The Power of Hashtags


Hashtags have become a top component of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) within almost every social media platform. They help drive traffic to your site, boost visibility, and most importantly attract opportunity. As you integrate hashtags in your content, you are creating a type of algorithm which will generate free exposure without having to spend money on getting people to find you.

Although your bio or captions aren't searchable, not yet at least, on platforms like Instagram adding top trending hashtags to your posts can instantly increase the level at which your content is being discovered. Granted, using hashtags and coming up with the best ones can be a bit tricky at first so you have to do some research in order to know which hashtags currently generate the best results. The good news is that it’s easy to learn and there’s plenty of tips and information about using hashtags on the web.

One of the best ways to draw more people to your posts and attract your ideal audience is by using hashtags they are searching for daily. In order to complete this search you have to think of hashtags that relate directly to your business. If you get stuck, start by brainstorming ideas on paper that describe your business. Typically you want to start broad. For example let’s use Whole Foods Market, when you think of Whole Foods you think:

  • #organic
  • #natural
  • #green
  • #freshingredients
  • #healthy 
Now, you can move on to the type of customer that Whole Foods may attract like:
  • #plantbased
  • #healthylifestyle
  • #vegan
  • #cleaneating

10 hashtags is the usual recommended minimum to use per post and 30 being the maximum. You can also go beyond the 30 and more power to you if you can actually come up with that many! It’s more beneficial to you because you're giving yourself more room for exposure without having to use ads. Just make sure to keep them relevant to your intended audience and business.

You also don't want to use hashtags that have been used over and over again on the web and are in this case too broad like #travel, #fashion, or #beautiful. Although you may get a few extra likes, it will cause your content to become lost and harder for it to trend. Using the same hashtags for every post is also a big mistake. Some social media sites like Instagram have algorithms that might define your content as spam and hinder the visibility of your posts. So try to switch up your hashtags and if you get stuck, there are apps that can help you organize your posts and generate hashtags.

Lastly, don’t forget to follow hashtags. Media platforms that are big on hashtags, like Instagram, now let you follow any hashtag you like. This allows you to keep an eye on what your competitors are doing and keep tabs on your marketing strategies!