Even if you are not sure what Hashtags are for, you have most probably seen them as they have become commonplace on various social media platforms including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
What is a Hashtag?
A Hashtag is a word, phrase or a group of words preceded by the (#) hash sign. An example would be #socialmediamarketing.
Hashtags may look simple but using them strategically is a major key in building the reach of your product or service.
Hashtags can expand the reach of your content so your target audience can find you, give more exposure to your brand when your #hashtag is used and even enable you find your target audience using their own #hashtags.
Let’s now look at the different types of Hashtags and How you too can begin to use them to Grow your Business on Instagram:
- Brand Specific Hashtags
If you already have a brand or a company, then you should create a hashtag that reflects the name so that it gets locked in or permanently linked with your brand name, for example #Coca-Cola #StarBucks
- Unique Hashtags
You can also create a unique hashtag for a Product or Service you carry, so people can find your product when they search for it and also recognise your product once they see the hashtag, for example, for my Online Instagram Business Growth Course, I created the hashtag #InstaBizGrowth
- Defining Hashtag
You should also use Hashtags that Define your Business so that it is easy for your target audience to find you on Instagram when they search for the type of Product or Service you offer, for example, #InstagramMarketing #MakeUpArtist #CleaningService
You can make use of up to 30 Hashtags per post on Instagram but statistics state that the number of hashtags to use on Instagram that gets the best engagement with your audience is 11.
- Signature Hashtags
You can also create a unique signature hashtag for your Business, for example, Nike’s #JustDoIt. This further enhances your reach on Instagram and your target audience also begin to associate that signature hashtag with your brand.
- Campaign Specific Hashtags
A campaign-specific hashtag can be really beneficial if you have a promotion going on, such a sale. It can be a word or a group of words that define the event, for example #LucysBagSale
A simple search on google lets you know if you have any competition on the hashtag and you can simply come up with a new one that is unique if the hashtag is already taken.
- Contest Hashtags
A popular way to grow your following on Instagram is to hold a contest where you give away something relevant and that is of value (a prize) to whoever wins the contest you are holding.
The prize will be given as a result of an action or actions your audience take such as following you on Instagram, liking your posts and tagging their friends in your post. You can then choose 1 or more winners based on your own rules.
Using Hashtags while holding this kind of contest will give your contest even more exposure as participants use this contests in their posts, comments on your post or even when tagging their friends.
It is a good idea to ensure that participants use your contest hashtag by making entry into the contest only possible only if they use the hashtag you have stated, for example, #InstaBizGrowthGiveAway
- Trending Hashtags
Trending simply means “what people are talking about” and you can leverage on these types of hashtags to gain even more followers. For example, on Thursdays, a popular hashtags are #tbt #Throwback #ThrowbackThursday
You can also use celebratory day hashtags such as #MothersDay #FathersDay
Just be sure to upload pictures that are relevant to the hashtag.
- Spammy and Irrelevant Hashtags
Though trending Hashtags are great for volumising your business-reach, using too many hashtags may be seen as spam by your target audience so be sure to get the balance right. As I metioned earlier, you can use up to 30 hashtags per post on Instagram but statistics currently state that 11 hashtags per post are the best to use.
Also, even though some hashtags are popular on Instagram, if they are not relevant to your business and you use them, they will not attract your ideal audience but attract spammers, some examples of these hashtags include #Instagood #love #me #follow #igers
Hashtags.org and Hashtagify.me are good places to find hashtags that are trending and relevant to your business.
- Monitoring your Hashtags
It is a good idea to track and monitor the hashtags you are using on Instagram so that you can adjust them as necessary. There are a number of tools available to do this including Iconosquare, Tag Sleuth, Piquora, Simply Measured and Curalate.
- Event & Content-Specific Hashtags
You can also use Hashtags that are specific to a post. For example, Hashtags for an event you are attending, #WomensBizSummit or a Location you are at, #DeliciousRestaurant .
So get Hashtagging and Growing your Business on Instagram!
If you have any questions on using Hashtags on Instagram or any other Social Media Marketing questions, simply reply to this email or email me at Tobi@TobiAwoyemi.com
Have you watched the replay of my FREE Instagram Training Webinar where I taught “7 Simple Instagram Strategies to Grow Your Business with Instagram even if you have only 15 minutes a day!
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