Have you ever scrolled through your social media feeds and noticed a word or phrase preceded by the #?
That hashtag is a powerful tool that has become an essential part of social media for individuals and businesses.
In this post, we will explore the world of hashtags and their benefits for marketers.
Hashtags have come a long way since their inception in 2007 on Twitter. They have become ubiquitous across all social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. With over 3.96 billion people using social media worldwide, hashtags have become an essential marketing tool for businesses to reach their target audience.
Let’s leap into hashtags and explore how they benefit marketers.
Definition of Hashtags
Before we delve into the benefits of hashtags for marketers, let’s start with the basics. A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by the # sign used to categorise content on social media. Hashtags make it easier for users to find content related to a particular topic or trend by searching for the hashtag.
For example, if you search for #marketingtips on Instagram, you will find all the posts tagged with that hashtag. Hashtags are not case-sensitive but should be easy to read and understand.
Now that we have a basic understanding of hashtags let’s explore the benefits of hashtags for marketers.
How Hashtags Increase Brand Awareness
Hashtags are an effective way to target a specific audience. Using hashtags relevant to your niche or industry can attract followers interested in your products or services.
For example, Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke campaign encouraged people to share photos of their personalised Coke bottles using the hashtag. This campaign was a huge success, with over 500,000 images shared on social media using the hashtag, resulting in a 7% increase in Coca-Cola sales.
Creating a branded hashtag is a great way to increase brand awareness and develop a sense of community around your brand.
How Hashtags Help with Audience Targeting
Hashtags are an effective way to target a specific audience. By using hashtags relevant to your niche or industry, you can attract followers interested in your products or services.
For example, if you are a fitness brand, you can use hashtags such as #fitness, #workout, and #fitfam to attract fitness enthusiasts. Using these hashtags, you can attract followers interested in fitness and more likely to engage with your content.
Using niche-specific hashtags is an effective way to attract a relevant audience and increase engagement on your posts.
How to Choose the Right Hashtags
Choosing the right hashtags is essential for successful hashtag marketing campaigns. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right hashtags:
A. Research your audience: Research your target audience and find out what hashtags they are using. This will help you choose relevant hashtags to attract your target audience.
B. Use niche-specific hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to your niche or industry. This will help you attract a relevant audience who are more likely to engage with your content.
C. Use popular hashtags: Use popular hashtags relevant to your brand. This will help you to increase your reach and attract new followers.
How to Use Hashtags Effectively
Now that you know how to choose the right hashtags, let’s explore how to use hashtags effectively:
A. Use a mix of hashtags: Use a combination of branded, niche-specific, and popular hashtags to attract a relevant audience and increase your reach.
B. Keep it simple: Use simple and easy-to-read hashtags that are easy to remember.
C. Don’t overdo it: Use 2-3 hashtags per post on Twitter and 5-10 hashtags on Instagram. Using too many hashtags can make your posts look spammy and reduce engagement.
Examples of Successful Hashtag Marketing Campaigns
Here are a few examples of successful hashtag marketing campaigns:
A. #IceBucketChallenge: The ALS Association‘s #IceBucketChallenge campaign went viral on social media in 2014. The campaign raised over $115 million for ALS research and awareness about the disease.
B. #LikeAGirl: Always’ #LikeAGirl campaign aimed to empower young girls and challenge gender stereotypes. The campaign was a huge success, with over 90 million views on YouTube and a 1,000% increase in social media mentions.
C. #ShareACoke: Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke campaign encouraged people to use the hashtag to share photos of their personalised Coke bottles. The campaign was a huge success, with over 500,000 images shared on social media using the hashtag, resulting in a 7% increase in Coca-Cola sales.
The Future of Hashtags in Marketing
Hashtags will continue to play a significant role in social media marketing in the future. With the rise of social media influencers and user-generated content, hashtags have become essential for businesses to reach their target audience.
As social media continues to evolve, hashtags will grow too. We can expect to see more personalised and branded hashtags and hashtags integrated with other marketing channels such as email marketing and SMS marketing.
The future of hashtags looks bright, and businesses that use them effectively will continue to see success on social media.
A Powerful Tool
Hashtags are a powerful tool that can help businesses increase brand awareness, target a relevant audience, and increase engagement on social media. Following the tips outlined in this blog post, companies can use hashtags effectively and create successful hashtag marketing campaigns.
With the continued growth of social media, hashtags will continue to play a significant role in marketing. So, start using hashtags in your social media posts today and watch your engagement soar!
Thanks for reading.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to learn more about how Makin can help you develop a thoroughly engaging marketing campaign for your business.