How to get the most from Hashtags

Intro

It’s hard to believe hashtags have only been around since 2010 – they’ve become such an integral part of our lives on social media.

Today they are a key element  of your social media strategy and getting them right is important for any small business.

So here’s our guide to hashtags for your wedding business.

Definition

Just in case you are not sure…….

A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by a # sign that makes it possible for others to easily find messages with a specific theme or content.

Using Hashtags

Instagram

Hashtags are very important on Instagram. They are the main way users find people to follow and things that interest them. So you need to add them.

You can use a maximum of 30 hashtags with any photo, but the optimum number is probably round about 10. Make sure they are all relevant – don’t use a hashtag just for the sake of it.

You can include the hashtags in the caption but many experts recommend posting your image and caption and then adding the hashtags as a comment. Others go for a mix – with 2-3 tags in the main caption and the rest in the comments.

Twitter

Space is tight on Twitter so a single hashtag works best. You can get away with 2 but not more.

Hashtags are great for joining in Twitter chats, competitions and events.

Facebook

Hashtags probably matter least on Facebook. Privacy settings mean that most personal posts can only be seen by friends so hashtags are mainly used by brands and businesses.

As a result, people are less likely to search using hashtags.

Of course, you’ll see plenty of hashtags across Facebook – often where people have posted on Instagram and opted to share on Facebook too.

If you are doing this, it’s probably best to put your Instagram hashtags in the comments – otherwise it just looks messy (and automated) on Facebook.

Pinterest

After years of telling us NOT to use hashtags, Pinterest has just done a U-turn!

It’s really early days yet, but try adding a relevant hashtag to your pins.

Read more about this from Tailwind

How to find and use hashtags effectively across social media in your wedding business

Finding and choosing Hashtags

Relevant Tags

You want to use hashtags that will help your target audience find you. So make sure they are relevant. The most popular tags (e.g. #wedding) are not always the best – yes, they get more searches, but the chances of your content being found is much slimmer.

The best way to find hashtags is to explore. Keep your eyes open for tags you might want to use and make a note of them.

If you are adding your hashtags in the caption, Instagram will make suggestions as you start to type. This doesn’t happen if you are commenting.

Create your own

There’s nothing to stop you making up your own tags. Also known as branded hashtags – these are tags that are specific to your business.

I use the tag #wedbiztips for my daily business tips on Twitter.

You might want to create a tag your customers can use when posting about their weddings. It can be your business name or something creative.

Have fun

Finally, some hashtags are just for fun. Although tags like #sorrynotsorry or #friyay won’t get you found, these can help show your personality and build your brand.