Hashtags are a vital component of your social media strategy. So how do you best use them across all your social platforms?

Like everything, hashtags take research, optimising and continued monitoring. Familiarise yourself with your industry related hashtags and then niche them down. For example, this could be #hairdresser to #hairdressergoldcoast. If you’re a brick and mortar business, it’s vital that you’re using hashtags that will reflect your local area.

Best practices for hashtags are to follow your relevant industry-related hashtags, and this is where your research comes in. Stalk your competitors, and find out what is your industry standard and consider what to include to help you stand out online.

Don’t directly copy your competitors, but do your due diligence see what others in your industry are using. Follow these hashtags so you can see what is popular, trending and what isn’t.

Categorise your content, find content about a specific product, and stalk other hashtags that fall under this category. Make sure you follow these hashtags also.

Don’t forget you can search for hashtags in the search bar.

Some good practices are to remember is write hashtags as one word, and with Capitals like #SocialMedia and NOT #socialmedia.

What is important to note, is that each social media platform has its own specific preferences and ‘rules’ which need to be respected to gain the best possible result.

What’s your Intention?

Consider what is the purpose or intention of you being on social media for your business? What is the purpose of you using hashtags?

Is it to follow and join conversations, to add your content to conversations to be recognised, or so you can be found by your ideal clients searching those hashtags.

Let’s talk about Instagram

When posting to Instagram I recommend you use the 7, 7, 7 methods. Use 7 popular, 7 niches and 7 unique to your business. It’s a good idea to use hashtags with over 10,000 uses but under 300,000, otherwise, you’ll just get lost in a sea of content, and the whole idea is to stand out and be found. When searching hashtags on Instagram, the most trending ones will appear. However, using these alone will leave you lost.

Try using hashtags which include your non-negotiables. Example, Include your Point Of Difference, location, niche and specific service.

Another little tip for Instagram reach and growth is to NOT forget to use your @ symbol for tagging others.

What about LinkedIn?

The best way to use hashtags on LinkedIn, is by using 3 to 5 searchable hashtags, don’t forget to pin your hashtags for quick access. You can also use your communities to discover new and relevant hashtags to follow.

Do you use Twitter?

Twitter and Linkedin both allow for shorter, more topic-based content. In fact, you can link your Linkedin to post to Twitter. Their preference is less social but should include topical and relevant content which highlights valuable information. Twitter also prefers 3 to 5 ‘topic-based’ hashtags which are less niche or trendy.

Facebook is like Google!

Facebook is like Google! It doesn’t need hashtags to search. Unless you’re using it to include your personal hashtag (like #ChantalSaid), then it isn’t necessary. Please note though that Group admins may use hashtags in Facebook groups as a way of controlling which content goes on which day.

Once again, remember to respect each platforms preferences.

Personalise your hashtag!

You may wish to choose one unique hashtag to use, across all your social media, to curate all your content. Select a unique hashtag to you and your business, which is NOT POPULAR. Search for less popular hashtags in the search bars of each of the social media platforms and choose one to represent you and your business. Search my unique hashtag as an example #ChantalSaid

Regardless of which platform you choose, it is vital that you have an overall strategy, along with a content strategy and sales funnel, which will help you achieve a ‘paying’ result. You should not WASTE ANY OF YOUR TIME on unnecessary social media channels which do not generate results. Keep an eye on your analytics or insights, and be sure to either optimise your marketing or, in some cases, it is better for your brand to delete unprofessional or incomplete accounts (as they may actually be causing your business more harm than good).

Sometimes it takes working with a coach to get your strategy right.

Still have questions? Feel free to book a call.