What is a Hashtag?
A hashtag is a word or phrase that is preceded by the hash sign (#). Their key use is to highlight content on a specific topic on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. The writer of the content uses a popular and related hashtag to reach an audience of listeners or to grow their audience around a topic, whilst the viewer of the content can use the hashtag to find other conversations about that same topic.
In 2007 the first hashtag was used on the Twitter platform and by 2009, virtually every social media channel was using them in some way. Although today, typically Facebook doesn’t require them.
When incorporating them into a business marketing plan, they can be an effective option to generate attention. Platforms like Instagram produces plenty of brand benefits for businesses through the use of hashtags. This resource delivers an extra call-to-action phrase and search option to create B2B or B2C interactions. Almost any term or phrase can be turned into a hashtag, making it a highly personal option to use on social media and today many brands create their own.
How to use Hashtags on Instagram
If you’re not finding effective terms to use for your social media posts, hashtag generators for Instagram can deliver new ideas. Think of them as a thinking prompt that lets you personalise each post in meaningful ways.
Whether you’ve used a generator or created hashtags on your own, these best practices work hard to provide the best return possible with this asset.
1. Know how many hashtags on Instagram you can use
When creating a post for Instagram, it’s important to remember the platform allows up to 30 hashtags per message. Although you can post that many, it’s not always necessary to do so. The sweet spot for most businesses is about a dozen per post.
It also helps to limit your use of them to about two posts per hour if you’re putting ten or more hashtags into each content offering. In most cases, honestly, you wouldn’t be posting that much on Instagram, as the platform really doesn’t have the same attitude to constant posts, in the same way that Twitter might.
2. Understand what an existing hashtag means before using it
You wouldn’t put controversial or offensive content in an Instagram profile because doing so drives people away and puts a brand in a negative light. That same approach must be used when including existing hashtags on this social media platform with your posts.
The information included with a hashtag for business purposes shouldn’t have demeaning, controversial, or offensive undertones.
3. Use local hashtags for community awareness
When you want to get more reach for your business locally, hashtags are an excellent option to consider. Many local customers use Instagram to connect with their local communities. If your business can tap into that audience, it will create more opportunities to show the value your products or services offer.
If you’re unsure what hashtags work well, consider switching to an Instagram business profile. You’ll have access to post insights that show you impressions metrics. That way, you can refine your messaging to connect in more efficient ways.
4. Avoid using repetitive hashtags
It’s tempting to copy and paste a long hashtag line into each post. Although it saves time, it’s also against the platform’s community guidelines. Algorithm penalties can happen if shadowbans are introduced.
5. Place hashtags on Instagram stories
Hashtag pages have a Stories icon at the top left corner. When you click on it, a collection of tagged posts from people with public profiles becomes accessible. That means your business has more opportunities to get found. You can add them as a sticker or the text tool to type it out the way you would for videos or photos.
A simple hashtag is a valuable asset that costs virtually nothing to implement. If you’re having trouble finding some that reflect your values, hashtag generators for Instagram can deliver the results you need to promote business growth.
How to use Hashtags on Twitter
Back to where hashtags started, Twitter still provides us with an equally interesting way to search and reach new audiences based on the topic using hashtags. There are many hashtag generators out there that are free to use, but some of the best (arguably) may be found in paid versions of social media schedulers.
If you would like to make use of this asset more on Twitter, then here is a quick guide to best practices.
1. Use just 2 relevant hashtags at a time
Since the use of hashtags began it has always been tempting to post (just as you would on Instagram) as many as you can fit into a tweet. On Twitter this can come across as spam, leaving your sentiment feeling vacuous. In fact, Twitter states in their terms of use that only two hashtags per tweet is recommended.
Two topic related hashtags used natively within the context of your content, or at the end (separated by a line) works better.
2. Use hashtag phrases that are just a few words long
Complicated and long-winded hashtags are often ignored. They are hard to read, almost impossible to retype correctly and so specific that they often can’t be used again without losing the base of conversational context.
A great example here is #freebritney. It is short, sweet and clearly shows the reader what your conversation topic is about. In this particular instance, because the hashtag was simple to follow and use, it trended quickly on Twitter, bringing this important conversation to a much wider audience, moreover the exclusivity of the Britney fanbase. Arguably helping the cause raise awareness within the public domain.
3. Remember not every tweet needs a hashtag
Hashtags aren’t a necessary part of every tweet you broadcast. In my experience, most tweets do not require them, even on branded accounts. Where you should be using them is on specific content pieces where you wish to broaden the conversation and specifically target, or reach new people.
4. Learn how your audience uses Twitter and balance hashtag use
One of the things we often forget, as marketers, is that understanding how our audience uses the social media platform we wish to market to them on is vital for successful content data. If your audience is on Twitter and rarely uses hashtags, then it is likely they interact with accounts that use fewer hashtags, or sporadically pepper them into their day. Finding the right balance for your content plan will always reap more rewards for you.
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