What comes is the first word that comes to your mind when I show you this symbol?

#

I bet a few of you thought “that’s the number sign” and even fewer of you said, “that’s the pound symbol right?”. To most of us now, that symbol is known as the hashtag. The first social media channel to use hashtags as a way to organize conversations was Twitter. Little did they know, the hashtag would go on to transverse all social media channels and become the universal way those channels organized conversations and topics.

It should be obvious that hashtags are important for your business. Being able to join conversations both locally and nationally lets you reach people that are like minded and might be interested in your products and services. The hashtag is an underrated strategy that with a little time and effort, could more than double the reach of your posts.

Here is your beginners guide to #Hashtags:

1) How many Hashtags should I use?

This is a very important question to ask. Every social media network has a best practice when it comes to the number of hashtags you should be using. For places like Facebook and LinkedIn, hashtags are fairly new and are not widely used. On these channels, it is perfectly acceptable to not include any hashtags in a post. If you do want to add hashtags to a post, keep the number low (1-4). For Twitter, hashtags are much more important, but you only have 140 characters to get your point across. A good rule to follow is to stay around 2-3 hashtags. Last, but definitely not least, is Instagram. Anyone who uses Instagram knows that hashtags are extremely important. The maximum number of hashtags you can have on a post is 30, and while you don’t need to use all of them, you should be using at least 20 per post.

2) How do I determine what hashtags to use?

Research. It is actually really easy to find good hashtags to use in your industry, and by spending an hour researching your hashtags, you will be set up for long-term success. Let’s say that you are a dog groomer. Start by typing words that are related to your business like dogs, dog groomer, and beautiful dog into the search bar of whatever network you are using. Look for popular posts that have a lot of engagement and take a look at what hashtags that they are using. Some of them might not work for you, but others might be perfect for the community you are trying to reach. For small businesses, it is also important to look for trending hashtags in your area by using features like near me (twitter) and location tags (Instagram). Find popular posts in your area and see if there are any area-specific hashtags that people are using. This will help you reach people who are more local and can actually make purchases from your local business.

3) What kind of things should I avoid when adding hashtags to posts?

First, be sure to pay attention to the length of the hashtags you are using. #Havingahashtagthatisthislongisconfusingandhardforpeopletoreadanddoesnotdoanythingforyourbusiness.

I think I proved my point! Next, when you are adding your hashtags, make sure to double check them for spelling. Since hashtags are often multiple words combined together, the autocorrect on your phone or other devices can get tricked and cause your hashtag to go haywire. Finally, remember, hashtags are a way for you to join a conversation. Be sure your messages are to the point, make sense for the conversation that is taking place, and are the types of messages you want other people to see. The wrong message with the wrong hashtag could turn into a nightmare.

BONUS TIP

Have a good social following and are looking for a way to engage with more people? Think about starting your own hashtag! This allows you to drive a conversation on your own and create a community on your social accounts. Just make sure that your hashtag is not heavily used already, is easy it understand and remember, and is consistent with your brand.

Hashtags are a piece of cake once you get the hang of them. By just reading this blog post and committing yourself to a couple hours of research and organization, you can grow your following and reach and, hopefully, gain more customers!