Is it still relevant to use hashtags in 2022? Yes; but only if they are used properly. Hashtags have grown in popularity as a way to boost engagement, increase impressions, organize information and content the correct way, and link users across all social media sites.
Hashtags might not be as cool as they were before, but they are not completely obsolete yet. Many customers continue to use hashtags to find popular content, and it’s still one of the simplest ways to gain views and impressions on several social platforms.
Including hashtags in your social media content will not harm you; it just may no longer be your most valuable marketing resource. However, if utilized the right way, they can actually get your brand enough attention.
So, how can you use hashtags the right way to make your content reach the right audience and connect with them?
Let’s find out!
1. Don’t overuse hashtags- it’s a big no!
It is quite essential to know about the number of hashtags that are acceptable to use in your content when posting on certain platforms. For example, it is said to use 1-2 hashtags on Facebook and a maximum of 3 hashtags on Twitter. Don’t clutter your content with hashtags, it makes it look unauthentic, as well as unattractive. Moreover, you are going to lose followers if you use too many hashtags because people don’t really want to see too many of them. Properly research your hashtags and choose the ones that are the most relevant.
Instagram should be your go-to platform if you want to use more hashtags. However, these hashtags must be hidden from the text you add as the caption as well as the image. You can do this either by separating the hashtags from the text by using spaces in between or by leaving a comment of hashtags under the post.
1. Pick your hashtags according to the keywords
If we talk about relevant hashtags, you must brainstorm and choose the ones that perfectly describe as well as categorize your products. For example, if your product is a “repricer for Amazon”, then your ideal hashtag should be “#AmazonRepricer” or “Amazonrepricing” since a lot of Amazon sellers would be searching for a repricer by using similar hashtags on social media. That’s where the keywords come in. When you want to be very specific and accurate with your hashtags, hashtagging a relevant keyword is a great idea.
Most of the blogs these days are optimized for a particular keyword, and a smart move would be to use that same keyword as your hashtag too. keywords are the most typed phrases by the audience into social media and other search engines to find specific content or products. Since you want to keep your content attractive and use a limited number of hashtags, you’ll want to pick out those hashtags that are the most relatable to your post. Avoid using those hashtags that have nothing to do with your main category or theme.
2. Don’t choose hashtags with a high level of competition
Your post will get lost in the crowd if you use a hashtag that is the most searched or insanely popular. However, people will not search for hashtags that are too unique and thus, your post will be unreachable. The key is to find that gap in between and choose a hashtag that has a low level of competition but gets you enough impressions.
Conduct proper research to determine which hashtags are the most meaningful, with a lower level of competition. There are a few sites on the internet that have hashtag databases and can help you a lot in finding the best hashtags for your posts. Such as HashAtIt, Keyhole, and a lot more. Search for them!
3. Focus on your content
Since the algorithms of social media sites keep changing, it is necessary to focus on your content strategy rather than relying on hashtags. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter will definitely promote your content if it’s performing well in terms of keywords and user engagement. Make sure your content is valuable enough to rank in search results.
4. Build a relationship with your users
The goal of hashtagging is to attract new users and increase impressions. However, social media is rapidly shifting away from this impression-based approach. For instance, since the algorithm of Facebook has recently changed, content related to business will only appear on the feeds of users if they are following the page. In short, rather than focusing on generating fresh impressions, social media is increasingly becoming a medium for building and improving relationships between businesses and customers.
If you start interacting with your customers and followers, they will certainly promote your content through sharing and marketing it by word of mouth. The best way to do this is by following the PAS (Problem, Agitate, Solve) technique. Mention a problem in your caption while posting a post on social media, and then present a link to a blog or any site that solves the mentioned issue. For example, if we want to promote a repricer software on social media, then make sure your caption states a problem faced by Amazon sellers related to repricing and link to a blog that shows how your Amazon repricer solves it. This method encourages followers to click on the link and get the solution to their issues. As a result, they start liking your page a lot more and keep following your posts.
Make sure you choose the right social media forums to get attention without the use of as many hashtags.
In Conclusion,
Due to spam as well as ever-changing social media algorithms, hashtags have lost their popularity. However, they are not completely off the charts for marketers yet. You can use hashtags the right way by conducting detailed hashtag research and choosing the best ones to increase your post’s visibility on social media.