It’s easy to get overwhelmed with hashtags and just throw in the towel because hashtags exist for just about anything. Once you learn your way around, it can actually be tons of fun. Hashtag tips are abundant which is why I’ve narrowed them down for you to my top three favs.
Own it
Create your own hashtag ‘hub’.
You’ll discover many hashtag tips and tricks in social media. First of all, a “hashtag hub” provides a place or address for a community base to come back to. My hashtag hub is #VPSCONNECT. Instagram now allows people to follow hashtags and popular posts using that hashtag will then show up in their personal feeds. Let’s say one of the hashtags you use in a post is the same hashtag that someone follows. Then, they can potentially see your content on their feed without even being one of your current followers. This is why it should be the most prominent hashtag that you use. After all, persistence is gold if your aim is to build brand awareness. Followers will then begin associating the hashtag with you and your business.
Location. Location. Location.
Use hashtag locations (cities, neighborhoods, businesses) you want to be seen in.
Geotags are location tags added to Instagram photos. There is a difference, however, between geotagging your location and using a #locationhashtag. For instance, if your business is based in New York and you want to attract locals, you can try using hashtags for specific neighborhoods you may want to reach (e.g., #SoHo, #WestVillage, #UpperEastSide). Although, if the objective is to reach communities that lie outside of your home base because you want them to visit, you might want to use #locationhashtags, which can be used from anywhere! Are you looking to target bakeries in Sacremento? Try #bakersofsacremento. In summary, the more specific your hashtags are, the better.
Most importantly, always do your research.
Community
Target groups, organizations or lifestyle categories you want to network with (music genre, sports, art).
The internet has become the epicenter for human “connection” as well as a popular and effective place to advocate and advertise for specific causes. Community hashtagging can be as simple as adding #givingback to a post that speaks to a volunteer initiative you are a part of. As with all hashtagging, it is best to be specific. For example, if you are posting about your knitting club, try tagging #yarnlovers or #momswhoknit. Be sure to find a community that you can relate to and target that community directly so that you can become known in that niche.
