#hashtags

​          Including hashtags on your social media posts can be a difficult art to master. There are so many different hashtags and ways to use them. There are branded hashtags, trending hashtags, campaign hashtags, small hashtags, unique hashtags and more. How do I use them on different social media platforms and when? 
 
Branded #Hashtags
            You can start out with creating a branded hashtag. Inspiration for this is most likely going to come from your company name. We use #RancherProfiles on every post on our social media. It doesn’t just have to be your company name though, it can be a variation of your name and/or what you do. This is something that you will want to include on every post to create that consistent brand recognition. If it is catchy and easy to remember, then the hope is that your customers will use it when referring to your business as well. 
 
Trending #’s
            The second most common kind of hashtag you will want to include in posts are trending hashtags. This is the technique that is going to get your post noticed by a larger audience. Ultimately the goal is to reach beyond just your current followers and in turn increase your engagement. Trending hashtags are constantly changing so this is something requires a bit more time. Because this is an industry where things come and go quickly it is also good to pay attention to why a hashtag is trending. Just because something is going viral doesn’t mean it’s automatically a good fit for your company. 
 
Unique #’s
             Opting for unique hashtags will prove to be more of an attention grabber than using general tags. Instead of loading up on generic tags for your post, take the time to research or come up with something a bit more creative and targeted. Find a way to incorporate a trending hashtag. If you are running a campaign, create a unique hashtag for you and your audience to use for the duration of the campaign. 
 
Analytics
              Before using a hashtag in your posts, you can research how the hashtag has been used in the past. Look at what kind of posts the hashtag has been used with and variations of the hashtag to see what is used the most. Many social media platforms even display how many times the hashtag has been used. This is a great resource that can help when you’re deciding what tags to include. 
 
Tips

         Don’t overuse hashtags! 
            Loading your post up with hashtags looks messy and unappealing to your audience. Instead, carefully select a couple (maybe even just one!) hashtags to use in your post. Some even say not to use hashtags in every post.
 
        Follow Hashtags
            Just like you follow an account, Instagram has a feature that lets you follow hashtags. Posts that include the hashtag you follow will show up on your feed. While you may not include a hashtag that you follow in your posts, this is a great tool that can help you discover similar accounts that you may want to keep up with. 
 
        How Many Hashtags Do I Use? 
           How many hashtags you should use varies across social media platforms. On Facebook you should use anywhere from 0-3. Alternatively, on Instagram you can use more. Social Pilot has a great chart that showcases the number of hashtags you can use for each platform that will produce the best engagement. Click here and scroll down to Point #3.