Learn how to use hashtag to increase your reach. It’s easy, useful and can boost your online presence! Find out more and get started now.
What we will see in this article
What is a hashtag?
Hashtags are keywords preceded by the ‘#’ symbol and are widely used on social media and websites. They group together related posts and content, making it easier to find specific information.
The appropriate use of a hashtag can extend the reach of a post, connecting it to wider conversations and discussions. They are crucial for an effective social media marketing strategy.
Why use hashtags?
Hashtags help increase the visibility of your content. By using a relevant hashtag, you can attract an audience interested in the topic.
Unlike emojis, which are marks to signal some intention or feeling, hashtags categorize your posts, making them easily discoverable by people looking for specific information or conversations.
Hashtags are like magnets for the eyes of curious internet users.
How did the hashtag come about?
The hashtag was born in 2007, created by product designer Chris Messina. Chris proposed using the # symbol on Twitter to group together topics of interest.
The idea quickly spread to other social media platforms, becoming common practice globally. The hashtag has become an indispensable tool for grouping content and discussions around specific topics.
Popular hashtags in 2023
In 2023, some hashtags stand out for their popularity. #Sustainability, for example, reflects the growing focus on sustainability and environmental awareness.
Another trending hashtag is #MentalHealth. This topic has been gaining ground, highlighting the importance of mental and emotional well-being.
Hashtag | Theme |
---|---|
#Sustainability | Sustainability |
#MentalHealth | Mental Health |
#TechTrends | Technological trends |
#HomeDecor | Home Decor |
#FitLife | Fitness and Health |
#EcoFriendly | Environmentally friendly |
#FoodiesOfInsta | Food lovers |
#TravelGoals | Travel Goals |
#DigitalArt | Digital Art |
#EntrepreneurLife | Entrepreneurial Life |
How to create your hashtag
Creating a hashtag involves understanding your target audience and the content you want to highlight. It must be unique and relevant.
- #EcoFriendlyTips: Ecological tips
- #HomeCookingMagic: The charm of home cooking
- #TechTrends2023: Technology trends of 2023
- #MindfulLiving: Living with mindfulness
- #FitnessGoals: Fitness goals
- #TravelSafely: Traveling safely
- #ArtInspiration: Artistic inspiration
3 Websites to help you create hashtags
- Hashtagify: Allows you to explore the popularity and trends of hashtags.
- RiteTag: Offers suggestions for hashtags in real time.
- Trendsmap: View the most popular hashtags by geographical location.
Where to use hashtags?
Hashtags are not exclusive to a single social media platform. They are versatile and can be used in different places to maximize engagement.
- Instagram: Extends the reach of posts
- Twitter: Connects to wider conversations
- Facebook: Groups related content
- LinkedIn: Increases professional visibility
- Pinterest: Improves pin discovery
- YouTube: Increases video discovery
- TikTok: Connects to global trends and challenges
Ready-made examples of hashtags
Hashtags are powerful tools for connecting your content to specific topics, communities or conversations. Below, you’ll find practical, real-life examples of hashtags for different categories, from brands to humor and education, which can inspire you and help extend the reach of your publications.
Hashtag for brands
- #Nike
- #Apple
- #Samsung
- #Adidas
- #CocaCola
- #Starbucks
- #McDonalds
- #Amazon
- #Toyota
- #Gucci
Hashtag for products
- #iPhone13
- #AirPods
- #VeganSkincare
- #EcoFriendlyBags
- #SustainableFashion
- #OrganicTea
- #HandmadeJewelry
- #SmartWatches
- #LEDLights
- #RecycledMaterials
Hashtag for events
- #Coachella2023
- #TokyoOlympics
- #ComicCon
- #SuperBowl
- #NYFashionWeek
- #TEDTalks
- #SundanceFilmFestival
- #Glastonbury
- #Grammys
- #Oscars
Hashtag for services
- #DigitalMarketing
- #EcoFriendlyCleaning
- #PersonalTraining
- #HomeRenovation
- #PetGrooming
- #CateringService
- #ProfessionalPhotography
- #LegalAdvice
- #FinancialPlanning
- #InteriorDesign
Hashtag for entertainment
- #NetflixAndChill
- #NewMusicAlert
- #NowPlaying
