The Untold Power of Hashtags: How to Make Them Work for You

Hashtags have untold power in today's digital realm. You've probably seen these symbols countless times online, specifically on social media platforms. They serve essential functions in shaping conversations, attracting attention, and are instrumental for brand building.

When you place that # symbol in front of a word or string of words on social media platforms, you're employing an incredibly powerful tool. When used properly, they have the potential to boost your social media game lightyears beyond simple likes, retweets, shares, and comments.  

Our social media gurus here at Charisma are here to help elevate your social media presence and significantly uplift your online presence.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• How to use the right hashtags
• Understanding your audience
• Monitoring trending topics
• Using keyword research
• Competitor research
• And more!

Keep reading for our expert insights!  

The Magic of Hashtag Optimization

Hashtags hold immense power in extending the reach of your online content. Like keywords in a search engine, they index and categorize your content, making it easily discoverable by users interested in your topic.

When used correctly, hashtags can be an effective way to increase your reach, encourage engagement, and get discovered on social media.

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Have you ever wondered why some hashtags gain more popularity than others? It's all about optimization. Creating a clever hashtag is just the beginning. To make the most out of your hashtags, your content should be meaningful, relevant, and engaging.

Charisma Tip: If you're promoting a brand, remember that your hashtag needs to echo your brand’s voice and content strategy. Don't go overboard!

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Choosing the Right Hashtags

Selecting the right tags requires a bit of research and strategy. They have the power to:

• Tell a story
• Make a point
• Start a movement

The key is to understand how to harness this potential to benefit your own social media presence.

A few steps that can help include:

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#1. Know Your Audience

Your hashtags should speak to your audience. Use simple, conversational language that your audience can resonate with. If you can understand their interests, their language, and their habits on social media, you’ll know which ones are likely to grab their attention.  

#2. Monitor Trending Topics

Being a part of trending conversations can help increase your visibility. Check out the 'Trending' section on your social media platforms and see if you can contribute to the dialogue with relevant content. This can give you immediate and potent visibility, at least while the topic's hot.

Charisma Tip: Tread carefully and make sure the trend aligns with your brand values and messaging. Jumping on just any trending hashtag can backfire if it's off-brand or controversial. Which is not something that you want!

#3. Use Keyword Research

Like SEO, keyword research can help you identify popular terms to use as hashtags. They have to be related to your content and appeal to your target audience.

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#4. Positioning Matters

While it's common to cluster hashtags at the end of a post, sprinkling them throughout a post can highlight key points and make your content more accessible.  

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#5. Mix and Match

Using a combination of broad and specific hashtags can cast a wider net in terms of reach and visibility. Broad tags have a larger volume of content and audience, while the more specific ones can connect you with niche communities intimately interested in your topic.  

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• Broad: Like #fitness or #motivation will get your post in front of a large audience.
• Niche: Like #FitnessForMoms or #MotivationMonday might have fewer followers, but those followers are likely to be much more engaged and interested in your content.

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#6. Research Your Competitors and Influencers

No wo(man) is an island, especially in the world of digital marketing. By researching what your competitors and influencers in your niche are using, you can gain insight into what works and what doesn’t. But remember, imitation is not the goal—innovation is.

Harness the Power of Hashtags

Hashtags are an exceptional tool for branding. They are instrumental in fostering community, sparking conversations, and promoting products. Major brands leverage branded tags to increase brand visibility, track user-generated content, and even launch new products.  

While it's true that they can create trends, promote ideas and products, and even unite the world under a common phrase, the trick is in knowing how to choose and use them effectively. That is where our experts at Charisma can help you!

Contact us today and let our social media pros help YOU improve the visibility of your content with the power of hashtags!