We've all used them on our posts or to make a silly joke. Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon had that hilarious sketch years ago about what a Twitter conversation would be like IRL, even. Though what some of us remember as "the pound sign" is now ubiquitous due to social media, many aren't aware of the power of the crosshatched lines. I could probably write a book on hashtag use, so I'll share in greater detail over the course of a few blogs more specifics on optimizing usage, but here are some general things to know about hashtags:
Doesn't this look like a giant hashtag?
1. They Help You Tap Into Larger Conversations
Portrait by Pedro Oros @ Allmost Us Studios #GridOnLock
Whatever you're into, there's someone else in the world who's probably into it, too. Luckily, we live in a time that easily allows us to find those with whom we vibe. Search tags of interest on Instagram - go ahead. Let me know what you find. I'm certain if there's a new book release or television show that you want to geek out on, you'll quickly identify a like-minded person on the gram who shares your joy.
2. You Can Brand Your Content
Every Tuesday I share a #TuesdayInstagramTip. For me, it was a way to stay diligent and create a schedule of content to share. Additionally, it positions me as an expert (I've got so many tips, y'all. I think about social strategy nonstop all day, every day). You can get granular with the types of things you share and having a tag for specific posts will help you segment your work so that people can find exactly what they want to see.
For photographers who are starting out, I suggest branding various posts with tags like #engagementsbyangie or #weddingsbyangie to make it easy for prospective clients to easily view your breadth of work without needing to toggle between various accounts.
3. Community Building & Engagement
If you ever host an event, create a unique hashtag! Just this weekend, I participated in an all-day blogger bonanza that included badass women from different industries all convening in the name of sisterhood and style. The event is called Femme Fair and the biggest sponsor was Peerspace. Therefore, the main tag for the event was #femmefairxpeerspace. And guess what? There are over 200 uses on Instagram alone! It's always fun for me to discover people I didn't get a chance to meet or reconnect with those I did. It doesn't take much effort to include in your marketing collateral, but the ROI is incredible.
Here I am with my friends @lovechauntie & @stayreddy. You'll see posts from us if you search #femmefairxpeerspace