Here is a quick reference article on the use of hashtags.  Using hashtags can significantly improve your content’s visibility, reach, and engagement on social media platforms.  

Choose Relevant Hashtags – just get started by researching possible tags, see which ones reflect your messaging themes, and also note which additional hashtags are most often connected to the ones you think would be most relevant.  Here is where you will find new possibilities that you can use as the basis for testing different tags.  Research hashtags that your competitors and industry leaders are using. This can give you insights into what’s popular and effective within your niche.

Use a combination of broad, niche, and specific hashtags. Broad hashtags might have high competition, while niche and specific ones can help you reach a more targeted audience.

Create branded hashtags.  Develop a unique hashtag for your brand or campaign.  Take inspiration from competitors and successful brand promotions from leading companies.  Branded hashtags can help build a community and encourage user-generated content.  At the same time, these are best used at a more mature stage in audience development.  A silent, unused hashtag would show your customers that you have not yet reached a broad appeal in the market.  If your followers have a very niche or distinguished identity, a branded hashtag can help build a sense of community identity.

Hashtags are best when the are short.  Avoid long and complicated hashtags. Keep them memorable, and easy to spell to encourage more users to engage with them.

Use location-based hashtags to show your unique presence in the community.

Check hashtag popularity.  Use tools like Instagram’s search bar or third-party platforms to check the popularity of hashtags. Balancing between popular and less competitive hashtags can improve your post’s visibility.

While one hashtag is not enough, 4 or 5 are too many.  Avoid overloading hashtags.  While platforms like Instagram allow many hashtags, avoid overloading.  Aim for quality.

Test and track hashtag performance.  This can be done by experimenting with different combinations of hashtags and track which ones perform best.  Analyze engagement and reach to refine your strategy.

Weave hashtags into Stories.  Add relevant hashtags to your Stories. They can help them appear in hashtag-related searches and increase discoverability. 

As with many things in life, the more you give the more you get.  The same is true of hashtags.  engage with hashtag communities.  Like, comment, and interact with other posters using the same hashtags. Positive engagement increases your content’s exposure and builds connections.

Hashtags effectiveness is driven by your audience and your content.  Regularly review your analytics to understand which hashtags are driving the most engagement and refine your strategy accordingly.