Let’s talk about the strategy BEHIND the hashtag, how to use them, and I’m going to give you an INSTANT hashtag action challenge at the very end, so don’t stop reading:]
The hashtag (# followed by a word or words) is a popular trend used on multiple social media platforms.
What is important to understand is that there is a clear purpose behind the hashtag, and when you understand how to use a hashtag strategy properly, you are the master!
A hashtag is no more than a code for categorizing social media postings. Think of the word after the “#” as a folder name. A search for #mom will show me the social media posts that are categorized as mom.
When you are creating hashtags for your posts (especially on Instagram and Twitter), I recommend asking yourself the following questions:
1. What is this literally a post about?
2. What concepts is this post about or related to?
3. Who is this post for?
4. Who else might appreciate this post?
5. Who would be most likely to engage with this post?
As you ask yourself these questions, start creating 1-2 hashtags that answer each of these 5 questions. Here’s an example:
If I were to upload a photo of a stylish business outfit, I would answer each of the questions as I hashtag it out:
1. #outfit #redpants
2. #style #classic
3. #entrepreneur #mompreneur
4. #smallbusinessowner #onemanshow
5. #ootd #momlife #workflow
Now I probably wouldn’t use ALL of these hashtags… But I might! Each one is relevant in its own way. Note: the hashtags for #5 are all trending topics and while they don’t provide a highly targeted result, you can get great engagement with trending topics!
There are several different ways to learn about hashtags that will do well in your industry, and this is by researching your target market. If you want to target young entrepreneurs, search for the #entrepreneur hashtag on Instagram, and see what other hashtags are being used regularly. Twitter is also a great place to research the latest trending hashtags.
ACTION CHALLENGE: Create these hashtags for a photo or post you will be using in your business on social media. Feel free to drop the image in the comments to get more ideas for strategic hashtags!
