Hashtags and social media.

In a previous blog we covered the advantages of social media marketing. Within social media, the hashtag has become indispensable. The hashtag (in Dutch ‘hekje’) is used to highlight channels or topics and to make these topics findable. They’re keywords you add to the posts you publish. Did you know Twitter was the first to start with the hashtag? Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn followed after. But what exactly is the point of this hashtag, and is it necessary for every channel? We explain it in this blog.

Increase your interaction and reach on Instagram

Using the hashtag ensures that posts on Instagram are filtered down to one particular topic. This makes posts easier to find for your target audience. Instagram users can click on this hashtag or follow it when they’re interested in a particular topic. This lets your target audience find your topic faster and more easily. By using hashtags, you can reach people who don’t yet follow your page.

When you search for, for example, #websitedevelopment, you get all the posts with this hashtag in one overview. Thanks to the hashtag used in your post, the reach of your post and your page is increased. It’s therefore handy to add hashtags to your post, so that it becomes easier to find for people who might be part of your target audience. On top of that, adding a hashtag creates more interaction with people who are interested in the topics you share on Instagram.

The way of placing hashtags with Instagram posts differs per person. Some people place the hashtags in a separate comment underneath the posted post, others put the hashtags in the post itself, at the end of the text. This is mainly a personal choice. Whatever you prefer yourself, you can apply to your own posts. The ideal number of hashtags you can use on Instagram is somewhere between 1 and 30.

Use your event or a trending topic on Facebook

After the success of the hashtag on Instagram, Facebook followed with a similar search function. Just like on Instagram, the hashtag turns into a link you can click on. On Facebook, however, the use of hashtags has stayed smaller-scale than on Instagram. Facebook users use hashtags less than Instagram users do. For Facebook, it’s recommended to use 1 to 2 hashtags that apply to your post or to your business or service. This can increase the chance of your target audience finding you faster on Facebook. Especially with an event or a trending topic, using hashtags is advisable.

Professional hashtags on LinkedIn

On LinkedIn, it’s important to remember that LinkedIn is mainly used professionally. So mainly use professional terms for your hashtags as well. This doesn’t mean, of course, that the content of your posts can’t be funny or challenging. Mainly think about what you, as a business or individual, want to convey to the people you want to reach. Make sure, of course, that your post and profile are public here. Otherwise you’ll only reach the connections within your own network on LinkedIn. Using hashtags can actually help you expand your network and increase your findability. With hashtags, you can also make sure your post reaches a particular audience. The number of hashtags you use per post on LinkedIn is a maximum of 3.

How do you use hashtags on Pinterest?

On Pinterest, you use hashtags in the description of your pin. On Pinterest too, hashtags contribute to a higher findability of your post and your page. Pinterest works mainly through the use of keywords. That’s why it’s important to think carefully about hashtags with your posts. On Pinterest, it’s advisable to use 4 to 5 hashtags in your pin description. Pinterest itself recommends not using more than 20 hashtags. Write your hashtags on Pinterest at the end of your post too, so that your pin description stays clear and interesting.

Conclusion

For each channel, you need to keep in mind what you want to achieve by using hashtags with your posts. The advice for the number of hashtags per post differs per channel. When using hashtags, always think about what you want to achieve by adding the hashtags. Simply using words that are, for example, trending, doesn’t always reach the right people. When posting your message, mainly think about what your target audience is searching for and which new people you want to reach on your social media channels.