What is a hashtag?
A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by a hash or pound sign (#) and used to identify messages on a specific topic used throughout the world on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
What is a hashtag used for?
To explain this to you the simplest way possible they are like their own mini search engine that you design and/or include yourself in so that your content is recognized.
Example: I wanted to find other NMO patients like myself on Instagram so I searched #NMO #livingwithnmo #chronicillness #spoonie etc. And there my new friends magically appear. The same goes for business. Use hashtags that your customers and clients would use so that they can find YOU! For example: I am a #linkedincoach #onlinebusinesscoach #wordpresswebdesigner #podcaster etc.
I do the same when posting something health related pics on my feed so others can find me too! By doing so we are basically all incorporated into that searchable engine of that specific hashtag. Side note: You must have a public profile in order to appear! So do that now if you would like to be #found.
Many friends and clients who run a business ask me the same thing all the time!
What hashtags should I use?
My simple answer is always make a list! You are allowed 30 hashtags. In your Instagram Stories you are allowed 11. If you know me well enough by now I have a list for #everything. EVERYTHING! Do this in the “notes” section on your phone so it can then become a simple copy/paste to save you time!
Here is a little tip: Shrink the size of your hashtags and place your text over them so your IG story looks a lot cleaner. Also, place your hashtags for your post in the comments so that when you share your IG pic thee are not a million hashtags on the actual post that just showed up on Facebook or LinkedIn! If you have a question about this just leave it in the comments below so I can answer for you 🙂
By the way…Don’t be surprised if this researching takes a few hours. That is normal! This is all part of your marketing plan so time must be spent on it! It will all be worth it in the end. Promise…
To see the formula I use on my feed and how I post just hashtags in the comment section you check out my Instagram feed here…
If you want a client/customer? You have to think like one. What would they be typing? What hashtags are they using to find who or what they want? Use those words.
However, make it unique! Make it #STANDOUT!
YOU have to be able to #shinebright among the crowd. Especially when it comes to direct sales and marketing. There are hundreds and thousands of you trying to sell the same exact thing!
How are you going to stand out (besides amazing pics/graphics of course)? Do you want to start your own tribe and trend? My suggestion and answer to that is YES YOU DO! What you also want to do is create your own hashtag. Use the position you are in for a reason and create a movement. And this goes for any position out there!
Business Example: If I was someone looking for a jet to charter either to and from Las Vegas I would look under #lasvegasjets and there you would come across brokers and jets to choose from. I mean can it be any easier?
If you were interested in finding a specific type of business coach you would look under #businesscoach #linkedincoach #smallbusinesscoach #socialmediacoach. See the trend. It goes both ways. When you are trying to find something or someone that’s how you do it.
The best part about having an Instagram business account is that your followers can contact you right there and BOOM that could be an instant sale! Just from using the proper hashtag.
Can you even believe this is the day and age we live in now? It’s insane right?
Advice: Be very specific with your hashtags. Create them for an audience. Make them unique enough but specific for someone to want to engage with you not just like your pretty picture. Tell your story, introduce your self, create a conversation that others will want to engage with you.
Engagement: The whole point of using a hashtag is to honestly help you get seen and help create a conversation. You have to want to engage with your audience. Create those relationships. It can be for fun or for work. Either way just engage. Otherwise, why bother using a hashtag. I’m giving you this platform to share so definitely take advantage of it! Who knows? You may have made a new friend by the end of the day. #hashtags can do crazy things! Those stories will be for another time! #lol
Personal Use: #hashtags are a great idea for moms that want a simple search engine to find a pic they posted three years ago. Instead of scrolling through their feed for an hour they can simply look under their hashtag they have personally created. Sooo much easier right?
If you are a big traveler create a hashtag for each trip. There are so many apps out there right now that using those hashtags will then allow you to create a book using all those pics. You can literally design a book from an app in minutes. Great gift idea too!
Now for some #Hashtag humor…
I mean who doesn’t need a little Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake in their life?
Or maybe you are a Jonah Hill fan?
#haveagreatday
#untiltomorrow
KAG
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#pleaseandthankyou
