In this installment of How’d They Do That, we underscore the importance of hashtag tactics for small business social media marketing. If your strategy does not include tagging a message with a hashtag that is unique to your business or brand, revisit your plan. Don’t miss out on one of the most effective ways to engage with your audience and build a community of brand advocates.
Kristen Curtiss, a social media specialist who focuses on small businesses for Constant Contact, put together an excellent article on the history of hashtags, how they work and best practices. Here are a few highlights.
In 2007, Twitter users began using the # sign in front of words or phrases to create groups within Twitter. Then in 2009, Twitter took a cue from their users and began hyperlinking all hashtags in tweets. Now, in 2014, all major social networks (excluding LinkedIn) hyperlink hashtags because the adoption rate has been huge!
When someone clicks on a hashtag on any of these social networks, they’ll automatically be shown all other public posts that include the same hashtag. This is incredibly valuable for a small business because it can expose your content to a wider audience, and help your business get found. If someone does a search on a social network, or Google, for a hashtag you used, your post — and potentially even your profile — can be found by someone you never would have reached without hashtags. This happens all the time. Hashtags are widely used to search for content within social networks and search engines, which means hashtags give you a great opportunity to get your information in front of potential customers without paying a dime!
Use hashtags on all social networks you have a presence on, but don’t go overboard! Too many hashtags can hurt your engagement and can get you unfollowed.
Read Kristen’s entire article, Why Are Hashtags So Darn Important? at ConstantContact.com and tune in to this episode of LGK’s The Marketing Mojo Show to hear her hashtag advice for your small business.
Instagram has become an increasingly popular platform for hashtag marketing tactics. The content experts at NewsCred recently shared some terrific client campaign examples, which demonstrate the success of this low-cost tactic. Here are a few highlights of the #AirrostiCrossFit hashtag campaign for their client, Airrosti Rehab Centers.
- They’ve required entrants to follow them, growing their Instagram fanbase and increasing awareness of their brand online.
- They’ve chosen a contest theme that is very relevant to prospective followers, allowing them to showcase their individual fitness training for the Crossfit Open, while still tying in their brand.
- The prize package [a kit of CrossFit products] is very specifically relevant to their target audience. Offering very active people these types of products that are valuable to their needs and interests is perfect. They know what crossfitters would want to win and have chosen their prize accordingly.
Read the article and see more examples at newscred.com.
Are hashtags part of your social strategy? Feel free to share your experiences and thoughts in the comments section of this post.
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