In today’s digital age, having a strong social media presence is key to the success of any business, and all major social media platforms incorporate hashtags. A hashtag is a type of metadata tag, meaning when you put the hashtag symbol (#) before a word, or multiple words, it becomes a searchable link allowing content to be organized by topic.
Relevant hashtags can help you identify your key market audience by participating in topic-specific chats and hangouts. They also help potential customers learn about your services or products. On the other hand, using the wrong hashtags will mean your marketing efforts will be in vain, so choosing the right ones are important. Here are five ways to find the best hashtags to help your business grow.
1. Follow industry influencers
There is virtually an endless amount of hashtags out there, so it can seem daunting to find a place to start. One of the easiest things to do is to look at what other people are saying, and that’s where influencers come in.
Social media influencers already have a loyal following in your industry, meaning those same people will likely be interested in your business as well. Take a look at what hashtags they’re using and incorporate them into your own content. By doing this you know you’ll be reaching your target market. And who knows, maybe these influencers will follow you back. Getting even one endorsement or referral from an industry influencer could go a long way in enhancing your business’ credibility.
2. Find what’s trending
In order to reach a large audience, it’s important to be aware of what’s trending. Twitter and Facebook make this easy to find and use. On Twitter, you’ll notice trending topics that are tailored to you based on who you follow, your location, and your posts. So be sure that you’re searching from your business profile. Otherwise, the trending topics you see may not be relevant.
Facebook features hashtags that are trending worldwide, however, you can filter these results by categories to find the ones that are pertinent to your business. Using trending hashtags in your own content will ensure your posts are seen not only by a large audience but also by your targeted market.
3. Get creative
Don’t feel like you can only use hashtags that are already out there, you can create your own! If your business has a very niche audience, it might be hard to find relevant hashtags in trending topics, so get creative. This can have great benefits for your business because you’re creating a custom way to interact with your exact target audience. Having a unique hashtag that you can consistently use will create easy brand-recall for your customers. And, it will help you stand out from your competitors.
When creating your own hashtag try to keep it focused and simple, and most importantly check to make sure it’s not already being used by a competitor. The point is to make sure it’s actually unique. And remember, even online, there is certain social media etiquette you should follow. Always make sure the hashtags you’re using are appropriate.
4. Use hashtag tools
If you’re really feeling stuck, there are plenty of hashtag generating tools that will do the work for you, such as Hashtagify or Trendsmap. These hashtag tools can help you:
- Tailor your hashtag to your target audience
- Monitor current trends related to your business
- Give you hashtag suggestions
- Show you data on how often a hashtag is shared, and the most frequently used hashtags in a given location or region
5. Go the old-fashioned route and brainstorm
Don’t forget you’re the expert on your business – no one knows it better than you. Try sitting down and writing out your ideas on a piece of paper. Once you’re satisfied, try plugging them into the tools above. They should be used to enhance your ideas, but don’t rely on them.
The takeaway
In today’s market, virtually all consumers are online, so you need to be, too. Social media is saturated with so many accounts that standing out from the crowd as a small business owner can seem like an insurmountable problem. Hashtags are a great way to narrow drown out the noise and focus on your target market and grow your client base. And using the tips above will make a big difference in the success of your social media marketing campaigns.
These views are made solely by the author.