- #MovieNight
- #BookClub
- #GamingCommunity
- #ArtLovers
- #PodcastLife
- #TheatreMagic
- #ConcertVibes
Hashtag for humor
- #LOL
- #FunnyMemes
- #JokeOfTheDay
- #DadJokes
- #ComedyGold
- #Hilarious
- #ROFL
- #Sarcasm
- #Facepalm
- #EpicFail
Hashtag for memes
- #MemeMonday
- #DankMemes
- #SpicyMemes
- #MemesDaily
- #GIFs
- #FunnyGifs
- #MemeMagic
- #ViralMemes
- #InternetCulture
- #TrendingMemes
Hashtag for travel
- #TravelTuesday
- #Wanderlust
- #ExploreMore
- #TravelGoals
- #AdventureAwaits
- #PassportReady
- #TravelBloggers
- #VacationMode
- #RoadTripping
- #JetSetters
Hashtag for food
- #Foodie
- #Homemade
- #VeganRecipes
- #InstaFood
- #PizzaLovers
- #Tasty
- #SweetTooth
- #HealthyEating
- #CoffeeTime
- #BakeOff
Hashtag for fashion
- #OOTD (Outfit Of The Day)
- #Fashionista
- #StyleInspo
- #TrendAlert
- #LookBook
- #StreetStyle
- #FashionWeek
- #VintageFashion
- #EcoFashion
- #LuxuryStyle
Hashtag for beauty
- #MakeupAddict
- #SkincareRoutine
- #BeautyHacks
- #NailArt
- #GlowUp
- #HairGoals
- #PerfumeLovers
- #CosmeticReviews
- #SpaDay
- #TattooArt
Hashtag for fitness
- #FitFam
- #WorkoutMotivation
- #YogaLife
- #GymJunkie
- #RunningCommunity
- #HealthandWellness
- #CrossFit
- #AthleteLife
- #BodyBuilding
- #PilatesLover
Hashtag for technology
- #TechNews
- #Innovation
- #AI
- #Gadgets
- #CodingLife
- #VR (Virtual Reality)
- #Blockchain
- #Robotics
- #SmartHomes
- #CyberSecurity
Hashtag for education
- #EducationMatters
- #LearningNeverStops
- #StudentLife
- #TeacherGoals
- #StudyTips
- #OnlineCourses
- #SchoolDays
- #CareerAdvice
- #BookWorm
- #STEMeducation
Hashtag for business
- #Entrepreneur
- #StartupLife
- #BusinessTips
- #Investing
- #Networking
- #Leadership
- #MarketingStrategy
- #Finance
- #SuccessMindset
- #BusinessGrowth
Hashtags for events
- #LiveMusic
- #ArtExhibition
- #TechConference
- #BookLaunch
- #FoodFestival
- #CharityRun
- #FashionShow
- #SportsEvent
- #NetworkingEvent
- #GalaDinner
Hashtags on Instagram
On Instagram, hashtags can be inserted in the caption of the post or in the comments. It is common practice to add related hashtags to the content of the post, as this helps to increase reach by connecting the image or video to popular topics and trends.
When adding hashtags, it’s important to choose those that are relevant and specific to the content. Avoid using very generic hashtags, as your post could get lost among millions of others. Hashtags can also be used in Stories to increase visibility.
Hashtag ideas for Instagram
- #InstaGood
- #PhotoOfTheDay
- #InstaMood
- #PicOfTheDay
- #InstaDaily
- #InstagramHub
- #InstaLove
- #Igers (short for Instagrammers)
- #BestOfTheDay
- #InstaFashion
Hashtags on Twitter
On Twitter, hashtags help categorize tweets, making them easily discoverable in searches. When composing a tweet, you can add hashtags related to the theme of your content. Popular hashtags appear as “Trending” on the user’s homepage.
Twitter hashtags should be short and to the point. When considering the character limit in a tweet, concise hashtags are more effective. Use them to highlight key topics or join viral conversations.
Hashtag ideas for X (Before Twitter)
- #BreakingNews
- #MondayMotivation
- #ThrowbackThursday
- #QuoteOfTheDay
- #TwitterPoll
- #NowTrending
- #FollowFriday
- #DIY
- #LifeHacks
- #DailyInspiration
Hashtags on Facebook
Hashtags on Facebook help categorize content and make it discoverable by users interested in a specific topic. You can add hashtags to posts, comments and even the title of an event. However, excessive use of hashtags can look like spam and affect engagement.
When selecting hashtags, consider relevance and audience. Public posts with relevant hashtags are more likely to be seen. Avoid using too many hashtags; a careful selection is more effective.
Hashtag ideas for Facebook
- #FacebookLive
- #MotivationMonday
- #EventPlanning
- #RecipeShare
- #BookClub
- #CommunityLove
- #SmallBusinessSaturday
- #CraftingIdeas
- #WellnessWednesday
- #FamilyFun
Hashtags on YouTube
On YouTube, hashtags are used to categorize videos and make them easily discoverable. You can add hashtags in the video description or title. YouTube automatically displays the first three hashtags at the beginning of the description, making them visible to viewers.
