In this everchanging world of social media, marketers must do more than keep up; they must
stay ahead. It’s more important than ever for marketers to stay on top of the trends that can help
their success in this arena. One such strategy is using hashtags, but are they still valuable
today?
Are hashtags still relevant?
Are hashtags still relevant? The answer is yes. They're still important! But, their relevance tends to differ from every platform.
Hashtags are a great way to start conversations, but keep them short and sweet for maximum effectiveness! Shorter hashtags encourage people to use them more frequently on various platforms according to Flexisourceit.
Let's talk about the most frustrating platform...YES, Instagram. I'm sure we are all fed up with Instagram's ever-changing algorithm; although Instagram can accept up to 30 hashtags per post, less is more when it comes to a solid strategy! Aim for 3-5 relevant tags in order to maximize engagement rather than overusing hashtags. Other experts even claim 7 to 8 hashtags are a good amount on Instagram.
As I mentioned before, less is more when it comes to other hashtags; what about other social platforms like Facebook? While Facebook has the option to add hashtags, they are nowhere near as popular as other platforms.
Facebook has been an ongoing debate for a while with business experts. Some say that hashtags on Facebook have no impact; some say they do. If you believe using hashtags is beneficial for Facebook, the recommended amount is 2-3 per post for Facebook.
Twitter is one of the first social platforms that started to utilize hashtags. However, using hashtags on advertising Tweets can be tricky and may have the opposite intended effect. To avoid this, the best way to use hashtags are in Tweets to start a conversation.
For example, you can use hashtags in the sentence. [Ex: It is a #beautiful day #today.] Only 1-2 hashtags per post are recommended to get the best engagement.
Youtube
YouTube has the maximum capacity of using up to 15 hashtags. YouTube has stated that if you use more than 15 hashtags, it will ignore your post. YouTube does not want you to do it over. Because of this, experts recommend 3-5 hashtags per post.
LinkedIn is similar! When it comes to hashtags, not a lot of hashtags seem necessary. Selecting 3 hashtags is the sweet spot per post for LinkedIn.
Things to keep in mind when using hashtags across all platforms!
1. Make short and memorable hashtags; this makes searching and starting conversations easier. Short, sweet, and something catchy will grab their attention and will give the "memory" factor.
3. Use your hashtags across all marketing channels.
4. Follow your own hashtags
Conclusion
Social media helps us to stay connected with old friends, new acquaintances, and much more. But it is clear that the rules of the game are changing.
For many reasons, we have seen a decline in using hashtags as part of posts and content. No one-size-fits-all methodology exists because each platform has various algorithms and formats for optimizing user experience.
What this means for us is that we must be accepting of changes and adjust accordingly if we want our content to reach its highest potential. However, this can be quite challenging, especially if you are not up to date with trends from across the industry.
That's why if you find yourself falling behind in the ever-changing landscape of social media, consider looking for a trusted social media marketing agency to get you caught up and start getting more impressions for your brand.
Let us know your thoughts about hashtags not being as valuable as before. Let's learn from each other and stay informed within our field of expertise!