To promote your brand on social media, you must know how to use hashtags. The hash symbol, or hashtag, is used to identify relevant content and make it easily searchable. Hashtags are widely used on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Every marketer knows how crucial hashtags are for their social media campaigns. This post breaks down the basics of using hashtags effectively on social media and why you should use them.

 

What Is A Hashtag?

hashtags effectively

A hashtag is a keyword or phrase preceded by the hash symbol (#) and used to identify messages on social media. Inserting one or more hashtags into a post will make it easier for users to find your content.

Hashtags are clickable links that take users to a page with all posts marked with the same hashtag. Hashtags are a way to connect social media content to a specific topic, event, theme, or conversation.

How to Hashtag?

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1. A hashtag should contain only one word without spaces.

2. No punctuation or special characters can be used in a hashtag.

3. Include the hashtag in the post at the beginning, end or somewhere in the middle.

The Benefits of Using Hashtags in Your Social Media Strategy

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Hashtags can be a powerful tool for social media marketing. Here are some of the benefits of using hashtags on your social media posts:

1. Increase Reach and Engagement

Hashtags make it easier for users to find your content, increasing the potential reach of each post. Moreover, hashtags can help you identify influencers discussing the same topics as you. This can help you gain more exposure and engagement on your posts.

2. Connect With Your Audience

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Hashtags are a great way to connect with people who share the same interests or passions as you do. Use hashtags relevant to your industry or niche to join conversations, get feedback, spark collaborations, and make connections.

 

3. Track Brand Mentions and Campaigns

Using a branded hashtag for your campaigns allows you to track your campaign performance. You can also use hashtags to monitor what people are saying about your brand or product, allowing you to respond quickly to any negative comments or feedback.

 

4. Increase Brand Awareness

Using hashtags with your brand name can help you increase your business’s visibility and awareness. You can use this hashtag to highlight promotions, giveaways, or any other initiatives related to your business.

 

5. Get Insights Into Your Audience

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By seeing which hashtags are most popular with your followers, you can gain insights into their likes and interests. You can use this information to craft more relevant content that appeals to your audience.

6. Disclose sponsored partnerships

You can use a hashtag to disclose sponsored partnerships with influencers or brands. This way, you can ensure that everybody involved in the campaign is transparent. Partnerships with influencers can help you reach larger audiences and gain more exposure for your brand.

 

7. Hashtags bring like-minded people together

Hashtags are a great way to bring together people who share the same interests. This can be beneficial for networking and collaboration opportunities. Like-minded people can connect, exchange ideas and help each other grow.

How To Use Hashtags On Each Social Media Network

Now that you know why and how to use hashtags let’s look at how to use them on each social media network.

 

Twitter

twitter hashtags

Twitter is the original home of hashtags. If you want to increase your Twitter engagement, the best method is to utilize relevant hashtags. However, it’s important not to use too many- one or two per tweet should be more than sufficient. You can also ask your followers to share your tweets; when you include a couple of hashtags and request that they retweet, this often leads to more engagement.

Hashtags are beneficial for Twitter users because not only do they make your post accessible to those searching for your tag, but they also help you find conversations to get involved in. To have an even greater impact on this platform, look up trending Twitter hashtags and use them accordingly.

On Twitter, you can also create your hashtag. If you have an event, or a product launch, for example, and want to increase awareness, creating your hashtag is a great way to do this.

Facebook

facebook posts

Although Facebook allows hashtags, they aren’t nearly as popular on this social media platform as on others. Posts containing hashtags usually don’t do as well on Facebook as those without them. However, there are specific instances where brand-specific hashtags can be beneficial–for example, if you’re promoting an event or a sale.

If these posts contain hashtags, they may get more exposure on FB. The key thing to remember is not to use too many; since Facebook users aren’t accustomed to seeing many hashtags, using too many could make your brand seem annoying or spammy.

Instagram

Instagram Hashtags

Hashtags are very popular on Instagram. This is because the platform was built to be visually driven, and hashtags help people find content that interests them.

The best way to use IG hashtags is to ensure they are relevant to your post and specific to your niche. Instagram posts allow 30 hashtags maximum per post, which can be overwhelming. But the best practice is using 7-11 hashtags related to your post and your niche.

LinkedIn

linkedin hashtags

When hashtags were first introduced on LinkedIn in 2018, some people were unsure how to use them properly. Hashtags have been a part of the platform for some time now.

However, there is still quite a bit of uncertainty around their usage on LinkedIn- a professional networking site-it’s easy to see why someone might be hesitant about using something they’re unfamiliar with.

Using hashtags on LinkedIn is still commonplace, and, like other social media platforms, they help you to categorize content people can have conversations about.

When incorporating hashtags in posts, use a mix of well-known tags: those which many people are following, as well as some original tags so you can discover and amplify your content.

