Hashtags have become an essential part of any successful social media strategy. For small businesses looking to increase visibility and grow their online presence, using the right hashtags can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll dive into how hashtags work across different social platforms, explore best free hashtag research tools for small business, and how outsourcing hashtag research to a Virtual Assistant (VA) can save you time and effort.
How Hashtags Work on Different Social Platforms
Each social media platform uses hashtags in slightly different ways, and understanding these differences can help small businesses make the most out of them.
Instagram: Perhaps the most hashtag-friendly platform, Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post. Here, hashtags help categorise content, making it easier for users to discover posts that align with their interests. On Instagram, the right mix of popular, niche, and branded hashtags can significantly increase your post's visibility.
X (formerly Twitter): X recommends using only two hashtags per post, but those two can be powerful. Using trending or relevant hashtags in your tweets can help you join conversations or expose your brand to a wider audience.
Facebook: While hashtags aren’t as commonly used here, they can still help organise posts and make your content searchable. Focus on a few specific hashtags rather than stuffing posts with too many.
LinkedIn: Professional-focused LinkedIn allows a handful of hashtags that can increase the visibility of your posts within industry-specific searches. Use hashtags related to your business niche, skills, or industry to connect with the right audience.
YouTube: On YouTube, hashtags can appear in video descriptions or titles and help categorise videos, making them easier to find in search results. Including relevant hashtags in your video content can boost your discoverability on the platform.
For more tips on optimising your YouTube content, check out my blog post, How to Increase YouTube Views for Small Business: The Power of YouTube SEO. Discover how YouTube SEO can boost your visibility, attract your ideal audience, and grow your small business with actionable strategies and key benefits. Don’t miss out on unlocking the full potential of your YouTube channel!
TikTok: On TikTok, hashtags play a critical role in content discovery and boosting visibility. Using the right hashtags can help your videos reach a larger, more targeted audience. TikTok’s algorithm relies heavily on hashtags to categorise and recommend content to users based on their interests. Popular hashtags like #ForYou and #FYP aim to get content featured on the "For You" page, but using a mix of trending, niche, and relevant hashtags specific to your content or industry is a more effective strategy. Hashtags also allow you to join trending challenges and conversations, increasing the chances of your video going viral. For small businesses, a well-researched hashtag strategy can significantly enhance engagement and brand awareness on TikTok.
Pinterest: While hashtags were once popular on Pinterest, the platform has shifted its focus away from them in recent years. Pinterest now prioritises keywords and descriptions over hashtags when it comes to search and discovery. This means that while you can still use hashtags, they don’t hold the same importance as they do on platforms like Instagram or Twitter. Instead, focus on creating detailed, keyword-rich descriptions for your pins and boards to boost visibility. In short, while hashtags on Pinterest won’t hurt your reach, they aren’t necessary for success, and optimising your content with relevant keywords is more effective.
Best Free Hashtag Research Tools for Small Business
If you're looking for free ways to identify the best hashtags for your small business, here are my top recommendations:
1. Meta Business Suite: When scheduling posts through Meta Business Suite (for Facebook and Instagram), you’ll get hashtag suggestions as you type. These suggestions can help you find relevant and trending hashtags to boost your content’s visibility on both platforms.
2. Instagram Search: A quick and easy way to research hashtags is directly within Instagram's search bar. Simply start typing a keyword, and Instagram will suggest hashtags along with how many posts are associated with each. This is great for finding both popular and niche hashtags to fit your content.
3. ChatGPT: Yes, even ChatGPT can assist with hashtag research! By providing a brief description of your content, ChatGPT can generate a list of relevant hashtags. This is a quick and creative way to discover new hashtags tailored to your business’s needs.
4. RiteTag: This tool gives real-time hashtag suggestions based on your text or images. You can see which hashtags will give your posts immediate visibility or help them perform better over time.
5. All Hashtag: All Hashtag generates keyword-based hashtag ideas and ranks them by popularity. This tool allows you to easily copy the best suggestions and save them for future use.
6. Best Hashtags is another useful tool for discovering popular hashtags. You can search for hashtags by keyword, and it will generate a list of the best ones to use for your content.
Using these free tools, you can simplify your hashtag research process and ensure your posts are reaching the right audience without the extra cost.
Best Practices for Using Hashtags
1. Mix Popular and Niche Hashtags: Popular hashtags are highly competitive, but they can provide short-term exposure. Niche hashtags may have fewer searches, but they’ll help you connect with a more targeted audience.
2. Research Competitors: Take a look at what hashtags your competitors are using. This can give you insight into what works in your industry and help you identify relevant tags for your content.
3. Stay Relevant: Always make sure your hashtags are related to your content. Using irrelevant hashtags can harm your brand’s credibility and confuse your audience.
4. Create Branded Hashtags: A unique, branded hashtag can help build community and engagement around your business. Encourage your customers and followers to use it in their posts to increase visibility.
5. Update Regularly: Hashtags can trend and die out quickly, so it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends and adjust your hashtag strategy accordingly.
How a Virtual Assistant Can Help You with Hashtag Research
As a solopreneur or small business owner, finding the right hashtags can be time-consuming and often frustrating. This is where a Virtual Assistant (VA) like me can step in. I specialise in social media management and can take the hassle of hashtag research off your plate. From identifying trending hashtags to creating branded ones, I’ll ensure your posts reach the right audience and maximise engagement.
Instead of spending hours trying to figure out which hashtags to use, why not focus on what you do best—running your business—and let me handle the research?
Simplify Hashtag Research Without the Overwhelm
Hashtag research is an essential part of any successful social media strategy, but it doesn't have to feel overwhelming. By understanding how hashtags work, using the right free tools, and staying on top of trends, you can effectively boost your small business’s online presence. And if you’re looking to save time and manage your social media effortlessly, outsourcing hashtag research and other social media tasks to a Virtual Assistant can be the perfect solution.
Ready to take your social media game to the next level? Get in touch today to see how I can help manage your hashtag strategy and more, so you can focus on growing your business!