18/02/2023
Hashtags may seem like a small and sometimes irrelevant feature on social media, but that is far from the truth. When you understand where and how to use hashtags effectively, this little tool can greatly benefit your business (or personal account).
While the hashtag was initially popularized on Twitter, it is now an essential tool for social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Whenever a new trend emerges, a community wants to get together, or a group of people wants to spread awareness, that's where hashtags come into play and can make a huge impact on social media. A great example of this is the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014. The challenge was simple and straightforward – it involved dumping a bucket of ice water over one's own head or somebody else's to promote awareness and support ALS research. The peak of the challenge was between July 29th and August 21st, 2014, and in that short period of time, the social media community helped raise more than $41.8 million. This is just one of many examples of topics that have been hugely impacted by hashtags.
Let's talk about the Golden Rules of Hashtag:
• Don't overdo it: The recommended minimum number of hashtags by social media experts is between 15-20, but no more than 30; anything more than that won't be seen by users.
• Use a mixture of hashtags: Use different sizes of hashtags (big, medium, and small). A big hashtag would classify anything with more than 1 million posts, but avoid using hashtags that have more than 1 million posts, as the chances of getting recognition from them are slim. A medium-sized hashtag would be between 80k – 300k posts, and a small hashtag would be anything below 50k. It's important to use small hashtags because they will get you recognized in the long run as people will be able to scroll through the hashtag page and find your posts more easily.
• Analyse, analyse, and once more, analyse! You have to check the performance of the hashtags you have used. The same rule applies for cars. If your car is not performing as it should, you will analyse and try to find the issue yourself, and if you can't find it, that's where mechanics come into place. And the same goes for hashtags; that's where we come in.
To summarize everything, we've spoken about, hashtags can do great things. You can build awareness, build community, find your target audience for your business, and even find like-minded people who share the same aspirations as yourself. Just keep in mind that sometimes, less is more.
If you have any queries, want to start your online journey, or need help managing your online business, why not drop us a message? Our support team will be happy to answer any questions and lead you in the right direction.
