How To Use Hashtags Like A Boss
- Lisa Hoover
- Apr 9, 2015
- 3 min read
I bet you’ve done it.
Looked at a simple post that received hundreds of likes and shares and thought, “How did they do that?”
You’ve created content just as witty, just as articulate, but maybe only got a couple of shares and a like or two.
So how did they do it? How did they manage to make their post popular?
Most likely - they knew how to utilize the power of #hashtags.
We’ll admit – navigating hashtags is hard! (Heck – sometimes even reading them isn’t easy! (#EspeciallyWhenReadingALongStringOfWordsLikeThis)
So how do you make the most out of this fundamental necessity? Step one is making sure you are using them properly for each of your platforms.
That’s correct. Each platform likes to make it’s own rules for how it will make use of your hashtags - and instead of letting you type aimlessly into the cyber abyss, we thought we would create a quick little etiquette guide to point you in the right direction.
We’re going to start from a position of assuming you know the fundamental basics of what a hashtag is. Meaning, you understand there is a single word or string of words preceded by a #, and placed in your social media post to help your content show up in search results.
If you feel like you need a basic refresher click here.
If not, let’s get started.
Use #hashtags within your posts but cap them at 3. Too many and they start to look like spam. Be specific and do your research! Most industries have their own hashtag and knowing them could result in more traction.
Hashtags are new for Facebook. Like, 2013 new. So the practice is still picking up steam, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t helpful! Short and sweet is best here. No more than 2-3 per post.
Hashtags here cover everything from brands (think #starbucks) to lifestyle (#travel) to days of the week (#flashbackfriday). Use a combination of brand specific tags, humorous tags, and top trending tags for maximum exposure. Instagram is all about hashtags – so have fun with them, but try not to exceed more than 10.
*A little helpful tip, unlike Twitter, you want to use your hashtags in a separate comment under you initial caption. It’s easier to read and will get much more engagement as opposed to using hashtags directly in your post.
This is another platform to research your industry specific tags. Keep the count to 5 or less or we’ll have to lecture you about spam again. Though hashtags are beneficial, repining and being active will help you become more visible as well.
Google +
The use of hashtags here, work differently than all the others. You want to use them like SEO keywords. Be very specific. Instead of curating content with a specific tag, Google explores the topic. So if you searched #easyrecipes you might find relating posts about health and wellness. Keep this in mind when you are coming up with your own. Focus on the key words that people might use when searching for your company in Google – and use those as your hashtags.
Before we leave you - we want to stress the importance of doing your research. Most industries have their own #hashtag and we advise spending some time searching, investigating, and figuring out how your customers use hashtags and how to properly use them within your specific industry.
Don’t know where to start? You could use a helpful research site like this.
Still too overwhelming? We can do it for you.
The Moxie Team
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