The dos and don’ts of using hashtags on social media

Hashtags are a powerful tool that can help you reach a wider audience on social media. When used correctly, they can help you get your content seen by people who are interested in what you have to say. However, if used incorrectly, hashtags can actually hurt your reach and make your posts look spammy.

Here are some dos and don’ts of using hashtags on social media:

DOs:

Use relevant hashtags:  The most important thing is to use hashtags that are relevant to your content. When users search for a hashtag, they want to see content that is actually about that topic. If you use irrelevant hashtags, your content will be less likely to be seen.

Use a mix of popular and niche hashtags: Popular hashtags will get your content seen by a lot of people, but they will also be more competitive. Niche hashtags are less competitive, but they will also reach a smaller audience. It’s a good idea to use a mix of both types of hashtags to maximize your reach.

Use brand hashtags: If you have a brand, create a unique hashtag for it and encourage your followers to use it. This is a great way to build brand awareness and get people talking about your brand on social media.

Use hashtags sparingly. It’s generally best to use no more than 10-15 hashtags per post. Using too many hashtags can make your post look spammy and turn people off.

Monitor your hashtags: Once you’ve published a post, take some time to monitor the hashtags you used. See who is using them and what kind of content they are posting. This will help you learn more about your audience and what kind of content they are interested in.

DON’T:

Use irrelevant hashtags. As mentioned above, using irrelevant hashtags will hurt your reach and make your content less likely to be seen.

Use too many hashtags. Using too many hashtags can make your post look spammy and turn people off.

Use hashtags in the wrong places. Hashtags should be used in the body of your post, not in the caption. You should also avoid using hashtags in your bio.

Use banned hashtags. Some hashtags are banned on certain social media platforms. If you use a banned hashtag, your post will not be seen.

Use hashtags for self-promotion. Hashtags should be used to reach a wider audience and connect with other users, not to simply promote yourself.

Some additional tips for using hashtags effectively:

Use a variety of hashtags. Don’t just use the same hashtags over and over again. This will make your content look repetitive and will not help you reach a new audience.

Use trending hashtags. Trending hashtags are hashtags that are currently popular on social media. Using trending hashtags can help you get your content seen by more people.

Use relevant emojis. Emojis can help to make your hashtags more visually appealing and can also help to convey the tone of your post.

Use hashtag analytics. Many social media platforms offer hashtag analytics that can help you track the performance of your hashtags. This information can help you learn more about your audience and what kind of hashtags are working best for you.

How to use hashtags on different social media platforms

Each social media platform has its own unique rules and guidelines for using hashtags. Here is a brief overview of how to use hashtags on the most popular social media platforms:

Twitter: On Twitter, you can use up to 10 hashtags per tweet. It is generally best to use no more than 5-7 hashtags per tweet, as more than that can make your tweet look spammy.

Instagram: On Instagram, you can use up to 30 hashtags per post. However, it is generally best to use no more than 10-15 hashtags per post, as more than that can make your post look spammy. You can also use hashtags in your Instagram stories.

Facebook: On Facebook, you can use up to 65 hashtags per post. However, it is generally best to use no more than 10-15 hashtags per post, as more than that can make your post look spammy.

LinkedIn: On LinkedIn, you can use up to 5 hashtags per post. It is generally best to use relevant industry hashtags on LinkedIn.

Hashtags can be a powerful tool for reaching a wider audience on social media. However, it is important to use them correctly. By following the dos and don’ts above, you can learn how to use hashtags effectively to reach your target audience and grow your social media following.