#TOOMUCH!

How To Use Hashtags The Right Way

In the world of social media, hashtags have become a major part of how we communicate. I mean even in actual face to face conversations we find that people still seem to actually hashtag things in their conversation. So, how important are hashtags, how do they work, and is there such a thing as too much hash tagging?

I guess, in order to understand the importance of hashtags we need to understand what they are and how they work. Now I’m no hashtag specialist, but I took the time out to do some research for you. So, hashtags are labels used to help people find information easier on social media for specific themes and content. Usually the more trendy something is the more people hashtag it, which could be a good and a bad thing. A specific hashtag can help your target audience find you, but if the hashtag is used to much, you can get lost in the well of a million other people using the same hashtag. #NoGood! You want to use a hashtag that not too many people are using, something trendy, and something that sticks out along with some popular hashtags. I mean, we do want to show up on the grid. So, use hashtags that describe your content. For example, our hashtag #KweMe it short, it rhymes so it catchy, and its not being used by a million people. It’s relevant to our business and what we do. It screams KWE look at ME, I’m a butt kicking business women that you should promote! #AreYouUsingOurHashtag?

If you’re like me, you were taught to use as many hashtags as possible, #NoGo! We have been doing this totally wrong according to hash tagging specialist. During my research I found that too much hash tagging can result in social media platforms seeing you as a spammer. What, me, a spammer? #NoWay, I mean yeah, we want people to see our content, but I’m not so desperate that I’d become a spammer bombarding people like an attention hungry weirdo. But, according to these specialists, when we over hashtag, that’s exactly what we are doing. #Guilty, I was a spammer and didn’t even know it. They also say over hash tagging makes it seem like we are reaching out to anyone who will hear us and it takes away from our captions. We are not desperate house wives of Phoenix!!! We are professional business women for goodness sakes. We have targets, we have goals, and we want loyal audiences! Well, over hash tagging says other words, so DON’T DO IT!!!!

So, what is over hash tagging? When is enough, enough? Well, according to research 4 to 10 hashtags is where you’ll see the most engagement, with no increase in engagement after four, and a decrease after 10. In the hashtag world guys, it seems less is more! So, out of everything I researched here are things to avoid, more than 10 hashtags, using hashtags that aren’t relevant to your brand, and using hashtags to many people are using. Instead your hashtag agenda should be to target a specific audience, help people find you, and describe your content. Now let’s go hashtag like a #boss!

CITATION

Taylor, Nancy. June 12, 2015. Why are #Hashtags So Darn Important?. https://www.naylor.com/associationadviser/why-are-hashtags-important/

1. A hashtag is a label used on social media sites that makes it easier to find information with a theme or specific content. Hashtags encourage social media users to explore content that catches their eye. Associations can use hashtags to reach their target audience and to help members filter information

Harry. January 13, 2020. How Many Hashtags Is Too Many?. https://www.hashtagsforlikes.co/blog/how-many-hashtags-is-too-many/

1. 10 Hashtags or Less

2. Research has shown that engagement levels on Instagram are highest when between four and 10 tags are used in one post.

3. It also suggests that engagement levels don’t increase after four or five but maintain the same level of engagement. Engagement levels were found to being to drop off when users added over 10 tags to their posts.

4. To many hash tags could make you seem like a spammer

5. You look like you are reaching out to anyone instead of your specific audience

6. You can take away from your captions

Barnhart, Brent. May 06, 2020. Using Instagram Hashtags to Grow Your Audience. https://sproutsocial.com/insights/instagram-hashtags/

1. Target a specific audience

2. Help people find you

3. Describe your content

4. Don’t Use more than 10 hashtags

5. Don’t Use hashtags that aren’t relevant

6. Don’t Use hashtags too many people are using