Hashtags and a hashtag strategy have always been a staple in social media posts, especially on platforms like Instagram. They serve as a way to categorize content, increase discoverability, and engage with a wider audience. However, with the ever-evolving landscape of social media, it is worth exploring whether hashtags are still relevant in today's digital age.
Are hashtags STILL IMPORTANT?
The short answer is yes! Hashtags remain important because they facilitate content discovery. When users search for a specific hashtag, they can find related posts and accounts. Hashtags act as a gateway to connect users with similar interests and enable them to explore new content. This is particularly important on platforms like Instagram, where the use of hashtags can significantly impact post visibility and reach. By including relevant hashtags in your Instagram posts, you increase the chances of reaching a larger audience and gaining more engagement.
Secondly, hashtags provide a way for brands and individuals to build a community and engage with their target audience. Creating a hashtag specific to a campaign, event, or brand can encourage user-generated content and foster a sense of belonging among followers. For instance, brands often encourage their customers to share photos or experiences using a branded hashtag. This user-generated content not only strengthens the brand's relationship with its audience but also acts as social proof, boosting credibility and trust.
Hashtags Influence Views and Engagement
Hashtags play a crucial role in tracking and measuring social media campaigns. By using unique hashtags for specific marketing initiatives, businesses can analyze the success of their campaigns and gauge the level of audience engagement. This data allows them to refine their strategies and optimize future marketing efforts. Hashtags also enable social media managers to monitor conversations surrounding their brand, industry, or competitors, gaining valuable insights and staying abreast of trends.
It is essential to acknowledge that the effectiveness of hashtags can vary based on platform and audience. While hashtags have significant relevance on Instagram, they might not carry the same weight on other platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn. Each platform has its own algorithm and user behavior, and it's crucial to tailor hashtag usage accordingly.
The quality and relevance of the hashtags used are essential. Overloading posts with generic or unrelated hashtags can dilute the message and attract spammy engagement. It's important to conduct research and choose hashtags that are specific, relevant, and aligned with the content and target audience.
The bottom Line
In our experience and research, hashtags and a well-thought-out hashtag strategy do continue to be relevant in social media posts, especially on Instagram. They aid in content discovery, community building, and campaign tracking. However, it is crucial to adapt hashtag usage to each platform and audience and ensure the hashtags chosen are of high quality and relevance. By incorporating a strategic approach to hashtags, brands can leverage their social media presence to connect with their target audience, increase visibility, and drive engagement. In other words, hashtags still work and we encourage you to not be afraid to get creative and experiment with new trending hashtags – you never know what kind of results you may see!
If you need help with hashtag research, creating a hashtag strategy that works with your small business, or anything else to help assist with your brand’s social media marketing efforts, reach out today!