Are your prospective customers seeing your social media content? If you aren’t using hashtags, all the great content you create may go unnoticed.
Hashtags are dynamic tools that increase the visibility and discoverability of social media content. They help expand your reach beyond your existing followers and allow users searching for specific topics or keywords to find your content. The right hashtags act like a magnet, attracting customers to your small business.
If you’ve been on the fence about hashtags, keep reading. We’ll show you why small business hashtags are important and what kind of hashtags you should be using in your content. We’ll also share some examples of businesses nailing it with their hashtag strategies and ways to leverage those same strategies.
What are small business hashtags?
Small business hashtags are keywords or phrases used on social media channels to categorize content. There are two main types of small business hashtags: branded hashtags and niche-specific hashtags. While niche-specific hashtags focus on a particular industry or niche (such as #customcakes), branded hashtags are unique to a brand or business.
The trick to small business hashtags is striking the right balance. Hashtags help your business get noticed, but using too many can deter followers.
Why are small business hashtags important for your business?
Social media platforms include a mishmash of content. On Instagram alone, users share millions of photos and videos every day. Small business hashtags help users break through the noise to find content that’s relevant to their interests.
Other reasons hashtags are important:
Good for algorithms
If you’ve ever battled against the Instagram algorithm, you know getting your posts seen can be a struggle. With the right hashtags, the algorithm on many social media channels will give preference to your content. Why? Because hashtags demonstrate that your content is relevant to specific topics or interests.
Experiment with different approaches to see what works best for your brand. You might find you only need a few hashtags to get engagement, even though platforms like Instagram allow up to 30. We recommend limiting your Instagram posts to four hashtags and using trending hashtags when it makes sense.
Better understanding of your audience
Ever wonder what your audience is interested in? Hashtags can provide valuable insights. Like conducting keyword research, researching hashtags helps you better understand what types of content captivate your audience.
Track post engagement on different variations of hashtags in your posts to see which ones are driving the most likes, comments, and shares. Hashtags can be a window into your audience’s pain points and the issues they care about.
Improves your visibility
If you search for #smallbusiness on Instagram, you’ll discover posts that use this hashtag. The platform categorizes content into topic clusters. Used strategically, hashtags can make your content and profile more visible, even among users who aren’t currently following you.
An Instagram post that includes at least one hashtag gets 12.6% more engagement than a post without hashtags. Leaning into social media holidays like #NationalPuppyDay is an easy win that can help you get more eyes on your content.
Inspires engagement
Remember the #icebucketchallenge? This viral movement helped raise over $115 million for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research. When used effectively, hashtags can spark conversations and movements.
But you don’t have to aim to create a global movement. Start by using hashtags that resonate with your content and audience. When you do, you’ll inspire more likes, shares, saves, and comments. This can lead to more profile visits and followers.
By unleashing the power of social media through digital marketing for small businesses, you introduce more people to your brand.
What are the best hashtags for small businesses?
Many consumers jump at the chance to support small businesses. Hashtags can help identify your business as a small business and drive more customers to your website or online store.
Here are some popular small business hashtags to use across your social media channels:
- #smallbusiness
- #shoplocal
- #supportsmallbusiness
- #entrepreneur
- #smallbiz
- #etsyshop
- #localbusiness
- #smallbusinessowner
- #smallbusinesslove
- #smallbusinesssaturday
- #shopsmall
- #businessowner
- #startup
- #handmade
Where should you use small business hashtags?
The great thing about hashtags is that they’re versatile. You should use them on each of the social platforms your business has a presence on.
This quick breakdown will help you effectively use hashtags while following the platform’s specific guidelines.
X (Twitter)
X (formerly Twitter) is where hashtags first soared in popularity. Users are actually more likely to engage with tweets that include hashtags. To get the most out of Twitter, you should use hashtags that are directly relevant to your business, industry, products, or post content.
Monitor X’s trending hashtags, and when it makes sense, use them in your tweets. For maximum impact, use one to three relevant hashtags per tweet. Then, track hashtag performance to determine which hashtags drive the most engagement, impressions, and clicks.
Instagram is one of the most popular social platforms that gives creators the freedom to leverage hashtags to increase their visibility. While the platform allows up to 30 hashtags per post, Instagram recommends three to five hashtags per post. However, you’ll want to monitor your own post performance and engagement to find the ideal number. You may find that a mix of niche-specific, branded, and trending hashtags that are strategically chosen amplify your reach and discoverability.
Check out our article on Instagram analytics to take a closer look at the metrics you should focus on to grow your business.
Don’t let its professional appearance fool you. LinkedIn is the largest professional networking platform, but it places great importance on using small business hashtags. Businesses can strategically place hashtags on their business pages to help them appear in relevant search results. LinkedIn can be a great place to find other small business owners and potential partners who can contribute to your business growth.
Since it’s a professional platform, you should use hashtags sparingly on LinkedIn. A mix of three to five niche and popular hashtags can help expand your reach while maintaining a professional tone.
