Social media has revolutionized how we connect, share, and discover new content. One of the core elements powering this discovery mechanism are hashtags. Whether you’re a social media newbie or a seasoned marketer, understanding and troubleshooting common hashtag problems can greatly enhance your social media strategy. Let’s dive into some of the frequent issues and how to fix them.
Hashtag Overload
One of the first mistakes many people make is using too many hashtags. It's like they’re throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. While it might seem like a good idea to cover as many bases as possible, overloading your posts with hashtags can appear spammy, decrease engagement, and even get your content penalized by algorithms.
Fix: Stick to a sweet spot of relevant hashtags. For most platforms, using around 3 to 5 carefully selected hashtags is ideal. Make sure they're specific to your content and audience. This way, you're more likely to reach and engage your target audience without overwhelming them.
Choosing Irrelevant Hashtags
In the quest to be discovered, some choose hashtags that aren't related to their content just because they're popular. This mismatch can confuse your audience and dilute your message. Platforms also frown upon this practice and may limit your reach as a result.
Fix: Always choose hashtags that are directly related to your post and audience. Doing a bit of research on what’s trending within your niche can help a lot. Use tools like Hashtagify or simply browse the social platform you’re on to find relevant and effective hashtags.
Ignoring Local or Niche Hashtags
Many overlook the power of local or niche-specific hashtags. If you're a local business or cater to a specific community, not using geo-targeted or niche hashtags is a missed opportunity to connect with a highly relevant and engaged audience.
Fix: Incorporate local hashtags by adding your city, neighborhood, or location to a general hashtag (e.g., #ArtPhoenix instead of just #Art). Likewise, find and use niche-specific hashtags that resonate with your particular audience or industry.
Using Banned or Restricted Hashtags
Yes, there's such a thing as banned or restricted hashtags. These are typically associated with content that violates the platform's guidelines. Using them, even unknowingly, can limit your post's visibility or get your account flagged.
Fix: Always check the status of a hashtag before using it. If you're on Instagram, for example, you can search for the hashtag; if it doesn't show any recent posts or prompts a warning, it's best to avoid it. Keep your hashtag list updated and clean from any that could be problematic.
Failing to Create Branded Hashtags
Branded hashtags are an excellent way to build a community, increase brand awareness, and make your content easily discoverable. Not creating and promoting a unique hashtag for your brand or campaign is a missed engagement opportunity.
Fix: Develop a unique, catchy, and easy-to-remember branded hashtag. Promote it across your social media profiles, in your content, and in any marketing material. Encourage your followers to use it when sharing related content to build a community and increase visibility.
Hashtags Are Too Generic
Using very generic hashtags, like #love or #happy, makes it incredibly difficult for your content to stand out due to the high volume of posts associated with these tags. Your post can quickly get lost in the sea of millions of others.
Fix: Focus on hashtags that are a blend of popular and niche. They should be popular enough to have a following but specific enough to allow your content to be seen and appreciated. Using longer, more descriptive hashtags (sometimes called long-tail hashtags) can help, like #sunsetlovers instead of just #sunset.
Not Monitoring Hashtag Performance
If you’re not tracking how different hashtags perform, you’re likely missing out on optimizing your strategy. Without this data, you won’t know which hashtags bring the most engagement or how your branded hashtag is catching on.
Fix: Utilize the analytics tools provided by most social media platforms to monitor the performance of your hashtags. See which ones bring in the most engagement and refine your strategy accordingly. Experiment with different hashtags and keep what works.
By avoiding these common pitfalls and applying the fixes mentioned, you’ll be in a much better position to use hashtags effectively. Remember, hashtags are a tool for connection and discovery on social media. Used wisely, they can greatly enhance your content's reach and engagement. Happy hashtagging!