What’s the Deal with Hashtags?
Using the Right Hashtags on Instagram and Why Hashtags make life easier…
Imagine this scenario: You go into a very large store to look for a toothbrush. The store has no signs, and an employee informs you that the toothbrushes are scattered throughout the entire building. You spend hours wandering through the massive aisles, looking at everything but toothbrushes. You waste a lot of time and energy, and you leave empty handed.
Next, you go into a new store. This store is just as large, with just as many toothbrushes to choose from, but there is a BIG difference. The employee points you in the direction of the toothbrush section, where a large sign reads, “#Toothbrushes.”
Hashtags defined.
Enter the hashtag. Merriam-Webster defines a hashtag as, “a word or phrase preceded by the symbol # that classifies or categorizes the accompanying text.” The internet is a very large place, and it can take a long time to find the things you are looking for if they aren’t organized.
When you place the “#” symbol in front of a word it becomes a clickable link that leads to a page with posts using the same hashtag. For example, if you create a post about prepping your house for sale and use the hashtag “#stagingtosell,” it creates a link to a page with similar posts of pictures and content regarding home staging.
Using Hashtags as a strategy on Instagram.
If you use Instagram as a tool to increase exposure for your business, then you definitely need to recognize the importance of hashtags in your strategy. Just using a hashtag generates 12.6% more engagement with your post. It can also help you increase your potential customer base because people who are following a hashtag from another post can stumble upon yours.
How to select the right Hashtags.
When you use hashtags on Instagram, you want to make sure you choose the best ones. So, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Don’t Take Them for Granted – Hashtags are pretty simple to use, you add a # symbol and you’re done. This doesn’t mean you should just add #s anywhere and everywhere. You need to do your due diligence when selecting a hashtag and make sure you do not lead your audience to a page that includes a lot of inappropriate or irrelevant content.
Know the Logistics – Use letters and numbers in your hashtags. Special characters, spaces and other symbols will not work. Keep it simple. You can use hashtag tracking tools to see which are getting the most traffic. Check out some free tools here, but make sure that your hashtag is pertinent and filtered toward your business.
Get Inspired – Check out your competitors. See what hashtags they use and which ones seem to work well. You never want to copy, but there is nothing wrong with scoping out the competition, and others that are relevant in your field of business, to get some ideas.
Beware the Banned – There are hashtags that have been banned from Instagram. If you use too many, besides your content not showing up, your account will receive multiple flags and could be removed. So do a search first. If the hashtag you want to use leads you to a message that says posts are “currently hidden,” then it’s banned. There are tools you can use, like Tailwind Hashtag Finder for Instagram, which will never suggest a banned hashtag in its results, but these tools usually charge a fee.
The ultimate goal of a hashtag should be to guide people to relevant posts in order for them to learn more about your business. If used properly, a hashtag becomes a powerful marketing tool. If you need assistance with using hashtags on Instagram, check out Instagram’s Help Center.
For even more tips on using Instagram to grow your customer base and expand your business, check out our other blogs at CindyBishopTraining.com.