Youtube

youtube hashtags

Using hashtags on Youtube can be a great way to increase the visibility of your video. When including hashtags, it’s important to ensure they are relevant to the content you’re uploading; otherwise, people won’t be able to find your video when searching for related topics.

You can use up to 15 hashtags on YouTube, but this doesn’t mean you should. Try to limit the number of hashtags you use to five or fewer, and ensure they are all relevant to your video’s topic.

Pinterest

Pinterest Hashtags

Hashtags on Pinterest are slightly different from the other platforms. They don’t have the same impact as elsewhere, and there is no official limit for how many hashtags you can use in one post. However, it’s best not to over-saturate your pins with hashtags.

Using two or three relevant ones will help your pins be seen by more people and help you reach your desired audience.

TikTok

TikTok Hashtags

Hashtags on TikTok can be found in video descriptions or on the Discover page. When creating a hashtag, make sure it is relevant to your content and specific enough that other users can find it. As with any other platform, don’t over-saturate your post with hashtags; three or four should suffice.

Types Of Hashtag

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You can use many different types of hashtags on social media, depending on your needs. Here are five main types of hashtags:

Content Hashtags

Content hashtags are used to engage a target audience directly. For example, if you own a coffee shop, you may use the hashtag “#cafelife” to reach out to coffee lovers. When using content hashtags, try to think like your customer. What are they interested in? What would appeal to them? Content hashtags should be simple and descriptive. You want to make sure they’re easy to remember and understand.

Branded Hashtags

Branded hashtags are used by businesses to help promote their products or services. They usually include the business’s name or tagline. For example, if you own a health food store, you may use the hashtag “#eatclean” to promote your store and get people talking about it. Branded hashtags should be short, memorable, and eye-catching.

Campaign Hashtags

Campaign hashtags are used for specific campaigns or initiatives. For example, a charity may use the hashtag “#giveback” to raise awareness of their cause and encourage donations. Campaign hashtags should be impactful and memorable to drive engagement.

Trending Hashtags

Trending hashtags are used to join in on popular conversations. For example, if there’s a trending hashtag about summer fashion, you may use the hashtag “#summerstyle” to join in on the conversation and show off your style. Trending hashtags should be relevant and timely to ensure people see them.

Location Hashtags

Location hashtags are used to reach a specific geographic area. For example, if you own a cafe in a specific city, you may use the hashtag “#torontocafe” to reach people in that area. Location hashtags can also be combined with other hashtags for increased visibility. Location hashtags should be descriptive and include both the city and the topic.

Best Practices for Hashtags

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When using hashtags, it’s important to follow best practices. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your hashtags:

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Keep it simple and relevant

When choosing a hashtag, avoid long or difficult-to-spell words. Likewise, steer clear of generic or unused phrases. The ideal hashtag is short, simple, and to the point, giving your audience a window into the conversation topic. Relevant hashtags are more likely to be seen, so make sure the hashtag you choose is relevant to your content.

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Know your audience

Knowing who you’re talking to is key when it comes to hashtags. Try to use phrases or words that appeal to your message’s target demographic. This will help ensure that the right people see your content and participate in the conversation. When using hashtags, it’s important to remember that different platforms have different audiences.

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Use popular hashtags sparingly

Using popular hashtags can be beneficial, allowing you to join a larger conversation. However, using them sparingly is important; too many generic or overused hashtags can make your post seem spammy and will likely not get much engagement.

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Keep it consistent

When creating hashtags, use the same hashtag in multiple posts whenever possible. This helps create a clear and recognizable brand identity and makes it easier for people to find related content. Hashtags can be powerful tools for connecting with your audience and promoting your business.

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Research relevant hashtags

Before you post, take a few minutes to research relevant hashtags related to your post. This can help ensure that the right people see your content and join in on the conversation. Industry-specific or niche hashtags are often a great way to reach the right audience. Such hashtags can be found on social media or using hashtag search tools.

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Utilize trending hashtags

Utilizing trending hashtags can help your post reach more people and spark more engagement. When using a trending hashtag, make sure it’s relevant to the content you’re posting; otherwise, you risk coming off as spammy or unauthentic.

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Don’t overuse hashtags

When it comes to hashtags, less is more. Too many hashtags can make your post seem spammy and detract from the overall message. Keep it simple and stick to 3-5 hashtags per post. Using a mix of brand, campaign, trending, and location hashtags is often the most effective way to maximize visibility.

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Monitor your hashtags

After you’ve posted, take a few minutes to monitor the conversations happening around your hashtags. This can give you insight into what people are saying and help inform your next post. Analytics tools are a great way to track your hashtags’ performance. By utilizing these tools, you can better understand what type of content resonates with your audience.

The Bottom Line!

Hashtags are a great way to reach a larger audience and join in on popular conversations. By following these best practices, you can make sure your hashtags are effective and engaging. Just remember, when it comes to hashtags: simple is better!

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