Distinct from other social platforms, Pinterest is often classified as a search engine site. Users flock to Pinterest for recipes, beauty tips, DIY projects, craft ideas, and more. Hashtags make your posts more likely to appear in Pinterest’s search bar.
Pinterest allows up to 20 hashtags, but two to eight hashtags per pin is a good starting point. You want to connect with your ideal followers without setting off their spam filters. As with all social platforms, you should analyze your post performance and experiment with hashtags to find the balance that works best for your brand.
TikTok
TikTok is the place to be if you’re looking for an engaged community of shoppers and brand advocates. With more than 1 billion active users worldwide, TikTok is one of the fastest-growing platforms. Small businesses have a massive opportunity to capture a wider audience through their video content. You only need a few hashtags to amplify your visibility and get your videos in front of more viewers.
When you have a niche audience, it’s easier to reach potential customers and build relationships with followers, either in the comment section or by answering their questions. Using relevant and established TikTok hashtags like #learnontiktok, #smallbusiness, and #supportsmallbusiness can help put your content in front of prospective customers.
Looking for tricks to optimize your content and increase your engagement rate? Brush up on your TikTok analytics to better understand how your audience reacts to your content.
Experts have long argued that hashtags are meaningless on Facebook. However, because organic reach has declined in previous years, hashtags can make it easier for users to find your posts. Hashtags help categorize conversations on the platform so users can join in on the conversations that relate to their interests. The right hashtags can also generate more interest for special promotions or live events.
On Facebook, you should incorporate hashtags into your posts whenever possible. Hashtags that appear naturally can make your post look more genuine. Experts recommend using two to three hashtags in your Facebook posts.
Examples of small business hashtag strategies done right
Ready to see some examples of small business hashtags in action? Here are a few of our favorite hashtag strategies.
Note: All examples were found during our online research for this article.
Etsy seller hashtags
This talented French crochet designer showcases their fabulous creations on Etsy. Users can easily visit the Little Bichons Etsy shop from its Instagram page. On every post, Little Bichons includes several dozen hashtags (#crochetdesign, #etsyseller, #handmade) to identify its business as an Etsy seller and tie post content to its niche.
Screenshot of a Little Bichons Instagram post (@littlebichons), posted on May 15, 2023
Small businesses on TikTok
The Wooden Hook is a fiber artist and TikTok creator who specializes in crafting bohemian accessories and decor. Leveraging the seven-second challenge, the small business owner launched a reel beautifully showcasing her unique creations. She used strategic hashtags to ensure her post reached the right audience. Hashtags like #smallbusinesslove, #smallbusinesstiktok, and #shopsmall solidify The Wooden Hook’s identity as a small business.
Screenshot of a The Wooden Hook TikTok post (@thewoodenhook), posted on January 26, 2022
Small business artists on Instagram
Illustrator and small business owner Lucie Corbasson showcases her stunning creations on Instagram. The post below is a prime example of using hashtags that fit the context of the visuals and caption. Not only do they highlight the hard-to-resist 15% discount, but they also incorporate promotional hashtags to grab attention.
With hashtags like #illustrationartists and #smallbusinesssupport, Lucie signals to Instagram that she’s an artist and small business owner.
Screenshot of Lucie Corbasasson’s Instagram post (@lucielouxor), posted on March 14, 2023
5 best practices for small business hashtags
Hashtags have the power to boost your social presence and drive more traffic to your business. When you’re adding hashtags to your social profiles and posts, keep these best practices in mind.
1. Don’t overdo your hashtags
It’s easy to go overboard with hashtags. But quality is more important than quantity. Using too many hashtags (10+) can actually reduce engagement by more than 68%. Stick to hashtags that truly connect with your ideal followers and make your content stand out in the right crowd. Don’t be afraid to be selective and strategic with your hashtags.
2. Repurpose hashtags
You don’t need different hashtags for every post. If you find ones that fit your content, keep using them! Better yet, see which hashtags are performing the best and include them in your posts across platforms. Relevant hashtags can work their magic in many different pieces of content.
Pro tip: Keep an eye on competitor hashtags and test them out in your own posts. You never know what will give your posts an extra boost.
3. Don’t overcomplicate hashtags
Itching to create your own hashtag? Keep it short and memorable. People should be able to search and easily find it in the ocean of social media. Steer clear of complicated hashtags with long words or tricky spellings.
4. Conceal your hashtags
Rather than cramming your hashtags into a single caption, take advantage of the comment section. This keeps your caption clean and clutter-free. When you bombard your audience with too many hashtags in a caption, your post can give off spammy vibes.
5. Use relevant and related hashtags
Relevance is the name of the game when it comes to hashtags. Your hashtags should align with your content so you can avoid confusing or misleading your audience. They should also be specific so the social platforms can categorize your content accurately. By using hashtags that are relevant to your posts, you’ll ensure your posts find their way to the right audience.
Boost your online visibility with Bitly
A well-planned hashtag strategy pays dividends for small businesses, increasing the visibility of your social media pages. It’s a secret weapon for attracting followers to your profile and generating more valuable leads. If you’re feeling inspired and looking for more ideas for how to run a successful social media marketing campaign, our blog will get your creative juices flowing!
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