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The power of hashtags: How they boost your brand’s social media presence

by | May 31, 2023 | Public Relations

If you’re starting a business today or already running one but haven’t embraced social media marketing yet, it’s time to catch up! Social media has become the primary platform for brands that want to establish themselves online. It effectively reaches out to potential clients and customers. However, standing out amongst all competitors can prove challenging. This is because many brands actively leverage social media’s power. Luckily, hashtags are valuable tools that help brands cut through this vast platform.

Hashtags provide an excellent opportunity for brands. Especially if they are wishing to bolster their social media influence. Choosing relevant tags can significantly boost content reach. It also increases user engagement, ultimately leading to increased website traffic.  

This article explores the importance of using the right hashtags for your brand. And how they can achieve maximum success in their social media marketing. 

The power of hashtags: How they boost your brand’s social media presence

Source: canva.com

How do hashtags work?

To increase visibility and engagement on social media platforms, employing hashtags is key for brands. Hashtags consist of words or phrases preceded by the # symbol. It acts as a marker for classifying content. This labeling system facilitates discoverability for users searching for specific topics of interest. When you click on a hashtag, you can access all associated posts bearing that same label.

It was started in 2007 by Twitter. Hashtags have become a prominent feature in today’s social media culture. You’ll find them everywhere from Instagram to Facebook, LinkedIn to TikTok! Slight variations in their usage across these platforms may exist. But their core principle remains universal.

Why are hashtags important for startups?

Startups are the heartbeats of innovation that drive the ever-evolving business landscape. They are budding ventures that are to embody ambition, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of success. Hashtags can make all the difference in branding startups and boosting startups’ reach on social media.

1. Increased discoverability

To improve the visibility of your social media content, it’s important to seek help. Seek a startup branding agency that specializes in using hashtags effectively. These marketing agencies understand that hashtags are markers. Users use it for searching for specific information or topics. This makes it easier to discover and engage with relevant posts, including yours. Incorporating relevant hashtags into your posts expands their reach. It also attracts new followers who share your interests. 

2. Improved engagement

Incorporating hashtags is key. If you want effective communication with the target audience. As well as if you want their involvement regarding the content you post. A study has suggested that including at least one hashtag per post results in an average engagement increase of 12.6%. This is compared to those lacking relevant hashtags.

3. Better brand recognition

For startups establishing their presence, leveraging branded hashtags is an effective approach. This tactic allows for better brand recognition. It enables users to find your content easily. In essence, it helps create a shortcut to building visibility. It also attracts attention from potential customers.

4. Increased website traffic

To enhance visibility and attract more visitors, utilizing appropriate hashtags is key. Including relevant hashtags related to your offer catches the target market’s interest in such topics. This may drive an influx of users toward exploring what your website has to offer.

The power of hashtags: How they boost your brand’s social media presence

Source: Bronx design

How to use hashtags for your brand

Understanding the advantages that come with utilizing hashtags is only half the battle. Now it is time to focus on applying them strategically within your social media marketing strategy:

1. Research relevant hashtags

Hashtags can be an excellent tool in promoting your brand .But starting by researching those pertinent to your business and industry is crucial. Some trial and error may be needed as you test different options. This is until you discover the most effective hashtags.

In hashtag research, Hashtagifyis a valuable resource worth exploring. With its ability to identify relevant hashtags based on your desired keyword. It can provide insight into their level of popularity. It is an incredibly useful tool. Using social media listening tools, you can check the hashtags your competitors leverage. You can stay informed about changes in your industry.

2. Use a mix of popular and niche hashtags

Regarding hashtags, there’s a choice. Should you use popular tags that reach a wide audience or focus on specific niche topics? The decision depends on what you aim to achieve. It can be a broad appeal or personalized engagement. Whichever aligns better with your brand goals. Remember that finding the right approach involves testing different options. You must stay updated on trends that could impact your choices both ways.

For startups in sustainable fashion, social media marketing requires a thoughtful selection of hashtags. Hashtags that can effectively amplify your message. Commonly used tags like #fashion can give you more online exposure. They also mean facing tough competition from numerous other posts.

