Hashtags vs. Keywords: What's the Difference and How Are Small Businesses Using Them?

Clients ask us all the time about the difference between hashtags and keywords and how small businesses are utilizing them to their full advantage. Understanding the distinction between these two can significantly impact your online presence and marketing strategy.

Here's a simple explanation:

Hashtags

What They Are: A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by the "#" symbol.

Purpose: They are used on social media platforms to categorize content and make it easily searchable. By clicking on a hashtag, you can see all posts that include that hashtag.

Placement: Hashtags are added directly to social media posts, comments, or captions. They are clickable and lead users to a feed of other posts using the same hashtag.

Example: If you post a picture of your cat with the hashtag #CuteCats, people searching for #CuteCats will find your post.

Usage: Common on platforms like Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Facebook.

Keywords

What They Are: Keywords are specific words or phrases that describe the main topics or themes of content.

Purpose: They are used in various forms of content (like websites, blogs, and ads) to help search engines understand what the content is about and to improve search engine rankings.

Placement: Keywords are seamlessly woven into website content, meta descriptions, titles, and headers. They must be relevant to the content, ensuring a natural and coherent flow.

Example: If you have a website about healthy recipes, your keywords might include "healthy eating," "low-carb recipes," and "vegetarian meals."

Usage: Important for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to make your content discoverable on search engines like Google.

Key Differences

Symbol: Hashtags use the "#" symbol, while keywords do not.

Function: Hashtags categorize and connect social media posts, while keywords help search engines understand and rank web content.

Platform: Hashtags are primarily used on social media; keywords are used in website content and digital marketing.

Think of hashtags as a way to join a conversation on social media, and keywords as a way to help people find your content on the internet. If you need more help navigating hashtags and keywords for your business, reach out to the Take Flight team today!

CLIENTS ASK: Are hashtags still relevant?

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!