Struggling to get your head around hashtags? It can be a confusing game! Platform algorithms keep changing, conflicting advice is everywhere and it can be hard to get a straight answer when it comes to best practices. We’re hoping to make things a little bit easier. Keep reading for some best practices for using hashtags to level up your social media strategy.
Key Benefits of Using Hashtags
Using hashtags can provide some extra context and branding to your content, but the benefits don’t stop there. Hashtags can boost engagement and reach. You might have noticed that some of your posts get engagement from people who don’t follow you. One leading cause for this unexpected reach is the use of trending hashtags.
Hashtags can also help you build a strong community on social media by making it easier for you to see what’s being talked about in your industry. When people are actively engaged in sharing their views and news online, communities develop. Hashtags act as filters for these communities, bring like-minded people together (and your brand can be at the heart of this). On a similar note, brand hashtags can help you filter out User Generated Content (UGC), so it could be worth starting a branded hashtag or two.
Popular hashtags can be great for giving your reach a boost, but you can’t use them anywhere randomly and, like many aspects of social media, it’s not a one-size-fits-all thing. Every platform has its own set of best practices, suited to its unique algorithm.
Platform Specific Best Practices
LinkedIn has previous stated that the system is not “designed for virality” so hashtags are not necessarily supposed to work on LinkedIn the way that they do on other apps. The platform takes into account the post’s text, visuals, user history, and all keywords included. It’s all about how keywords are mentioned throughout your copy and not simply on your choice of hashtags. However, hashtags can help foster more engagement and be used as a discovery tool.
LinkedIn doesn’t limit how many hashtags you can use but it’s generally recommended that you use between 3-5. You can use LinkedIn hashtag generators and Linkedin hashtag analytics tools to get the top-performing ones.
Top Tip: LinkedIn recommends using specific, niche hashtags versus general ones. For example, try using #socialmedia rather than #marketing.
It’s been found that Instagram sees an engagement spike of 12.6% with just one hashtag compared to posts with no hashtags. The app allows for up to 10 hashtags per story and 30 hashtags per post and reels, but this doesn’t mean you need to hit that number. It’s recommended that you use between 3-5 hashtags per post and this is often all you need to boost your engagement.
Top Tip: Use Instagram hashtag generators to see the top Instagram hashtags!
TikTok
Finding social media success can actually be easier on TikTok than on other social media platforms, thanks to the unique algorithm that pushes out content from all creators, no matter their follower count. Using hashtags can help you find content related to your niche and help people to find your content, and it’s generally recommended that you use 4-5 per video.
Top Tip: Search for category-specific hashtags and look at the top-performing content relevant to that hashtag. This is a great way to see what resonates with your target audience and get content inspiration!
X
Hashtags have been an integral part of Twitter (X) for years, making it easier for users to join in discussions and learn about trending topics. However, if you’re planning to use hashtags on Twitter (X), make sure you’re not overcrowding your post (characters are limited, afterall).
As per Twitter analytics, tweets with top hashtags improve engagement by 2x for individuals and 1.5x for brands. If you’re using hashtags on Twitter, it’s recommended that you only use 1-2. Take a look at the trending page and use Twitter hashtag generators to find the best performing ones.
Top Tip: Only use trending hashtags if you can make it relevant to your brand. Don’t compromise on the quality of your content!
General Tips
Now you know what each platform likes, you’re almost ready to get started with your hashtag strategy. Before you go, there are a few general tips we’d like to share. Keep these in mind when you’re using hashtags on social media to avoid any mishaps!
- When using a phrase as a hashtag, spell it out without spaces (e.g. #socialmediatips). Using spaces will break the hashtag.
- Your hashtags can include letters and numbers, but no symbols or punctuation.
- Keep hashtags short and memorable rather than trying to use a lot of words in one tag. Long, complex hashtags could be hard for people to replicate.
- Don’t try to choose hashtags that are too clever or obscure. If you choose a tag that no one is going to search for, it won’t help you!
- Don’t try to force hashtags into every post. Instead, use them when they add value.
- Be mindful of accessibility when creating your hashtags. It may be worth capitlising the first letter of each word in the phrase, making it easier to read (e.g. #socialmediatips becomes #SocialMediaTips).
Talk to Victress
That’s it, you’re ready to go! Hashtags can be incredibly useful on social media to widen your content’s reach, and it’s well worth taking some time to develop a platform-specific hashtag strategy to ensure you’re making the most of each individual social channel. Take each platform’s algorithm and best practices into consideration, and refer back to our tips to make the most of hashtags on social media. Contact us to see how hashtags can be integral to your social media strategy.