The Power Of Hashtags And Strategic Placements

If you are still on the fence about having a hashtag strategy here are some numbers that may get you to jump off the fence and start thinking about putting in place a strategy to better take advantage of social media. Nearly 50% of commercials aired during the 2014 Super Bowl used hashtags to help get the message across. Hashtags are generally associated with twitter, but the truth is, most of the major social media outlets are using them as well. Twitter was the first employer of the hashtag system, with over 600 million users. Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest are not far behind.

• Instagram

With Instagram, hashtags are used to arrange and categorize visual content. This makes it easier for the viewer to look for and explore similar content that they like, as well as, find new content to follow.

• Twitter

Twitter is perhaps where most people who started using social media started hearing about hashtags and what it means. In the “Twitterverse” hashtags are used to help spread the word by starting conversations and invite others to join.

• Facebook

When it comes to sheer number of users, Facebook takes the cake, including hashtag use. The way hashtags are used in Facebook, is not surprisingly, similar to Instagram, and that would be to help find other content. If you have ever wondered how you “accidentally” discovered other, similar companies of content on Facebook, it is because of the hashtag system.

Tracking Hashtag Metrics

If you had to pinpoint the single biggest reason for hashtag use, it would be about finding and sharing. However, this does not mean you can employ hashtags, sit back and watch. You will need to keep an eye on how effective it is. The three metrics you are looking for are interactions, number of users, and reach.

• Interactions.

Make sure hashtags are being used by people to see and share content. It goes without saying that when viewers share content, the more people will know about your product.

• Users.

You need to have a clear understanding who your audience is, in order to target products towards them. In other words, who exactly is going to use the hashtags. If you are selling baby clothes, there no use to target someone looking for the latest in golf clubs.

• Reach.

The next item on the list is reach, it will show you how many people are actually seeing your product. If numbers are lower than expectations, then the reason could be not using the best hashtags. There are tools available today to help increase the number of eyeballs reaching your content.

Contact the Experts

If all of this sounds a bit confusing and overwhelming to you, then you are not alone. Putting in place a good social media strategy requires help. We can help you with the nitty-gritty details. Contact us today!

Lynne Motkoski, Digital Marketing Consultant

Specialty: Digital Marketing Strategies
Education: MA Communications & Technology, BComm [U Alberta]

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Lynne is known for her strategic approach to marketing communications, technologies, and lead generation. She has a passion for education, keeping up with current marketing trends and practices, and helping clients keep ahead of their competition.

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