Are you using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn for your brand’s social media strategy? Whichever social media platforms you’re currently using, understanding how to properly and efficiently use hashtags will surely help increase your reach and engagement as they make your content more discoverable to a wider audience
Most commonly known as the pound sign (#), hashtags first gained popularity on Twitter. Given their ability to gain views, likes and retweets, users have also thought of using them on other social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and now on TikTok. Leveraging the power of hashtags allows you to make meaningful engagement with your audience at no cost other than the time needed to do the necessary research.
If you’re unsure about how to properly use hashtags, consider this article as your guide.
What is a Hashtag?
A hashtag refers to any word or phrases preceded by a pound symbol (#) and is spelled out without spaces. It serves as an indication to both the users and algorithms that a certain post on social media is related to a specific topic or category. Thus, making the content discoverable and ultimately, reach more users.
What are the Benefits of Using a Hashtag?
Build brand awareness
By creating branded hashtags, building brand awareness can be made easier. When a user searches for your brand, they’ll find the relevant hashtags you’re using. On the other hand, when they search for a specific hashtag, they’ll see your branded posts in the search result. In most cases, this results in gaining new followers and potential customers.
Increase social media engagements
Alongside making your posts visible, the use of hashtags also helps you find and join conversations happening on various social media platforms. This can result in an increase in social media engagement through likes, comments and shares.
Support social issues
Using a hashtag can also open doors of opportunities for your business. For starters, it will allow you to show support on various social issues, giving your brand the chance to create a positive impact on local and global communities.
How to Use Hashtags on Social Media
According to Buffer, tweets with hashtags get 2x more engagement compared to fweets without hashtags. It is best to test hashtag effectiveness as hashtags tend to be more popular in singular or plural forms.
Trying to get more exposure for your Facebook post? The use of hashtags can be of great help. Facebook hashtags are known to boost organic reach. However, it is important to avoid using too much hashtags. Make sure to use only one or two hashtags per post.
Reposting your older Facebook posts and adding in relevant hashtags is also a great idea. Not only it uses content that has already proved its efficiency in terms of resonating with your audience, it can also attract new viewers that might be interested in your content.
Unlike on Facebook where the use of hashtags is only limited to one or two, Instagram allows its users to use up to ten relevant hashtags for Instagram Stories. This will enable you to reach as wide an audience as possible.
On a regular Instagram post, you can use up to 30 relevant hashtags depending on your preference.
Use the search box to find out the list of hashtags your competitors or other influencers are using.
While LinkedIn doesn’t allow users to put clickable link on the body of the articles, you can still use hashtags and add them on the body of your posts. You can use one to three hashtags which can be added by clicking the ‘Add’ button under ‘Hashtags’.
By using hashtags on LinkedIn, you can put your post in front of people outside your network. Thus, driving up your post engagement.
Become a Social Media Marketing Superstar by Using Powerful Hashtags
Whether you’re a newbie or a social media expert, the use of relevant hashtags on various social media platforms can be of great help. Allow us to help you navigate Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Contact us at (65) 8687 8143 or send us an email at hello@smmile.com for more details.
Chris Anne
Smmile is a Digital Marketing Agency in Singapore with over 10 years of experience in the industry.