Understanding Your Hashtags
You know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand words, but a hashtag can connect you to millions of people! When I'm looking at a potential client's page, one thing that jumps out immediately is their use (or lack thereof) of hashtags.
Although sources may vary, according to Instagram, hashtags remain crucial for expanding your reach and connecting with new audiences. Simply put, hashtags serve to label and categorize content, as well as to connect it with the right audience. By using hashtags, you enable Instagram to share your content with a relevant audience actively seeking it.
But, with great hashtag power comes great hashtag responsibility - so, let's break down the best practices for using hashtags on various social media platforms:
When incorporating hashtags, you can seamlessly integrate them into your text (e.g., "Today I got #coffee at the shop by my house") or place them at the end of your caption, separate from the main content. While Instagram permits up to 30 hashtags, it's advisable to use only 3-5 relevant ones. It is crucial to choose them wisely.
So, how do you select the perfect hashtags for your Instagram post? Think about your target audience and what keywords they would search for. For example, if you're a social media manager based in New Jersey, like me, you could use hashtags like:
Industry - #Marketing #Branding #BrandStyling
Audience - #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #BusinessOwner
Community - #SocialMediaManager #SMM #BrandStylist
Content - #HashtagTips #InstagramHowTo #MarketingTip
Location - #NewJersey #NJSocialMediaManager #NJ
While using the most popular or trending hashtags may seem appealing, especially for small businesses, it may not always be the best approach. Trending hashtags can present a significant challenge to gaining visibility. Consider what hashtags your ideal client would be searching for and put yourself in their shoes.
LinkedIn may be a professional network, but that doesn't mean you should shy away from hashtags! In the last two years, LinkedIn has increasingly emphasized the use of hashtags. To enhance discoverability, it is recommended to limit your hashtags to 5 per post.
One notable difference is that while Instagram's approach to hashtags is more flexible, on LinkedIn, you should focus on using more service-based or industry-specific hashtags to maximize impact. You can also include hashtags throughout your profile to improve visibility.
To choose the right hashtags for LinkedIn, think about what people in your industry would be searching for. For example, as a branding expert, your hashtags could include #Branding, #MarketingStrategy, and #BusinessGrowth.
TikTok
TikTok is all about fun, engaging content, and using hashtags strategically is an excellent way to increase your visibility. We recommend using 4-6 descriptive hashtags per post to hone in on what your content is all about.
To increase the chances of being discovered by new followers, it's a good idea to use less popular hashtags rather than trending ones. Look for hashtags with less than 1 million views—these indicate relevance without oversaturation.
For TikTok, you can be more creative and specific with your hashtags. Include 1-2 industry-related hashtags and focus on video-specific ones. For example, if your video is about being confident on social media, your hashtags could lean towards #beingconfidentonline #selfimprovement #easymarketingtip. Remember, your hashtag choices can make or break your TikTok's performance, so choose wisely!
In conclusion, don't underestimate the power of a few well-curated hashtags. By choosing the right ones for each social media platform, you can expand your reach, grow your audience, and boost engagement. The more you use hashtags, the easier it becomes to come up with relevant ones. Additionally, there are numerous sources for trending hashtags in your industry if you search online.
Hopefully, this guide helps you on your social media journey!
