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!

Reaching a Broader Audience with Influencers or Micro-influencers

Collaborating with influencers or micro-influencers means partnering with individuals who have a significant following on social media to promote your brand or products. Influencers generally have a larger audience and thus more influence and a larger reach, or followers, while micro-influencers have a smaller but highly engaged and niche audience.

Here’s how to make either collab successful:

1. Identify the Right Influencers:

• Relevance: Choose influencers whose content aligns with your brand and industry. Their audience should be your target demographic.

• Engagement: Look for influencers with high engagement rates rather than just a large follower count. Engaged followers are more likely to be influenced by their recommendations.

• Authenticity: Select influencers who genuinely use and endorse products like yours. Authenticity resonates better with audiences.

2. Set Clear Objectives:

• Goals: Define what you aim to achieve with the collaboration—brand awareness, lead generation, sales, or content creation.

• KPIs: Establish key performance indicators such as reach, engagement, website traffic, or conversions to measure the success of the campaign.

3. Build a Relationship:

• Engage: Follow potential influencers, like, comment, and share their content to build a rapport before reaching out.

• Personalize Outreach: When you contact potential influencers, personalize your message to show that you’ve done your homework and appreciate their work.

4. Create a Win-Win Proposal:

• Value Exchange: Offer something of value to the influencer, such as free products, payment, or exclusive access to your services.

• Creative Freedom: Allow influencers to create content in their own style. Their authenticity and unique voice are what their followers trust and appreciate.

5. Develop a Collaborative Campaign:

• Content Plan: Work together to plan the type of content they will create—posts, stories, videos, live sessions, or blog articles.

• Timeline: Establish a clear timeline for content creation and publication, ensuring it aligns with any product launches or promotional periods.

6. Utilize Multiple Platforms:

• Cross-Platform Promotion: Encourage influencers to promote your brand across different platforms (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc.) for broader reach.

• Diverse Content: Different platforms support different types of content; leverage this to create varied and engaging promotional material.

7. Track and Analyze Performance:

• Analytics: Use tracking tools and UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) parameters to monitor the performance of influencer posts.

• Adjust Strategy: Analyze the results to understand what works and refine your approach for future collaborations.

8. Foster Long-Term Relationships:

• Ongoing Partnerships: Consider building long-term relationships with influencers who deliver great results, making them brand ambassadors.

• Continuous Engagement: Keep engaging with their content and maintaining communication even after the initial campaign ends.

Example:

Suppose you own a small eco-friendly skincare brand. You might collaborate with a beauty influencer known for promoting sustainable and ethical products. After identifying the right influencer, you could send them a personalized package of your products and propose a collaboration where they create a series of Instagram stories and a dedicated post reviewing your products. You might also include a discount code or a giveaway to further engage their audience.

By following these steps, you can effectively leverage influencers to amplify your brand's reach, build credibility, and ultimately drive more traffic and sales through your social media channels.

If you need help developing and managing an influencer campaign for your small business, Take Flight can help!

Clients Ask: How Do Small Businesses Utilize Instagram Highlights

Instagram highlights are curated collections of your previously posted Stories that you can showcase on your profile. They appear as circles below your bio and remain visible permanently, allowing you to highlight important or favorite moments for your followers to view at any time.

Small businesses can utilize Instagram highlights to showcase their products or services, share customer testimonials, provide behind-the-scenes glimpses, highlight promotions or events, and organize content into easily accessible categories. This feature allows businesses to create engaging and informative collections that stay visible on their profile, helping to attract and retain followers while effectively communicating their brand story.

Follow these simple tips to get started:

1. Choose a Relevant Name

Give each highlight a clear and concise name that reflects the content within. This helps your audience quickly identify what they can expect.

2. Curate High-Quality Content

Ensure that the images or videos you add to your highlights are visually appealing and represent your brand or message effectively.

3. Highlight Key Products/Services

Create highlights that showcase your best-selling products or highlight the services you offer. This can pique interest and encourage potential customers to explore further.

4. Organize Your Highlights

Arrange your highlights in a logical order to make it easy for visitors to navigate through your content. Consider using categories or themes to create a structured experience.

5. Craft Engaging Covers

Design eye-catching covers for your highlights to attract attention. Use consistent branding elements, such as your logo or brand colors, to create a cohesive look.

6. Include CTAs

Use text overlays or stickers within your highlights to include calls-to-action (CTAs) that prompt viewers to take a desired action, such as visiting your website or making a purchase.

7. Utilize Story Highlights Icons

Instagram now allows you to add custom icons to your highlights, giving them a unique and professional touch. Use relevant icons that align with your brand aesthetic.

8. Keep Highlights Updated

Regularly review and update your highlights to reflect your latest offerings, promotions, or important announcements. Outdated information can discourage engagement.

9. Cross-Promote Your Highlights

Promote your highlights in your Instagram Stories and posts to increase visibility. Encourage your followers to explore your highlights for a more comprehensive experience.

10. Monitor Analytics

Pay attention to the insights provided by Instagram about your highlight performance. Identify which highlights are resonating with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

By implementing these tips, you can leverage Instagram Highlights to effectively grow your audience and generate leads. Remember, consistency and relevance are key to maximizing the potential of this feature. Happy highlighting!

Not sure where to begin? Reach out and let the Take Flight team help create Highights for you.

5 Essential Strategies to Conquer Stress & Beat Burnout for Small Business Owners

Running a small business can be incredibly rewarding, but we know first hand, it also comes with its fair share of stressors. From managing staff and meeting client expectations and payroll to tossing and turning all night trying to come up with fresh ways to reach new audiences, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and burned out. With the right strategies in place, you can conquer stress and prevent burnout.

Here are our five of our tried and true tips to help you stay on top of your game:

1. Prioritize SelfCare:

   As a small business owner, it's tempting to put your business before everything else, including your own well-being, but neglecting self-care only leads to increased stress and burnout in the long run. Make selfcare a priority by scheduling regular breaks, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating nutritious meals. Remember, taking care of yourself isn't selfish – it's essential for maintaining your productivity and mental health.

2. Delegate and Outsource:

   You don't have to do it all alone. Delegating tasks to trusted employees or outsourcing non-core activities can help lighten your workload and reduce stress. Identify tasks that can be handled by others and empower your team to take ownership. Not only does this free up your time to focus on high-priority tasks, but it also fosters a sense of trust and collaboration within your organization.

3. Set Boundaries:

   It's easy to let work bleed into every aspect of your life, but setting boundaries between work and personal time is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Establish specific working hours, and stick to them as much as possible. Resist the urge to check emails or take work calls outside of these hours. By creating boundaries, you'll prevent burnout and preserve time for relaxation and rejuvenation.

4. Practice Stress Management Techniques:

   When stress levels rise, it's essential to have coping mechanisms in place to help you manage. Experiment with different stress management techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or mindfulness practices. Find what works best for you and incorporate it into your daily routine. Taking regular breaks throughout the day to practice these techniques can help reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.

5. Seek Support:

   Running a small business can be very isolating, but you don't have to go it alone. Surround yourself with a supportive network of fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, or business coaches who understand the challenges you're facing and share tips of their own. Having someone to talk to and bounce ideas off can provide valuable perspective and emotional support during stressful times.

By prioritizing self-care, delegating tasks, setting boundaries, practicing stress management techniques, and seeking support, you can conquer stress and beat burnout as a small business owner. Remember, taking care of yourself is not only essential for your well-being but also for the success of your business.

If you are reach to outsource your marketing or need help boosting your social media presence, we can take that off your plate and work within your budget. Reach out today for a FREE, no strings attached consultation.