Hashtag Research
Understanding Hashtag Research
Hashtags are essential tools for categorizing content, increasing reach, and ensuring your posts are discoverable by the right audience. Here’s a modern guide on hashtag research, best practices, and do's and don'ts for major social media platforms.
Importance of Hashtags
Hashtags are pivotal in helping users discover content on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Posts with at least one hashtag gain an estimated 12.6% more engagement compared to those without. By categorizing content, hashtags enhance your reach and connect your posts with relevant audiences.
Types of Hashtags
Community Hashtags
Community hashtags connect you to your target audience and are usually focused on specific topics, such as #SEO, #HealthyLiving, or #TravelTips.
Benefits:
- Improve post SEO
- Increase reach and help you gain followers
- Connect with like-minded communities
Branded Hashtags
Branded hashtags represent your business and are used to create brand identity, aggregate user-generated content (UGC), and connect themes for your audience. Examples include #YourBrandNameDIY.
Campaign Hashtags
These are short-term hashtags used for specific campaigns or events, like #BlackFriday or #SummerSale. They help generate buzz around an event or campaign.
Best Strategy: Use a mix of all three types—community, branded, and campaign hashtags—to maximize reach and engagement.
Building an Effective Hashtag Plan
- Niche Hashtags: Find 3 niche hashtags (10K-100K posts).
- Medium Hashtags: Find 3 medium hashtags (100K-300K posts).
- Popular Hashtags: Find 3 popular hashtags (300K-3M posts).
Combining these different types of hashtags helps you target multiple audience sizes and ensures your content reaches diverse groups.
Avoid Overusing the Same Hashtags: Create multiple sets of hashtags to rotate between posts to avoid spammy behavior that could limit your reach.
Platform-Specific Hashtag Best Practices
- Number of Hashtags: Instagram recommends using 3-5 hashtags per post for optimal results. Avoid using too many hashtags (e.g., 10-20), as this can reduce reach.
- Research Hashtags: Use the Tags tab in Instagram’s search bar to discover relevant hashtags. Look at the number of posts to determine popularity and relevance.
- Mix Different Sizes: Use a combination of niche, medium, and popular hashtags to ensure broader visibility while also reaching more specific communities.
Do's:
- Do use a mix of broad and niche hashtags.
- Do use Instagram Insights to track the performance of hashtags.
Don'ts:
- Don't use irrelevant hashtags—they can make your content appear spammy.
- Don't overuse branded hashtags unless they add value to the post.
TikTok
- Number of Hashtags: TikTok allows for up to 100 characters in the caption, including hashtags. Use 3-5 hashtags to maximize engagement.
- Trending Hashtags: Check TikTok’s Discover page to identify trending hashtags and use those that align with your content to increase visibility.
- Interactive Hashtags: Create challenges or use interactive campaign hashtags to boost engagement.
Do's:
- Do leverage trending hashtags to increase the likelihood of appearing on the For You page.
- Do use hashtag challenges to boost audience interaction.
Don'ts:
- Don't use trending hashtags that are unrelated to your content.
- Don't overload captions with hashtags, as this can distract from the message.
- Number of Hashtags: LinkedIn recommends using 3-5 hashtags per post. These should be professional, relevant, and industry-specific.
- Research Hashtags: Use LinkedIn’s search bar to research hashtags. Tap on a hashtag to view related content and gauge its relevance.
- Mix Branded and Community Hashtags: Use branded hashtags for your company and community hashtags for broader reach.
Do's:
- Do use industry-specific hashtags to increase the chances of reaching a professional audience.
- Do use LinkedIn’s Hashtag Follow feature to stay updated on relevant topics.
Don'ts:
- Don't use casual or overly generic hashtags on LinkedIn. The platform’s audience is more professional, and your hashtags should reflect that.
- Don't overuse hashtags in a single post—keep it focused and purposeful.
- Number of Hashtags: Twitter recommends using 1-2 hashtags per tweet to maximize engagement without appearing spammy.
- Trending Topics: Use trending hashtags to increase tweet visibility, but ensure they’re relevant to your message.
- Create Conversations: Use unique hashtags to start conversations or to contribute to ongoing discussions.
Do's:
- Do use trending hashtags to reach a larger audience.
- Do engage in Twitter Chats using specific community hashtags.
Don'ts:
- Don't use more than two hashtags in a tweet—this can decrease engagement.
- Don't use hashtags that are off-topic, as they can reduce the credibility of your content.
How to Research Hashtags on Each Platform
Enter a word or phrase in the search box and switch to the Tags tab to view related hashtags. Check the number of posts below each hashtag to determine whether it’s popular and relevant.
TikTok
Search for a hashtag in the Discover tab or enter it directly with the "#" symbol in the search bar. Tap on a hashtag to see the feed and gauge popularity.
Use the search bar to find relevant hashtags. Clicking on a hashtag will show you the content associated with it, which helps in assessing its relevance.
Common Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid
- Using Irrelevant Hashtags
- Avoid using hashtags that are not related to your content. It may help boost reach in the short term, but it leads to a disengaged audience.
- Overloading Hashtags
- Using too many hashtags can make your content appear cluttered and spammy. Stick to the platform-recommended hashtag limits.
- Not Updating Hashtag Sets
- Social media trends change quickly. Make sure to update your hashtag sets regularly to include trending and relevant tags for maximum reach.