Hashtags look like a small thing, and plenty of business owners either ignore them or throw thirty into every post and hope for the best. There's a better middle ground, and it's not complicated.
🧐 What a hashtag is, and what it does
A hashtag is just a word or phrase with a # in front of it, like #BuryStEdmunds or #SmallBusiness. Tap one and you'll see every public post that used it. That's the whole trick: a hashtag files your post under a topic, so people interested in that topic can stumble across you, even if they've never heard of you before.
🎯 Choosing the right ones
The aim is to be found by the right people, not just any people. A good mix uses two types:
Broader tags for reach. Popular, general tags (like #SocialMediaTips) put you in front of a big audience. Lots of eyes, but lots of competition too.
Niche tags for the right audience. More specific tags (like #SuffolkBusiness or #BuryStEdmundsBakery) reach fewer people, but the right ones, folk genuinely likely to care about what you do.
A handful of each, relevant to the post, beats a giant pile of random ones every single time.
🏷️ Have one that's your own
It's worth having a hashtag that's just yours, your business name, or a little phrase you use. On its own it won't reach strangers, but it gathers all your posts (and any your customers tag you in) in one place, and slowly builds recognition. Keep it short, easy to spell and easy to remember.
🤝 Get your customers involved
Some of the best content is the stuff your customers make. Nudge them to use your hashtag when they share a photo of your work, their meal, their new haircut, whatever it is you do. A genuine post from a happy customer is worth more than any advert, and it costs you nothing but the asking.
📱 A quick word on each platform
The unwritten rules differ a little depending on where you're posting:
Facebook: a couple of relevant tags is plenty.
Instagram: this is where hashtags really earn their keep. Five to ten relevant ones works well, and you can tuck them in the first comment to keep your caption tidy.
LinkedIn: keep it to two or three professional, on-topic tags.
The theme throughout: relevant and tidy beats loads and random.
🔄 Keep an eye on what works
Hashtags aren't a set-and-forget job. Every so often, glance at which posts reached the most people and which tags they used. Do more of what's working, quietly drop what isn't. A few minutes now and then keeps things ticking over nicely.
🌟 In short
Hashtags are a free, simple way to be found by people who'd never otherwise come across you. Pick relevant ones, mix broad with niche, have one of your own, and tidy up as you go. Get that right and the humble # quietly pulls its weight.