Adding hashtags is one of the best ways to extend the reach of your social media posts and attract more traffic. However, you can’t just use “hashtag whatever” and expect to see a high level of engagement on your posts. You need to use a hashtag that your target audience wants to read now and to discover what that is, you will have to do a little bit of work.
Whether using Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or any other platform with hashtags, spending a few hours learning how to research the best hashtags will give a real boost to your next social media campaign.
Before we delve into the hows of hashtag research, it is essential to know the what and whys when it comes to hashtags. If you don’t already understand the basics of hashtags, this Hubspot infographic does a fantastic job explaining what hashtags are and why they are so important.
Follow the Leaders in Your Niche
Originality is overrated, especially when choosing the best hashtags to use. In fact, being unique hashtags will only wind up hurting you since the name of the game is picking the most popular hashtags and using them when they are the most popular.
One of the best ways to do this without a lot of hassle is to copy what the industry leaders are using. After all, you are already following them. Right? If not, you should be!
When choosing which hashtags to copy, make sure that the hashtags apply to your unique business. While it is okay to use one more general topic hashtag, the others need to be hyperfocused or semi-hyperfocused to help attract the people who really want your content and are more likely to engage positively with your post.
Pay Attention to the Platform
A quirk of hashtags is that their effectiveness differs on each social media platform, so you have to choose the ones you use according to where you plan to post. Check out the trending hashtags for each social media platform and your industry leaders on each platform and customize your posts accordingly.
In addition to the actual hashtags you choose, you must also consider the number of hashtags to use. For example, successful Instagram users included up to 30 hashtags per post in the past! These days, some experts suggest using only three to five on Instagram, so you have to stay up-to-date. As a comparison, one to two hashtags seem to get the best exposure on Twitter, and three to five is the right amount for videos on YouTube.
Get a Little Help
Even if you follow all the advice above, finding good hashtags is a time-consuming struggle that is overly frustrating for most people. To make things a little easier, it’s worthwhile using at least one hashtag research tool. Some of these tools are free, but the premium ones tend to have more options and are generally a good investment.
These tools can help you find the trending hashtags for your industry and tell you the best time to post your content. Some even allow you to schedule posts and give you access to additional analytic tools.
Some of the most popular hashtag research tools include:
For even more assistance on hashtags, and everything from website design to digital marketing, talk to the experts at CleverLight Media today.
