The hashtag - specifically on Instagram.
Some of us know it as the number sign, or the pound key, or maybe because it reminds you of waffles! Yummm, waffles 😋.
But on a more serious note, those on social media know the hashtag are a great way to:
Build your company’s brand
Boost your marketing campaign
Keep in touch with your audience.
Hashtags span all industries and topics, and there are literally millions to choose from and compete with. So how do you know which hashtags to use?
Hashtags are one of the best ways to get your posts noticed and grow your audience organically. Consumers search hashtags of products and information they’re interested in and follow those who meet their needs.
Marketers are well aware of the hashtag phenomenon and sometimes resort to stuffing 20+ hashtags into a single post with the hopes of getting more visibility for their product. Well, I hate to tell you this, but there is a strategy behind it, just like every great marketing plan! 😉
The bots on Instagram have now taken to shadow banning when they feel an account is abusing or misrepresenting a certain hashtag. Shadow banning is when posts from your account stop showing up in searches for specific hashtags on Instagram.
It can happen for a few reasons, but one of the most common is overusing the same hashtag in multiple posts. So with that in mind, please make sure you are not overusing or copy and pasting the same hashtags over to the new post that you have created.
Instagram allows you to include 30 hashtags on any given post and if you are going to use all of them, use the triangle tier and post 10 to each hierarchy. Again, we want to stress, each post you create should have a strategy to it.
So if you use all 30, be sure you mix them into each tier above and analyze the numbers. BUT if you're using less than 24 hashtags, use them correctly.
Keep this in mind:
Hashtags below 5,000 won't give you the reach you desire
Hashtags above 500,000 are too poplar, and will be lost by others
To maximize your reach, be sure to add all hashtags in your comments and make sure you track each post, while keeping your Instagram KPIs (Key performance indicators) in mind.
In summary, think of this process when you start working with hashtags:
1) What Instagram hashtags is your target audience using? - Be niche specific
2) What hashtags are your competitors using?
3) Keep an eye on hashtag trends and social media holidays.
4) Follow Instagram hashtags - Follow any hashtag by clicking the blue follow button at the top of any hashtag collection. This Lets you keep an eye on all those great hashtags you can tap into!
5) Review the triangle tier and post 10 to each hierarchy!
6) Track, Analyze and Track! - Pro Tip: write those hashtags down and keep your Instagram KPIs (Key performance indicators) in mind.
As you can see above, there is a lot of logic to hashtags in the land on Instagram! But before we go, we wanted to quickly sum up the other Social Media Platforms for you as well.
Using Hashtags on Twitter
Hashtags can be included anywhere in a Tweet and it is recommend to use one for the best engagement.
Using Hashtags on Facebook
On Facebook, it’s important not to use too many hashtags. Usually, it’s recommended to only use one or two on this platform. Using too many hashtags within your posts on Facebook is found to look unprofessional.
Using Hashtags on LinkedIn
One to three hashtags are usually recommended for LinkedIn, and more importantly try adding the hashtags within the body of your article.
Using Hashtags on Pinterest
Add a few relevant hashtags to help people find your content in the Pin description.Pinterest recommends no more than 20 hashtags per post.
The bottom-line for each Social Media platform is have a stagey in place and keep in mind your target audience. Use specific hashtags that will attract the targeted audience you are targeting and use relevant hashtags.