HASHTAGS – FIND, USE, UNLEASH

The post is ready to be put up on Instagram. Design is done! Image is done! Caption is done! Then what's the hiccup? The hashtags? Which hashtag should I put? Should it be a niche one? A hashtag with significant following? Should I put a hashtag? How many hashtags? Do these questions constantly bug you too? Then this blog is for you!

A hashtag is much beyond the words we put toward the end of the caption. They are powerful tools for social media marketing that enable the content to meet its suitable prospects who can engage with it and find value in it. A hashtag is a practical step towards creating a sense of community online.

Understanding Hashtags #

Each online platform has a unique usage of hashtags. Hashtags help set a context for the posts and help make your content discoverable and ?connect with the right audience. More than that, hashtags will be used to help distribute content to people. Using generic hashtags will make your content lose out on the right audience. When content is posted on Instagram, even though the platform allows the usage of up to 30 hashtags, it is advisable to use a maximum of 11 hashtags that can be a mix of niche and well-known to ensure discoverability.

On Twitter, the recommended number of hashtags is usually 2. It is recommended to use a branded hashtag coupled with a hashtag that is relevant to the post. Over usage of hashtags does not serve the intended purpose and also hurts the business's reach.

The usage and tracking of hashtags on Facebook are tricky as most individuals on Facebook have private accounts, and it becomes a challenge for brands to track hashtags used by people.

How Many Hashtags are too many Hashtags?

Each platform has a different requirement for hashtags. The preferred number of hashtags on Instagram is 11 to reach your intended audience. It can be a mix of generic and niche hashtags to align with the social media strategy and a wider reach. However, on Tik Tok, the favored number of hashtags is 3 -4, which can only be added in the caption with no option to edit once the content is published. LinkedIn and Twitter are platforms that go by the philosophy of less are more when it comes to hashtags. The optimal number of hashtags on Twitter can be 1-2, while on LinkedIn can be 2-3.

How to and Why Use Hashtags?

Just as we use keywords in the content to widen its reach, attaching hashtags can enhance the spread of the content to a suitable and broader audience base. If used wisely and appropriately, it can connect you to a community that follows similar topics and expand your position as a voice of influence and, eventually, authority.?Hashtags can help you boost your brand’s social media reach and engagement.

While choosing hashtags instead of randomly penning down hashtags that are trending, it is also essential to strategize them to carve out your position and reach the intended audience. It is advised to use hashtags per your brand, industry, location, and community, descriptive of your business, and a hashtag that is event specific or post-specific that adds more context to your content.?

It is best to avoid hashtags that have nothing to do with your business or service or use hashtags that have millions of followers and are too generic, as the content gets lost in the pool of posts and information.?

While Instagram does allow the user up to 30 hashtags, putting them all at once might make the post look spammy, and thus, it is better to post hashtags in the first comment. However, adding the right and relevant hashtag is vital.

The keywords that guide the hashtags are similar to the keywords for SEO. Both augment visibility. However, SEO is meant for users looking for answers on particular websites. In contrast, keywords and hashtags on social media help content connect with audiences looking to engage and have a long-term association by getting informed, entertained, or feeling a sense of community and connecting with others based on similar interests. While a third party can find SEO-related keywords, the perspective on the right hashtags and keywords for social media is understood only after engaging with the platform itself. Keywords for SEO may differ, they complement the social media keywords, and the purpose is always to connect relevant content to the right audience. However, the same audience can find different meanings with the same business's content on various platforms. The person in charge should be keen on reading up on dynamic trends and see opportunities where they can insert their presence. It is fast-paced and susceptible to change at a quicker rate.?

Search the Hashtags Right

Never ignore the power of a timely reply to a comment or message! Pay attention to the impact of your comment on a trending topic relevant to your business. Finding and engaging with communities that connect with content similar to the one the industry is trying to promote gives excellent insights into hashtags with just the right reach and relevant audience. Certain words or phrases that become catchphrases or circulate through tags and comments, if used at the right time with the synergy of engaging content, can push your presence just in the right direction. Riding the wave of popular trends helps businesses thrive and move forward significantly. Based on the post's analytics, one can make an informed decision regarding the kind and number of hashtags, as the analytics of a couple of posts can give valuable insights on the various components of the section, such as their age group, place, follower status, and demographics. Apart from boosting the organic reach, this can also lead the strategy for paid ads by helping predict its space and intent. Starting with a general search and then narrowing down the hashtags based on the activities happening around the trending keywords can be a fruitful way of going around hashtags.?One can even use campaign-based hashtags to further enforce and emphasize their brand’s name or a particular campaign that the firm is running.

Content is King, Context is Queen, and the Right Hashtags are the Soldiers!?

Always analyse your brand and the purpose of your social media presence, get on with the trends swiftly, and stay updated! Unleash the power of trending hashtags with the right social media strategy based on sound research and long-term vision. Connect with Impulse to know more and read more such informative blogs.