Most people have heard of hashtags and has a general idea of what they are. However, as a business owner, do you know what they really are, why you should use them, or how to use them? If you are not entirely sure that you are correctly using hash tags in your social media marketing plan, or if you are not using them at all, then keep reading to learn more. You can also contact Webstract at 855-201-5800 for a free consultation to learn more about your options.
What Are Hashtags and What Are Their Benefits?
Hashtags are a word or phrase without spaces that have what was once known as the pound symbol (#) before them. They can be used to give social media users easy access to related content. For example, if a user finds a piece of content they like with a particular hashtag, they can then click on that hashtag on an individual post to find other related posts.
There are benefits to both consumers and businesses. For consumers, they can easily find things they are interested in and once they find something they like, they have an easy way to find more. For a business, it can be a great way to reach people who are seeking out the specific thing you have to offer.
Why and When Should You Use Hashtags?
The why is easy – to connect with current and potential clients and customers. However, it is not as simple as identifying hashtags that people are searching for and then adding said hashtag to your content. You must also be sure that you are creating content the user is interested in. For example, if you see that the hashtag #airshow is trending and you added it to a post about plumbing service, this may momentarily increase the number of people who see your post but it is just as likely that no one who wants info on an airshow wants to read content on plumbing.
For this reason, we suggest using hashtags when they make sense and not to go overboard with them. Think of fun ways to tie your business into hot topics. Use only hashtags that actively apply to your business or product in a meaningful way. Our research shows that using more than two hashtags can actually reduce how well they work. At most, do not use more than ten – even when sites like Instagram allow up to 30.
How to Use Hashtags
Keep them short. If you are creating a hashtag for something with a long title, shorten it with an acronym or abbreviation. Make sure that it is both easy to spell and easy to remember. Once you find one you want to use, make sure that the hashtag is not already in use. The last thing you want is to find that you are using a hashtag for your business that has been used in inappropriate ways by users in the past.