognition. They may not always show up in a "Google search," but on native platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and LinkedIn, they carry more weight. For example, using #phrasalverbs helps the algorithm know my video or social post will relate to that English language topic. Most platforms have an option where you can search hashtags of interest to your audience, and then see the volume or number related to it. If you see a high volume attached to it, you may want to use that hashtag for consistent posts. If the hashtag has a low volume, it's an opportunity for your brand to "own" that hashtag or build a category around it.

Follow creators or industry experts to see what common hashtags are used in your industry. Did a colleague use a specific hashtag? Make note and utilize it in an upcoming post.

On TikTok a great way to find hashtags for your niche is using the search function and search terms relevant to your niche. You’ll then find top performing content and can dive into the hashtags used. The key is to use hashtags with your audience in mind, just adding them for the sake of it won’t help longterm success. So you have to identify hashtags aligned to your brand. Additionally, it doesn’t end adding a hashtag, key is to engaging with the audience on that hashtag, this will further also help the algorithm and help establish your brand within that community. Lastly, it’s all about monitoring, optimising, revising and adjusting your strategy.

When deciding whether to use a specific hashtag, I like to imagine what someone would type into a search bar. Most folks aren't going to type in super generic hashtags like #HappyEaster but they WILL type in hashtags specific to a topic, geographical location, or industry. Example: I research vacation destinations on Instagram through hashtags so #AustinRestaurant would make sense if you'd like your Austin restaurant to be discovered by tourists or even locals.

?? Ever been lost in a new city without a map? That’s social media without hashtags. They’re our guides, connecting us to larger conversations, trends, and communities. They’re the bridges to broader narratives. #NavigatorsOfNet ??

If you're using a tool or platform to discover new hashtags, always make sure to manually evaluate the hashtag in each social platform before using it. I've avoided quite a few awkward scenarios where there was an "interesting" connotation for an otherwise perfect hashtag. On Instagram, you can also see what hashtags your competitors are following right on their profile (Account name > Following > Hashtags) which can uncover some hidden gems!

Another recommendation for hashtags is using "CamelCase" to make them readable for vision-impaired folks and those who use AI or screen readers to read captions aloud to them. This can be critical for those with dyslexia or cognitive impairments. If your hashtag is all in lower case, it can be difficult or impossible for those tools to read it to the person. Instead, capitalize the FIRST letter of each word so that each word stands out to reading tools. Example: instead of using #happybirthdaydollyparton, you'd use #HappyBirthdayDollyParton. If your hashtag has an article like "a", "an", or "the", capitalize it like this: #TopOfTheWorld. By doing this, you'll increase your audience size and content engagement because it's more accessible.

?? Picking the right hashtag is like choosing the perfect spice for a dish. It can elevate the flavor, making it memorable. While tools can suggest, it’s the authenticity that resonates. Choose wisely! #PerfectPick ???

In most cases hashtags should t be the core of your strategy, but a tool that amplifies your strategy. Gone are the days of generic #ThrowbackThursday posts but certain regular hashtags may really align with your brand. So as long as you’re consistent, not spammy and aligned to your brand… go for it.

Definitely working out how many hashtags work best on each platform is a good idea and one that many miss out. It is obvious to the reader when someone has simply shared the same post across social media platforms when you see a post on LinkedIn with 10-15 hashtags that is made for Instagram.

Know the popular hashtags per platform, as trending hashtags are different per social media app! For example #fyp is great for TikTok, but there’s no For You Page for Instagram.

It helps to look at hashtags in a way similar but not exact to keywords on search it you go too generic it will get lost but if it’s too focused it may not break through. Using these tools can help you find the right hashtags to accomplish a specific objective goal. Sometimes a keyword makes tons of sense to reach but maybe not taking an action. It’s always a balancing act.

Use the analytics tools provided by social media platforms to track the performance of your posts with hashtags. Look for metrics like engagement, reach, and new followers. Continuously refine your hashtag strategy based on performance data. If certain hashtags consistently underperform or don’t attract the right audience, replace them with more effective ones. Keep an eye on trending and emerging hashtags in your niche.