How a few words can increase engagement on social media

I’m sure you’ve noticed that there is no shortage of social media tips and techniques!

But have you also noticed that most of those tips focus on general information, like how to get more followers or likes, or how to post engaging content to engage your users?

Those resources are important, but I notice that hashtags are sometimes forgotten.

They are rarely mentioned in marketing articles, but they are a great tool for building your brand, raising awareness for marketing campaigns, and engaging/entertaining your audience.

How do hashtags work?

If you’re new to social media, I know it can seem overwhelming.

You may have seen these words with the # in front of them on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. (The hashtag actually got its start in 2007, when Twitter started using it to index keywords to make them easier to search.)

But what are these words supposed to do? Should you use them? Why are they seemingly random?

I’ve put together this guide to help you understand how to use hashtags (and what the heck they are!) so you can increase engagement and leads on social media.

Think of hashtags as a way to categorize your content.

Ultimately, they help people find and share posts on a specific topic.

When you create your social media post, you take a word or words and put the pound sign (#) in front of it. If you use two words, do not put a space between them. Now, the phrase can be clicked and searched for on the social media platform the user is on.

Choosing the right hashtags

When done correctly, these tags can help you get more exposure for your business and increase engagement on social media. But like any social media strategy, you need to do your research and think before you post.

I will facilitate this process for you. Here are 7 ways to start choosing the right hashtags:

1. Create them for events.

This is one of the best ways to increase excitement and engagement on your social media accounts. For example, the Cornucopia Wine Festival in Whistler shared many posts on their Twitter and Instagram accounts with the hashtag #Cornucopia2019, as did their fans and attendees.

2. Tag famous people or big brands.

Take a look at the trends on Twitter and try to incorporate them into your posts; but only if it is relevant. People are going to know if you are trying to force it or being fake.

Some examples are big sporting events, musician record releases, vacations, and popular books. If someone who is famous in your industry is in the news, you could use that hashtag on one of your posts.

3. Do your research.

Whether you’re researching the latest news for the upcoming Canadian federal elections or the hockey playoffs, you can do a tag search to find various posts on the topic.

Searching for tags on social media platforms can be a perfect way to find new ideas and spy on the competition.

A great resource for finding popular hashtags is https://hashtagify.me/hashtag/tbt

4. Encourage sharing.

The more people share your hashtag and use it in their posts, the more exposure, engagement, and traffic you’ll get.

You may remember the #ShareACoke campaign. The company changed its iconic logo on 20-ounce bottles and replaced it with 250 of the most popular American names.

It was one of their most successful campaigns, generating a 2% increase in soda sales and huge engagement on social media as followers shared cans and bottles with their names on them.

5. Convert a tag to a campaign.

Many users “monitor” certain words, so focusing on one consistently can help you gain a following.

For example, you could create a campaign with multiple posts about a specific product you offer or a holiday promotion you’re running.

6. Find some weekly post topics.

This is an easy way to link a trending tag to your business.

Some common topics include #throwbackthursday, where people post anything from past vacation photos to high school graduation photos; and #wisdomwednesday, where they share their advice on all sorts of topics.

I use #MotivationMonday and #TuesdayTip on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels and often mix in other popular hashtags for optimal exposure.

7. Use humor.

People love to share fun stuff with others, whether it’s a trending meme or a relatable story. Here’s a hashtag late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon came up with for people to share: #MyWorstCostume.

By understanding which hashtags will resonate with your target audience, you can tap into a whole world of people who are looking for exactly what you’re offering. So start brainstorming and research how to add some fun and functional tags to your next post!

Need help with hashtags? We’ve created an entire social media division for entrepreneurs and small business owners who understand the importance of having a social media strategy but just don’t have the time to bring it to life on their own. let’s connect.