Reaching a wide audience on social media can be difficult, but there are a number of techniques and strategies you can put into place to help. One of these is using relevant hashtags.
Hashtags are used, primarily on Twitter and Instagram, but also on Facebook and Google+ to identify posts relating to certain topics. This means that users of social media, with similar interests, can see your posts even if they are not in your network.
In order to use hashtags effectively, you must zone in on the type of people you want to reach with your content. What are their interests? What keywords are they likely to search for on social media? There are three different things you should consider: trending topics, brand/industry-specific tags and content-related tags.
Trending Topics
Trend monitoring on social media can be a very effective way to stay ahead of other users and get your content noticed by more users. Joining a trending conversation in a timely manner means that you can have your say and communicate with other users who are involved. This is a great way to grow your network and build new relationships.
On Twitter, there are two ways to discover trending topics. One of these is called ‘Moments’ and displays the latest trends, as they happen. This includes a brief introduction to the topic and relevant tweets. The second function is a personalised trends list, which is displayed to you when you are logged in. This includes trending topics that are relevant to your location and the type of accounts that you follow.
On Facebook, there is a section on the same page as your newsfeed, that displays trending topics related to your likes, follows, recent activity and other data.
Finding trends on Instagram is done through the explore channel. Tap the search icon in the bottom menu and this will display popular posts based on your interests. You can also tap into the search bar at the top of the screen to display recent accounts and hashtags that you have searched through. This means that you can see new and popular posts that relate directly to your specific interests.
Brand & Industry-Specific Tags
The problem with using trending hashtags and general terms is that your content may be lost in amongst millions of other posts that are completely unrelated to yours. Using tags that are specific to your industry – and even your brand – is a brilliant way to have it seen by others with the same interests as you.
You can create hashtags that are specific to your brand. For example, Kit Kat uses their tagline: #haveabreak.
The key to creating a hashtag that works is to make sure that a) it is not being used by anyone else and b) it is memorable. Try to keep it short and to the point. A maximum of three words works best. You can use a general tag for your brand and also different ones for certain marketing campaigns. For example, for Oreo’s 100th anniversary, they used the hashtag #oreomoment.
Content-Related Tags
What – specifically – is your post about? On Instagram, you can use hashtags for items that your photo shows. On other platforms, use tags for post topics and points. This will help your content to be seen by a targeted audience who are interested in what you have to say.
Some Examples for You to Use
| #networkmarketing | #mlm | #homebusiness |
| #entrepreneur | #success | #marketing |
| #contentmarketing | #socialmedia | #believe |
| #startuplife | #empower | #makeithappen |
| #instablogger | #focused | #mindset |
| #freedom | #passion | #leadership |
| #mentoring | #inspire | #motivate |