Let’s talk about #hashtags! The main goal of social media, no matter the reason you’re using it, is to reach an audience of people. Hashtags are a way to make the process easier and get you access to more people than you could imagine. Using hashtags, you are able to promote whatever you want to (products, business, personal info) more effectively and efficiently, but there are some things you should know before you start hashtagging any and everything. Here are five ways to better use hashtags!
Proper phrasing
When using a hashtag you want something simple, easy to read, and easy to remember. Keep it short and sweet and make it catchy if you can! Spaces are not included in hashtags so keeping it short is the best way to get people to remember it. If you’re using current phrases, double check to make sure what you’re using is correct before posting. Also remember to make sure all the words are spelled correctly before using them in the hashtag.
Do your research
Look into what terms are trending in the area you are working within. Trending terms vary from place to place, and if you’re wanting to reach more people in your area of expertise you should do your due diligence and find out what is most popular since that is what the majority of people are relating to at the time. Check back frequently as trends tend to change quickly these days!
Use emotion
Whatever emotion best reflects your business, blog, or product is what you want to use. Humor is very popular and makes people feel good, however, if you are documenting a breaking news story that is more intense you should obviously go for something a little more striking. Word choice is a form of art, so get creative and it will pay off!
Keep track of what you use
Write down all of the hashtags you end up using and see which ones get you the best results. Keeping an inventory shows you exactly what works and what doesn’t so you can adjust accordingly. There are also apps and extensions that can help you with this goal.
Have fun with it and don’t take it personally
When putting your heart and soul into anything you’re putting a personal attachment out there to be judged and it can be discouraging when you don’t get the results you’re after. If you follow these tips you can find the balance between what you love and what everyone else is going to love. Viewing it as a social experiment can take some of the pressure off and allow you to have more fun instead of worrying too much over achieving certain results!