The “#” symbol with a word or phrase after is something we have all seen before on social media. You may be thinking, “Do people still even use hashtags?” While hashtags may seem to have lost popularity and are irrelevant to some users, they play an integral role in social media marketing. With the social media landscape evolving, knowing how and where to use hashtags can positively or negatively impact your business.

The History of the Hashtag

Hashtags were on the rise when social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram used them to connect users to brands or promote certain content. Hashtags allow users to easily search for content in posts made from people that they either do or do not follow. The purpose behind hashtags is to filter out content relevant to you and give consumers easier access to profiles that fit their interests. By creating hashtags that represent your brand or campaign you can utilize them to connect with users who you feel are the ideal target audience for your brand.  This helps businesses build brand awareness and get noticed from individuals who share these interests.

However, the use of hashtags has decreased due to social media algorithms allowing users to see relative posts without the hassle of searching. In addition, there has been an overload of hashtags, meaning that users don’t always relate to the wanted content. Therefore, this hinders the purpose of hashtags cutting through clutter.

Do Hashtags Make a Difference?

So why should businesses still use hashtags if there has been a decline in popularity and algorithms are now implemented to monitor what users see on their feed? As mentioned earlier, hashtags filter out information, giving users the opportunity to identify brands or content that they find interest in. By doing so, this allows your brand to build its social media presence by joining in on trendy topics and possibly gaining the attention of new clients, not just your current followers. Hashtags will also open doors for your business by increasing visibility to a larger audience.

The Do’s and Don’ts

Recognizing how and where to use hashtags is crucial for your business and its social media presence. Twitter and Instagram are the most common platforms, whereas LinkedIn does not support the use of hashtags. One thing to remember is to keep your hashtag simple. Rather than using long words or phrases that are hard to understand, short phrases are more memorable which allows the audience to easily recall your brand. Furthermore, create one that focuses on a keyword that caters to your target market. It is important to not overload your posts with hashtags. Packing too much content may destroy the main point you are trying to convey to the consumer.

So Are Hashtags Really Worth Using?

Yes! Implementing hashtags can not only help build awareness for your business or personal brand, but also gives you the opportunity to interact with users and make impressions based on your content. By incorporating hashtags into your marketing efforts, you can craft a strong image that reflects your brand overall while reaching a target audience that is interested in what you are providing.

To learn more about how to effectively use social media in your marketing efforts, schedule a free consultation with Oster and Associates!