Hashtags have become an integral part of internet culture in recent years. People even use them in contexts outside the internet, such as in text messages, chats, songs, and advertising. If you don’t use hashtags to improve your social media marketing, you’re missing out!

Hashtags allow users to organize and search for content more easily. They can help you improve your social media presence by boosting engagement on your posts. However, this only works if you use hashtags correctly. And we’re here to help! Here are some tips to help you become a true “hashtag pro.”

How to use hashtags and improve your social media marketing

You’re missing a huge opportunity if your social media marketing strategy doesn’t involve hashtags. Making sure you use hashtags correctly will help you generate significantly more engagement on your posts. Naturally, an increase in engagement will result in audience growth.

However, maximizing your social media content through the use of hashtags in an effective way can be challenging. That’s why your best option is to reach out to digital marketing pros and have them handle all things social media for you. But if you want to do it in-house, here’s how to improve your social media marketing by using hashtags.

Make sure the hashtags you use are being used by others

The sole purpose of using hashtags is to reach as many people as possible and connect with your target audience. And the more popular a hashtag is, the more likely a high-quality audience will see it. To ensure you’re using a popular hashtag, do a quick search on the social media platforms on which you’re using the hashtags.

Thoroughly check what material comes up when you search for a particular hashtag. For instance, it could be one no one used in the last year. Using an out-of-date or under-utilized hashtag will not harm your post directly, but it will take up space in your post that a different, more relevant hashtag could use.

You can also research hashtags and then work backward. For example, if you’re on Tiktok, research trending TikTok hashtags and create content around those. That way, you can jump on already-existing trends that have a lot of traction.

Select relevant hashtags for your posts to attract more followers. However, don’t simply focus on hashtags; consider other ways to grow your follower base. For example, adding social media share buttons to your website is an excellent way to encourage folks already on your website to follow you on social media as well.

Stay on brand

Remember the sheer volume of people using a hashtag doesn’t mean a thing if none of those people show interest in your product or service. Therefore, before utilizing a specific hashtag, learn what others use it for. Avoid using hashtags that are featured in posts that have nothing to do with your brand.

If you want to reach a specific audience, consider using hashtags with a narrower focus. On the other hand, keep an eye out for hashtags that are being misused in any way. Using the same word to describe the same service to different individuals can have a completely different meaning. Using a hashtag in a way that could be interpreted as disrespectful could negatively impact your brand’s reputation.

Create your own hashtags

If you focus on creating hashtags unique to your brand, users can find information that relates to your company more readily. And the more people start using your branded hashtag, the better. It’s can be an effective strategy to employ hashtags that features your brand’s name or slogan. This enables consumers to recognize the hashtag as well as your brand immediately.

You can also customize other hashtags and use them for particular categories of content you share on your social channels. Or, you can even relate the hashtags to the specific campaigns in which your company is currently participating. This enables others on social media to instantly view all of the content relevant to this campaign regardless of who posted it.

If your business focuses on selling products, consider using hashtags exclusive to each item. This will allow people who use your products to observe other people using them. In return, there will be a sense of community surrounding your company. Also, it will encourage users to share their feedback. You can use that feedback better your products and, thus, attract even more customers.

Keep in mind, that when you’re coming up with branded hashtags, it’s best to keep them concise. For example, if you use Twitter, you’ll have to add those hashtags to your tweets and they’ll take up character space. Ensure you leave enough capacity to offer the essential facts in the post copy.

Final thoughts

We hope this helped you better understand hashtags and how to use them to improve your social media marketing. But if you want to make the most of your social media profiles, the best way is to turn to experts. Their knowledge and experience will help you position your brand and grow your customer base.