Hashtags are misused quite often by people trying to market their businesses on social media.
It took me a while to understand them. But with a little investigation, you too can figure out the best hashtags to help you get found online for what you do.
Why should you care? Because how annoying is it to type those things in every post?
I do a copy and paste sometimes on my hashtags. But it’s still time consuming!
May as well learn the right way, so you don’t waste your own time.
Here’s a little secret. You will understand how hashtags work if you click on one of them.
Click on your own hashtag after you post a business update on your Facebook page.
Or click on someone else’s hashtag on a business post that they shared on Facebook or LinkedIn.
What’s the destination? Who else and what else shows up on that tagged, categorized page?
If you’re a local business looking to get local customers, use hashtags that include the name of your location in them.
So for example, let’s say you run a barbecue joint in Philly.
The hashtags you should use are #philadelphia, #philly, and any other common local hashtags used by people who also run food establishments in Philadelphia.
If #goodeatsphilly is a popular hashtag other local food preneurs are using, then use that also to show up where they show up.
What about going global with your content?
You should do it if you intend to monetize what you share.
Do it if you’re selling digital products, or you’re setting up AdSense to create passive income.
In that case, also include hashtags that relate to your topic.
So yours might be #barbecue #bbq #smokemeats #bbqchicken #ribs.
Continuing on with the same example, but read this with your own niche in mind…
What are some ways to monetize your hypothetical BBQ blog to a global audience of barbecue lovers?
- Share recipes or sell online recipe books.
- Post ideas, like “the perfect menu for your smoked barbecue wedding day.”
- Teach people how to smoke meats and make great barbecued recipes at home by posting how-to videos.
- Hook up an Amazon affiliate account and share links and product recommendations to things like meat smokers, grilling tools, and such.
- Grow your email list, and email people every time you add content, make an update, or launch a new digital product.
In that case, it would be a smart idea to go with category specific hashtags like the aforementioned #bbq #ribs etc.
The spoken version of this advice can be found here:
Using hashtags properly
To summarize:
- If you only intend to show up for local customers, then only use location specific hashtags.
- If you’re looking to build a world famous global following and sell online, then use topic specific hashtags.
This series of tips was brought to you by Dina of Healthy Happy NJ.
I create WordPress websites and help small businesses market on email and social media.
To outsource your project to me, email healthyhappynj @ gmail .com no spaces.