Even if you’re relatively new to the world of social media marketing you’re probably aware of hashtags and their function. You’ve probably even slapped a hashtag or two on the end of a tweet without thinking too much about it, but if you’re serious about harnessing social media as a marketing tool in your small business, then the humble hashtag is a great tool.
Hashtags have the power to drive social media conversation in a very powerful way and most consumers admit to using them to follow brands, topics or events. But how can you harness the hashtag for your small business?
Define Your Goal
Successful hashtag marketing starts with a clear goal. Are you looking to create brand buzz? Want to promote an event? Are you launching a new product? Knowing exactly what you want to achieve will help you create the right hashtag to suit your needs.
Do Your Research
A good place to research current hashtag trends is hashtracking.com where you can see how often a particular hashtag is used, and in which context. Knowing the history of the words in your hashtag will help you to stay ‘on brand’ and stop you from accidentally marketing someone else’s product.
Keep it Short
Shorter hashtags are more likely to invite engagement. Aim for a maximum of five words. A short hashtag will make it easier for people to retweet, and allow more room for users to add their own comments.
Reward Your Audience
Give customers an incentive to use your hashtag. Sometimes a simple ‘thank you!’ in response is enough to increase customer satisfaction but you can also consider offering discount codes or special offers to users who engage the brand.
If you would like to learn more about using social media to boost your brand or would like help creating a digital marketing strategy, contact the team at Kwik Kopy today.
