Getting the hang of hashtags on social media can feel a bit like cracking a code. But once you do, you’ve unlocked a treasure trove of benefits. Basically, hashtags are like virtual magnets that bring together conversations and content on specific topics, making it easier for people to find what they’re interested in.
While you can use hashtags on almost any social media platform, they’re most popular on Instagram. If you’re using social media to promote your brand, you definitely want to use hashtags in your social posts. They can really boost your brand’s visibility and engagement. But it’s not just about putting #ThrowbackThursday posts on Instagram—you’ve got to use them effectively to see real results.
But, First The Basics: What Are Hashtags?
A hashtag is the “#” symbol on your keyboard, originally used for numbers. But in 2007, a web marketing specialist named Chris Messina suggested Twitter use it to group related Tweets together since their message length was so short. This idea caught on, and hashtags became a way to connect social media content to specific topics, events, or conversations. They’re not just for X/Twitter anymore—hashtags work on other social media platforms, too.
A Few of Our Best Hashtag hints:
- Start with # but don’t use spaces, punctuation, or symbols. If you use capital letters at the start of each word, they are easier for text-to-speech apps to recognize.
- Be sure your accounts are public so people can discover your content.
- Shorter is better, don’t add too many words to your hashtag.
- Make sure your hashtag makes sense for your business and is relevant to the post you’re publishing.
- Don’t overdo it. Too many hashtags can turn people off and can confuse algorithms.
Why Should You Use Hashtags In Your Posts?
Hashtags are a great way to connect with people who share your interests. For instance, if you own a small business, you can use hashtags to promote your products. You can also use hashtags to support a cause or talk about different topics. They’re also handy for staying up to date on trends and news. So, using hashtags in your social media strategy is a smart move for many reasons. Think of hashtags as the keywords you would search for on Google when looking for information about something.
They increase your engagement: Hashtags let you join ongoing conversations on social media, making your posts visible and leading to more likes, shares, comments, and followers.
They help build awareness for your brand: Creating a branded hashtag, like your company name or tagline, can promote your business and drive conversations about it.
They add context: With limited space for captions on platforms like X/Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram, hashtags offer a concise way to explain your content without using up precious characters.
They make it easy for people to discover you: People on most social media sites can follow hashtags, helping them discover content they’re interested in. Using popular hashtags can attract new followers to your business as long as they’re not too generic.
They help promote partnerships: When collaborating with other brands, sponsors, venues, or influencers, hashtags help cross-promote your project or event by increasing visibility and attracting followers through your partnerships.
Can Hashtags Increase The Reach Of Your Social Media Posts?
Using hashtags makes your posts visible to people searching for that specific hashtag. For instance, if you’re a marketing agency and use #MarketingAgency, someone looking for your services might find your post. To reach more people through your social media pages, use relevant hashtags related to your business. Research popular hashtags in your industry by looking at what your competitors are using and start adding them to your posts. But don’t go overboard—using too many hashtags can actually lower your reach, and be flagged as spam on some platforms.
Should You Use Hashtags On All Your Social Media Accounts?
Every popular social media platform uses hashtags as a way of increasing engagement and boosting content. However, you should use hashtags strategically by choosing the right ones for the different audiences associated with each social media site and using the optimum number of hashtags that they recommend. Here’s a quick guideline:
Facebook – 2-3 hashtags are recommended for Facebook posts. They should also be used in posts to private groups to highlight different topics
Instagram – you can use up to 30 hashtags, but Instagram suggests 3-5 for your captions for each post or reel. You can also include them in stories but they are not tracked in a hashtag search.
LinkedIn – use between 1-5 hashtags but be sure they are related to your business. However, LinkedIn is shifting away from using hashtags so fewer is better.
X (Twitter) – use 1-2 hashtags anywhere in your Tweets, just remember they will be part of your character count. You can also add them in comments when you Retweet or reply.
TikTok – using 3-5 hashtags in TikTok captions is ideal but, like X, they will be part of your character count. Niche and trending hashtags do well on TikTok (you can view them on the Discover page).
YouTube – 3-5 hashtags in the video title or description will help people find your videos related to other content on the platform. The absolute maximum for YouTube is 15, otherwise, your video could be flagged as spam.
Pinterest – using 2-5 in your Pin description, or when repinning, will allow your posts to show up in search results. However, you should never use more than 20.
Do Hashtags Work And Are They Still Relevant?
The short answer is yes but not all on their own. Good engagement comes from great content, not the hashtags you use. Using relevant keywords in your caption means your content will appear higher in searches and show up in places outside of the social media platform you’re posting on. But, even though your posts perform better when you use keywords, hashtags still increase engagement. Using both methods strategically in your captions and comments will get you the best results.
How Do You Find The Right Hashtags To Us On Your Social Media?
There are several ways to find relevant hashtags for your social media posts. Most social media platforms have a search tool or explore page, where you can find hashtags. Type in your keywords and most of them will start to automatically suggest hashtag options. Also, clicking on the hashtags will show you related posts and metrics on most platforms.
You can start by reviewing your own hashtags to see which ones performed best in the past. You can also discover relevant hashtags by reviewing the social media pages of your competition or influencers in your field. If you’re willing to invest a few dollars in hashtag research, there are many hashtag generating tools and social media listening apps available that will help you find the perfect hashtags and track their results.
Are you ready to up your hashtag game but don’t really have the time to do all the research involved to make them work for you? That’s where we come in! The experts at 3SIXTY Marketing take the time to analyze and optimize on an ongoing basis so that your social media posts and hashtags always engage your audience. Give us a call at 647-250-1494, or book a free consultation and we can talk about your social media goals. We’ll create a social media strategy that boosts your business.
