#sweetersocial #hashtagstrategy #socialmediamanagement #brandphotography

The Hashtag

The OG social media users (anyone remember Myspace?) will agree that A LOT has changed since Instagram and Facebook burst onto our screens. But, one thing that has not changed is the importance of the HASHTAG!

Hashtags may not seem to be a huge priority. But trust me when I say this. When planning your content strategy, hashtags are one of the MOST important parts for growing your brand online.

So Why Are They So Important?

Upping your hashtag game can mean more followers and higher engagement rates. All at the cost of nothing. They are basically what makes your content discoverable and are one of the easiest ways to attract new audiences.

By simply putting a # in the front of the word or words, you can grab the attention of an audience, even before they’ve realised, they were interested in your niche.

It also works the other way. You can use relevant hashtags in the search bar to find people that are posting about topics of interest to you. You hit the follow; they follow you back and you’re well on your way to building a really strong community around your business.

Without the tag, your post that you spent so much time and creative juices on will simply just live on your own feed. This will really stagnate your growth potential.

Here’s a few tips to mastering the hashtag:

• You can use a max of 30 hashtags per post, so make sure you use them all up! You’ll get discovered by more people and connect with people from the same niche as you.

• Don’t be afraid to experiment. It’s a game of trial and error. If you feel something isn’t working, have a look on what hashtags other businesses and influencers in your niche are using and try those.

• Be specific. The more specific you can get, the more likely we will attract the audience you are after

• People can follow hashtags. If you have established your hashtags that are working well, make sure to use a mix of them on your posts. This will help strengthen your follower community.

• Popular tags are always changing, so be sure you keep up to date with the latest hashtag trend. This will help make your content discovered.

• If you are creating a personal hashtag for your brand or a new product, make sure it’s short, memorable and unique. You want to choose a tag that people are already searching for.

• Use a mix of small, medium and large hashtags in your strategy.

Having a hashtag strategy is one of easiest and most effective marketing tools that so many people overlook. So, I urge you not to.

Happy tagging!

x Teneal