When it comes to engaging followers on social media, hashtags aren’t always at the top of a business’s priority list. The plethora of hashtags available can be overwhelming for many small business owners. If you’ve been nervous to start, there’s no better time than now. Learn about the purpose of hashtags in social media and how to find the best hashtags for your business with these tried-and-true strategies.
[bctt tweet=”Hashtags can be used to help you find new followers, but do you know which words to use?” via=”no”]
What is the Purpose of a #Hashtag?
The purpose of a hashtag is multifaceted and dynamic, playing a pivotal role in modern digital communication and social media engagement. Essentially, a hashtag serves as a metadata tag prefixed with the “#” symbol, allowing users to categorize content and facilitate its discoverability across various platforms. If you see a word starting with #, there will be a hyperlink that links to the collection of posts tagged with that specific hashtag.
Here’s a breakdown of the primary purposes of hashtags:
- Content Categorization: Hashtags enable users to categorize their posts based on relevant topics, themes, or keywords. By including specific hashtags within their content, individuals can organize their posts into distinct categories, making it easier for others to find and engage with related content.
- Enhanced Visibility: One of the fundamental purposes of hashtags is to increase the visibility of posts within social media platforms. When users search for or click on a particular hashtag, they are presented with a stream of posts that have been tagged with the same hashtag. This enhances the discoverability of content and expands its reach to a broader audience beyond just the user’s followers.
- Community Building: Hashtags play a crucial role in fostering communities and facilitating conversations around shared interests or topics. Users can join existing hashtag communities or create their own, allowing like-minded individuals to connect, interact, and engage in discussions on specific subjects.
- Campaigns and Movements: Hashtags are frequently utilized in marketing campaigns, social movements, and advocacy efforts to rally support, raise awareness, and mobilize individuals around a particular cause or initiative. Campaign-specific hashtags serve as rallying cries, uniting participants and amplifying their collective voice across social media platforms.
- Trend Identification: Hashtags also serve as valuable indicators of trending topics, events, or discussions within the digital sphere. Monitoring trending hashtags provides insights into popular conversations, emerging trends, and current events, allowing users to stay informed and engaged with timely and relevant content.
In essence, hashtags serve as powerful tools for content organization, discovery, and engagement in the digital age, facilitating communication, community building, and information dissemination across various online platforms.
How to Choose the Best Hashtag
Hashtags are more than just a decorative link in a social media caption. For users, it’s a channel worth subscribing to. Since hashtags used consistently can help users find relevant information, the use of hashtags isn’t the question. Instead, the real objective is finding a list of hashtags that will help boost your company’s reach.
Let’s review some of the best practices when it comes to adding a hashtag to your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram post.
- Understand the purpose of hashtags
- Make a reference list
- Use a mix of hashtags
- Limit the number of hashtags
- Review hashtag analytics
1) Understand the Purpose of Hashtags
According to Sprout, the first hashtag appeared in 2007 when Chris Messina proposed a way to categorize Twitter posts. Today, hashtags have been integrated into every major platform such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. By using the # sign to create a hyperlink, users can quickly search through posts by typing a hashtag into the search bar.
For businesses, the opportunity to gain awareness for your brand or services is huge when using niche hashtags. By understanding what your target audience is looking for, you can automatically tag your posts to appear in their feed. Recent updates even allow users to follow hashtags, allowing your business to find new customers quickly.
2) Make a Reference List
If the goal is to find hashtag terms other users are searching for, it’s important to plan. When you’re creating a post, choosing a random hashtag isn’t going to help your visibility.
There are multiple hashtag analytic tools available, but the best way to find hashtags is by seeing what’s trending near you. Look at what your competitors are using and search the terms in each social media profile. Whatever has the most followers or tagged posts will undoubtedly be worth referencing later.
Pro Tip: Make a separate list of hashtags based on each platform’s audience. Trending hashtags for Instagram may not reach the same amount of people for LinkedIn.
3) Use a Mix of Hashtags
When posting on social media, it’s smart to vary the hashtags you use. Try a mix of different types: ones that are uniquely related to your brand (like your business name), ones that are about what your business does (like industry terms), and ones that are currently popular (like trending topics). This way, you can reach more people while staying relevant to your audience.
4) Limit the Number Used
Don’t go overboard with hashtags. While they can help people find your posts, using too many can make your message seem cluttered and less genuine. Your posts will be clearer and more engaging for your followers if you use relevant hashtags for the content of your post and business.
On Instagram, you can add up to 30 hashtags per post, but you shouldn’t use them all. Using too many hashtags can make your post seem like spam. It’s better to stick to around 5 to 15 hashtags that fit your content.
5) Review hashtag analytics
Ultimately, finding the best hashtags for your business is a lot like search engine optimization—experiment with a variety of branded, niche, and trending hashtags on your posts. Pay attention to the analytics of your user engagement and whether the type of content you’re posting is valuable. If you’re finding that your engagement hasn’t increased, adjust your hashtag strategies accordingly.
10 Types of Hashtags to Consider
Whether you’re into marketing or just love sharing online, knowing about these different kinds of hashtags is super helpful. In this guide, we’ll break down ten types of hashtags, give examples for each, and show you how to use them to get noticed and connect with others online.
1. Branded Hashtags
Branded hashtags are unique to your brand and often include your company name, slogan, or specific product names. They help to promote brand identity and engagement.