When choosing hashtags for YouTube videos, consider keywords related to the content, theme or topics covered in the video. This helps to attract interested viewers and increases the video’s visibility.
Hashtag ideas for YouTube
- #HowTo
- #MusicVideo
- #Vlog
- #YouTubeTutorial
- #Gameplay
- #ProductReview
- #Unboxing
- #Learning
- #Animation
- #CookingTutorial
How do you monitor success?
Monitoring the success of your hashtags can be done using analytical tools offered by the social media platforms themselves or third-party tools. They help track the engagement, visibility and effectiveness of your hashtags.
You can analyze metrics such as reach, impressions, engagement and follower growth. Comparing performance between posts with and without hashtags also offers valuable insights into their effectiveness.
Hashtags and SEO
Hashtags and SEO are intrinsically linked. Effective hashtags increase the visibility of posts, which in turn can improve SEO rankings. By using relevant keywords as hashtags, you connect your content to specific topics and conversations, increasing discoverability.
Using relevant hashtags can also extend the reach of your posts to a wider audience, beyond your usual followers, directly benefiting SEO.
Do hashtags increase engagement?
Hashtags are powerful tools for increasing engagement. They categorize and give context to your content, making it discoverable to an audience interested in specific topics.
By inserting popular and relevant hashtags, posts have the potential to be seen by a greater number of users. This can consequently lead to more likes, comments and shares.
Common mistakes when using hashtags
It’s crucial to avoid common mistakes when using hashtags, such as overuse, irrelevance and generalization. Too many hashtags can make the post confusing and spammy.
In addition, using irrelevant or very generic hashtags can dilute the impact and effectiveness, decreasing the engagement and visibility of your posts.
Creating a brand hashtag
Creating a hashtag for your brand involves strategic consideration and creativity. It should reflect the brand’s identity and be easy to remember.
A well-crafted brand hashtag promotes customer interaction, extends the reach of the marketing campaign and brings together conversations and related content in a single stream.
Hot topics for hashtags
The hot topics vary, but there are categories that consistently attract attention. Hashtags related to these topics have the power to attract a large number of interested followers.
- #Sustainability: Focus on ecological and sustainable practices.
- #MentalHealth: Rising awareness of mental health.
- #TechInnovations: News and advances in technology.
- #HomeWorkouts: Fitness and home workouts remain popular.
- #PlantBased: Plant-based eating and veganism.
- #RemoteWork: Remote work and digital nomad culture.
- #PersonalDevelopment: Self-development and continuous learning.
Hashtag or keyword?
Although similar, hashtags and keywords have their differences. Hashtags are used to categorize content on social media platforms, while keywords are essential for SEO.
Both are crucial for increasing the visibility of online content, but hashtags are more focused on connecting posts to conversations and topics in real time.
Hashtags in digital marketing
In digital marketing, hashtags are essential for expanding reach, promoting engagement and increasing the visibility of campaigns. They connect content to specific topics and conversations, helping brands to reach their target audience effectively.
By integrating strategic hashtags, companies can monitor engagement, adapt strategies and optimize the performance of their online campaigns.
How do you choose your words?
Choosing the right words for your hashtags requires research and analysis. Consider the topic, the target audience and current trends. Online tools and social media analysis can offer valuable insights.
It’s vital to select words that are specific, relevant and not too complex to maximize the effectiveness of your hashtags.
Testing the effectiveness of the hashtag
Testing the effectiveness of hashtags is a vital step in understanding their impact. Try different combinations, monitor engagement and adjust your strategy as necessary.
Social media analytics offer detailed insights into how your hashtags are performing, allowing continuous optimizations for better engagement and reach.
Hashtag and global reach
Hashtags have the power to connect brands and individuals to a global audience. By using hashtags in several languages or related to global topics, you can expand your reach beyond geographical borders.
This increases your visibility, connects you to different communities and promotes an international online presence.
What not to do with a hashtag?
Avoid using excessive, irrelevant or long hashtags. Each hashtag should add value and relevance to the post. Also, avoid “hijacking” popular hashtags that are unrelated to your content, as this can lead to a negative perception of the brand.
Staying relevant and concise is the key to using hashtags effectively.
Hashtags and online conversation
Hashtags are bridges that connect users to specific conversations online. They aggregate posts from various sources into unified topics, making it easier to participate in wider discussions and discover relevant content.
Through hashtags, users can follow, participate in and influence conversations in real time.
Hashtags: fashion or necessity?
Hashtags have evolved from a trend to a necessity in digital marketing strategies. They are essential for categorizing content, increasing reach and promoting engagement.
Although hashtag trends may change, their central role in online connectivity and visibility remains constant.