ISO The Perfect #Hashtag | A Guide To Finding The Proper Hashtag For Any Post

'Cause we're living in a visual world... And in today's world, social media platforms are becoming more and more visually focused. Take Instagram for example, a platform where users spend hours scrolling through stunning imagery, with a side of captions.

However, #hashtags play a vital role in both posts and in stories on the 'gram. They can help you drive actual results through building awareness of your brand, connecting with new audiences, expanding your content's reach and increasing engagement. The key is to use the proper hashtags.

We all use them. But why do hashtags matter? On Instagram, hashtags are important for users to be able to find content they are interested in. They are clickable keywords that users can search for. Users can even follow hashtags that they have interest in., allowing them to follow profiles they aren't following yet.

Proper #hashtagging helps to put your content on the feed(s) of your target audience. For example, if you're looking to sell products for cats, the hashtag #catmom may help new potential customers discover your profile.

There are many different types of hashtag approaches, each with their own benefit. But let's get to it... here are seven hashtags businesses should be using (thanks to MarketingTech for laying out this stellar list):

Example of a Branded Hashtag | #UOonYou #OUHome for @UrbanOutfitters

1) Branded Hashtags: These are hashtags that you create specifically for your business, events, contests, or campaigns. Ex: #CatMomBrand #UOHome

Example of a Disclaimer Hashtag | #Sponsored post for @mazdausa

2) Disclaimer Hashtags: Occasionally users need to add a disclaimer to their post. Ex: #Sponsored #Ad

3) Engagement-oriented Hashtags: These are utilized purely for entertainment purposes and should be one of the first hashtags posted. Ex: #YouKnowYouWantOne

Example of Location Hashtags | #IthacaFarmersMarket

4) Location Hashtags: Location # are key for businesses who are looking to engage local audiences. Ex: #NOLAFoodie #IthacaFarmersMarket

5) Mass Appeal Hashtags: Just as the name implies, they appeal to the masses, but there is high competition out there. Ex: #SaturdaysAreForTheBoys #SundayFunday

Example of a Niche Interest and Location Hashtags | #Wanderlust #CostaRica

6) Niche Interest Hashtags: These are for when you are trying to connect to a specific audience. Ex: #TravelBlog #Wanderlust

7) Seasonal Hashtags:To help expand your reach, timely content that focuses on seasons, holidays, or current events always work well. Ex: #Summer #NationalSiblingsDay #MerryChristmas

Summary: It's always smart to use a mix of hashtag types in your posts to optimize your engagement and expand your audience. When it comes to figuring out how many hashtags to use, research has shown that using around 11 hashtags per post is best for engagement, while others swear by the 10-10-10 rule: 30 hashtags utilizing a combination of 3 types of hashtags (ex: 10 location, 10 mass appeal, 10 seasonal). Test both strategies out to see what works best for your audiences. #HappyHashtagging!