You might have heard the term “hashtag” before, but are unfamiliar with what it really means. What exactly is a hashtag? How does it affect your post on social media? How many hashtags can you use at once?
We’re here to help–keep reading for a basic introduction to hashtags, and how they can help your social media strategy if used effectively!
What is a hashtag?
A hashtag isn’t as complex as you might think. All it is is a word or phrase written out with no spaces and a “#” sign in front. Examples of hashtags include #Dogs, #BestSellingBooks, and #OutOfOffice. Usually, these words or phrases need to relate to your business, organization, or the post in question that you’re adding the hashtag to the caption or comments of.
What do hashtags do?
By using one or a group of hashtags, you mark your post to be grouped in with other posts that feature the same hashtag. For example, if you use #LocalBakery in your Instagram post about your small business, that post will be grouped with other posts that use #LocalBakery. This ideally makes it easier for users to search for posts featuring certain things, which can in turn mean that it is easier for potential customers to find your posts and business information.
How many hashtags can I use on one post?
It depends on the platform–for example, you can use up to 30 hashtags in a single post on Instagram. However, that doesn’t mean every post you create needs 30 hashtags, and sometimes it can be difficult to come up with that many anyways. If you’re just starting out with hashtags, experiment with 2-5 and see which ones seem to be more relevant and effective. Focus on the hashtags that you think will be most popular or attract an audience that is more likely to interact with and be interested in your business. You also might want to consider adding your hashtags at the end of your post or in the comments, as that can keep a post looking cleaner and easier to read.
Which hashtags should I choose?
You might have a great post that is super relevant to a specific hashtag, and that’s wonderful. However, on social media, new posts are being added every day, and search results for hashtags are often organized by how popular the post is or how recently it was posted. Because of this, it can be easy for your post to get overshadowed.
That’s why it is important to use hashtags consistently while switching up the specific ones you use. Aim for an even mixture of using a handful of the same hashtags and adding new ones into the mix with each post. Your regular hashtags should be specific to your business, while your new hashtags could be specific to a certain post. This way, you’re casting a wide net with each post and keeping your posts relevant in the process.
What if a hashtag doesn’t work for me?
You might not hit a home run with every post you upload to social media, but hashtags are a good way to try and reach your target audience and connect to new users. Pay attention to how people respond to your posts in terms of Likes and comments, and adjust your strategies accordingly, including how you use hashtags.
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