“Are hashtags really that big of a deal?”
Yes. Yes, they are.
Hashtags are a way to categorize your posts on social media platforms, and they're super helpful on Instagram. Simply put, hashtags can get your post in front of more people who are looking for exactly what you have to offer. (#yesplease) Plus, on average, a post with hashtags gets 12.6% more engagement than a post without hashtags. That’s a huge difference in potential engagement!
Here are my top three tips for #hashtags:
Keep your hashtags organized. If you have a certain type of post that you make often, keep a running list of relevant hashtags in the notes section of your phone.
Example: if you’re a baseball mom, you can have a whole section in your phone’s notes with only baseball hashtags. That way, if you were to make a baseball post you would simply copy + paste all of the appropriate hashtags. Pro Tip: Check out the app HASHME to help you find great ideas of relevant hashtags within your niche.
Narrow the focus of your hashtags. Have you ever heard the phrase, “The riches are in the niches”? Well, it’s a thing.
In order to best reach a specific audience, you need to narrow down exactly what your post is about. If you’re super general and using hashtags like #happy #sunshine #healthy, for example –– you’re going to end up mixed in with a TON of other content. This ultimately makes it more difficult to be seen. Targeted hashtags can mean more engagement, more followers, and more customers for your biz. Win, win, win. Pro Tip: Think about pain points and what your customer could be searching for. Those pain points will guide you to the types of hashtags you should use.
Follow your most-used hashtags. You aren’t limited to only following other accounts –– you can follow hashtags as well. This allows you to see who is posting with the same hashtags you are and therefore allow you to connect with these people. Another bonus is that this means that your content could appear twice in a follower’s feed — once if they are following your account and again if they follow the hashtag. It doubles your chances of engagement!
Pro Tip: You can add clickable hashtags to your IG bio as well. Find a couple of your most niche hashtags and include them in there. It’s best to explore all avenues of exposure, after all.
Hashtags may seem overwhelming, but they don’t have to be. With a little bit of effort, time, and strategy, you can create hashtag clusters that are perfect for your content.
Your target audience is waiting for you, so what are you waiting for? You’ve got this!
