The hashtag guide for budding entrepreneurs
How a few words can increase social media engagement
I’m sure you’ve noticed that there is no shortage of social media tips and techniques!
But have you also noticed that most of those tips focus on general information, like how to get more followers or likes, or how to post engaging content to engage your users?
Those resources are important, but I notice that hashtags are sometimes forgotten.
They are rarely mentioned in marketing articles, but they are a great tool for building your brand, raising awareness for marketing campaigns, and engaging/entertaining your audience.
How do hashtags work?
If you’re new to social media, I know it can seem overwhelming.
You may have seen these words with the # in front of them on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. (The hashtag actually started in 2007, when Twitter started using it to index keywords to make them more searchable.)
But what are these words supposed to do? Should you use them? Why are they seemingly random?
I’ve put together this guide to help you understand how to use hashtags (and what the heck they are!) so you can increase engagement and leads on social media.
Think of hashtags as a way to categorize your content.
Ultimately, they help people find and share posts on a specific topic.
When you create your social media post, you take a word or words and put the pound sign (#) in front of it. If you use two words, do not put a space between them. The phrase is now clickable and searchable on the social media platform the user is on.
Choosing the right hashtags
When done correctly, these tags can help you get more exposure for your business and increase social media engagement. But like any social media strategy, you need to do your research and think before you post.
I will make this process easy for you. Here are 7 ways to start choosing the right hashtags:
1. Create them for events.
This is one of the best ways to increase excitement and engagement on your social media accounts. For example, the Cornucopia Wine Festival in Whistler shared many posts on their Twitter and Instagram accounts with the hashtag #Cornucopia2019, as did their followers and attendees.
2. Tag famous people or big brands.
Take a look at the trends on Twitter and try to incorporate them into your posts; but only if it’s relevant. People will know if you’re trying to force it or be fake.
Some examples are major sporting events, record releases by musicians, vacations, and popular books. If someone who is famous in your industry is in the news, they might use that hashtag in one of their posts.
3. Do your research.
Whether you’re researching the latest news for the upcoming Canadian federal election or the hockey playoffs, you can do a tag search to find various posts on the topic.
Searching for tags on social media platforms can be a perfect way to find new ideas and spy on the competition.
A great resource for looking up popular hashtags is https://hashtagify.me/hashtag/tbt
4. Encourage sharing.
The more people share your hashtag and use it in their posts, the more exposure, engagement, and traffic you get.
You may remember the #ShareACoke campaign. The company changed its iconic logo on 20-ounce bottles, replacing it with 250 of the most popular American names.
It was one of their most successful campaigns, leading to a 2% increase in soft drink sales and huge social media engagement, as followers shared cans and bottles with their names on them.
5. Turn a tag into a campaign.
Many users “monitor” certain words, so focusing on one consistently can help you gain followers.
For example, you could create a campaign with multiple posts about a specific product you offer or a Christmas promotion you’re running.
6. Find some weekly post topics.
This is an easy way to link a trending tag to your business.
Some common threads include #throwbackthursday, where people post anything from photos of past vacations to high school graduation photos; and #wisdomwednesday, where they share their advice on all kinds of topics.
I use #MotivationMonday and #TuesdayTip on our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram channels, often mixing in other popular hashtags for optimal exposure.
7. Use humor.
People love to share funny things with others, whether it’s a trendy meme or a relatable story. Here’s a hashtag late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon came up with for people to share: #MyWorstCostume.
By understanding which hashtags will resonate with your target audience, you can access a whole world of people looking for exactly what you’re offering. So start brainstorming and find out how to add some fun and functional tags to your next post!
Do you need help with hashtags? We’ve created an entire social media division for entrepreneurs and small business owners who understand the importance of having a social media strategy but just don’t have the time to make it happen on their own. Let’s connect.