Considering this, targeting niche hashtags like #slowfashion or #ethicalfashion makes more sense. These allow you to connect with users interested in sustainability rather than browsing through generic content.

3. Create branded hashtags

Utilizing branded hashtags is undoubtedly a wise decision. Branded hashtags bear exclusivity for your business. It provides opportunities to promote tailored campaigns or events while leveraging user-generated content.

This requires creativity and innovation. Only professionals can offer to capture consumers’ attention amidst all the noise. 

Glossiers’ use of the branded hashtag #glossierpink is a great example of this. It is a clever strategy that helped generate buzz around their brand. It also encouraged users to engage with their products on social media.

Creating a memorable and shareable tagline for your company or product can help you build a strong online presence and connect with customers authentically.

4. Use hashtags in a natural way

To ensure your hashtag usage is on point and maintain the organic feel of your content, it is crucial to avoid overusing hashtags and instead focus on relevance and simplicity in marketing. Cluttering your posts with countless hashtags can make your content appear spammy or like a marketing gimmick, compromising its professionalism.

When promoting a product through visual media, such as architectural visualization, it is recommended to use hashtags that are linked to its categories. For instance, you can include hashtags like #architecture, #design, or #visualization to accurately tie into the content and reach the appropriate audience.

5. Track your results

Don’t overlook the importance of monitoring and analyzing your hashtag strategy results. You can leverage the analytics tools provided on social media platforms.  This will allow you to evaluate engagement rates. You can identify as well which hashtags yield the maximum website traffic.

It is no secret that an effective social media marketing campaign demands a well-planned hashtag strategy. Achieving these results becomes necessary as it allows for the refinement of such a plan over time. Hence, leading to optimal outcomes and a more significant return on investment.

Conclusion

To succeed on social media and connect with potential customers, brands must recognize the significance of hashtags. Utilizing relevant hashtags can increase discoverability. It can lead to enhanced user engagement and greater traffic to your online platform. 

Getting caught up in the buzz surrounding hashtags as a marketing strategy is easy. But brands must remember that social media success is more than these little symbols. To thrive on platforms, businesses must focus on high-quality content creation. meaningful audience engagement, and meticulous brand-building efforts.

Incorporating hashtags into their social media marketing plan can greatly benefit bands. By deploying them strategically, brands can effectively connect with their desired audience. 

FAQs

1. How many hashtags should I use in my social media posts?

Determining the optimal number of hashtags in your social media posts can be challenging. This is because it varies depending on the platform and your target audience. Nevertheless, using between 3 and 5 fitting hashtags per post is generally advised as a rule of thumb.

2. Can I use the same hashtags on multiple social media platforms?

Yes, you can employ identical hashtags across different social media platforms. Nonetheless, it is vital to remember that there could be a subtle variation in how hashtags are wielded on each platform. Thus you might have to tweak your hashtag tactics accordingly.

3. How do I know if my hashtag strategy is working?

Effectively assess the efficacy of your hashtag approach by utilizing analytics tools on the platform. By utilizing practical resources, you can assess user interaction rates. You can determine which hashtags generate higher website traffic than others.

4. Is it better to use a few popular hashtags or many niche hashtags?

Getting creative with hashtag selection is key to successful marketing efforts. To optimize exposure, utilizing popular tags is essential.  Using lesser-known yet relevant hashtags can foster more authentic and meaningful connections. This leads to deeper engagement with interested users in your niche or industry.

5. Can I create my own hashtags?

When it comes to social media marketing every little bit helps – including creating custom hashtags for your brand. However, this approach is only effective if the tag is unique. Ensure that it doesn’t overlap with existing ones. Without this, it can lead potential customers down the wrong path. You can get more eyes on your business by utilizing creative tags and promoting them on various channels. This boosts visibility and ultimately generates more sales.

Dan Martin
I’ve hands-on experience in digital marketing since 2007, with a current emphasis on legal writing. I’ve been building teams and coaching others to foster innovation and solve real-time problems. I’ve built high-performance teams that have produced engaging content enjoyed by millions of people. I like to travel and take pictures.

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