December 19, 2019
5 Reasons you need a Social Media Hashtag Strategy
66.6% of Instagram posts contain atleast one hashtag.
Hashtags have now become a social media phenomenon and a powerful part for online marketing strategies. They can be easily created and are searchable, thus becoming an indispensable tool for brands, organisations, celebrities and even common individuals. If used correctly, hashtags can contribute to large conversations and help the audience to dig deeper into a topic.
Audiences can also follow and engage with particular or specific hashtags to stay updated on a current topic or trend. They can also create their own hashtags to promote any product or service.
The key to a successful hashtag strategy is understanding the target audience and which hashtags they follow.
Here are some reasons to justify the utilisation of hashtags:
1. Increase the organic reach of the post
Hashtags are essential on sites like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter since they help gain visibility on social media networks. Hashtags help reach more audience organically and can also keep a track of the reach and engagement numbers. It also makes a social media post attractive and influences people to like the brand or page for more updates.
2. Branding and Visibility
Leveraging hashtags to elevate branding is a great idea. If a brand is new, then hashtags can be utilized to expand the audience reach and increase brand awareness. When users search for a brand, they’ll see the relevant hashtags that the brand is using; or when they search for specific hashtags, they’ll see the brand’s posts in the results. This usually results in the brand gaining new followers and potential customers. Be it new or established, a brand can create its own hashtag for a product, service or an event promotion. Brands can encourage followers to use their hashtags when they purchase or use a product, or when they’re at an event hosted by the brand. Creating a unique hashtag gives the brand a chance to dominate that hashtag. Continuously including that hashtag in posts not only helps increase visibility but also helps users to associate with the brand, thus encouraging brand loyalty.