- #ShareACoke (Coca-Cola’s campaign encouraging people to share personalized Coke bottles)
- #AppleEvent (Apple’s hashtag for announcing new product launches and events)
- #OwnYourTomorrow (Prudential’s campaign promoting financial planning and security)
2. Niche Hashtags
Niche hashtags are specific to your industry, interests, or target audience. They help to connect with a particular community or topic.
- #StreetArtPhotography (for photographers capturing urban street art)
- #SustainableFashion (for eco-friendly and ethical fashion brands)
- #ParentingHacks (for parents sharing tips and tricks for raising kids)
3. Trending Hashtags
Trending hashtags are popular and widely used hashtags that are currently trending on social media platforms. They can help increase visibility and engagement when used appropriately.
Examples:
- #BlackLivesMatter (used to support the Black community and advocate for racial justice)
- #COVID19 (for discussions and updates related to the coronavirus pandemic)
- #Oscars2022 (for conversations around the Academy Awards ceremony in 2022)
4. Community Hashtags
Community hashtags are used to connect with specific communities or groups of people who share common interests or experiences.
- #DogsofInstagram (for dog owners sharing photos and stories of their pets)
- #BookTube (for the community of book enthusiasts on YouTube)
- #FitFam (for individuals sharing their fitness journey and supporting each other)
5. Campaign Hashtags
Campaign hashtags are created specifically for marketing campaigns or promotions to track engagement and encourage user participation.
- #IceBucketChallenge (a viral campaign to raise awareness and funds for ALS research)
- #ShareYourEars (Disney’s campaign to support Make-A-Wish Foundation)
- #LikeAGirl (a campaign by Always to empower girls and challenge stereotypes)
6. Location-Based Hashtags
Location-based hashtags are related to specific geographical locations and can be used to target audiences in a particular area or to share content related to a specific location.
- #NYCFoodie (for food lovers exploring New York City’s culinary scene)
- #LondonFashionWeek (for posts related to the fashion event in London)
- #TokyoTravel (for travelers sharing their experiences in Tokyo)
7. Event Hashtags
Event hashtags are used to join conversations or share content related to specific events, conferences, or occasions.
- #CES2022 (for the Consumer Electronics Show held in 2022)
- #Coachella (for posts related to the annual music and arts festival)
- #ComicCon (for discussions and updates about comic conventions around the world)
8. Emotion or Mood Hashtags
Emotion or mood hashtags express feelings, emotions, or attitudes in posts. They can add personality and relatability to content.
- #TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday, expressing excitement for the weekend)
- #MondayBlues (for feeling down or unmotivated at the start of the week)
- #Blessed (expressing gratitude and positivity)
9. Industry-Specific Hashtags
Industry-specific hashtags are related to a particular field or sector. They help to categorize content and target a specific audience interested in that industry.
- #TechTuesday (for sharing technology-related news, products, and innovations)
- #BeautyBlogger (for influencers and bloggers sharing beauty tips and reviews)
- #RealEstateInvesting (for investors discussing real estate opportunities and strategies)
10. Educational Hashtags
Educational hashtags are used to share knowledge, tutorials, or informative content on various subjects. They can be helpful for educators, learners, and anyone interested in acquiring new skills or information.
- #DIYCrafts (for tutorials and ideas on do-it-yourself crafts)
- #LanguageLearning (for resources and tips on learning new languages)
- #STEMEducation (for promoting science, technology, engineering, and math education)
Popular Instagram Hashtags
Looking for ideas for your next social media post? According to Shopify, here are the most popular hashtags being used across the Instagram app.
- #love (2.1B)
- #instagood (1.7B)
- #instagram (1.2B)
- #fashion (1.1B)
- #photooftheday (1B)
- #photography (1B)
- #photo (1B)
- #beautiful (833M)
- #nature (798M)
- #picoftheday (726M)
- #travel (717M)
- #instadaily (659M)
- #style (652M)
- #tbt (585M)
- #repost (561M)
- #followme (557M)
- #summer (556M)
- #like4like (513M)
- #instalike (516M)
- #food (515M)
- #beauty (538M)
- #fitness (530M)
- #me (456M)
- #music (452M)
- #selfie (452M)
- #friends (442M)
- #smile (439M)
- #ootd (433M)
- #girl (428M)
- #life (445M)
- #trending (445M)
- #family (441M)
- #sunset (328M)
- #likeforlike (327M)
- #artist (325M)
- #model (365M)
- #motivation (365M)
- #design (362M)
- #dogsofinstagram (313M)
- #followforfollowback (303M)
- #follow (303M)
- #foodporn (304M)
- #beach (298M)
- #amazing (287M)
- #nofilter (285M)
- #instamood (283M)
- #igers (277M)
- #makeup (401M)
- #trendingreels (164M)
- #trend (134M)
Better Hashtags = Higher Engagement
Enhancing the performance of your posts doesn’t happen overnight, but with the right strategies, you can start finding ways to increase engagement. Within social media marketing, hashtags are a huge part of what makes a great post. From the caption to the posting time, it’s integral for businesses to use social media optimally to be successful.
Connect with our content marketing team for more social media strategies.
ORIGINALLY POSTED JUNE 2020
Ashlee Visser is the Content Manager at ITVibes, Inc. She holds a B.A. in Humanities from Thomas Edison State University. With a strong focus on organization, she excels in content management and website writing. Ashlee’s passion for writing is evident in every project she undertakes. When she’s not busy managing content, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their growing family.
