What's a Hashtag Strategy?
Hashtag strategy = Using the RIGHT hashtags to get found by people who actually care about what you do.
Not just #love #instagood #photooftheday — that's like shouting into a crowd of millions! 😵
Instead, use tags your ideal customers actually search for! 🎯
Think of hashtags like a GPS for your content - they guide interested people straight to you!
Why Smart Hashtags Change Everything
Get Found by New People
People searching #yogastudio find your yoga content, even if they don't follow you yet!
Attract Real Fans
Specific hashtags bring people who actually want what you offer, not just random likes.
Build Your Tribe
Create hashtags that bring together people with shared interests around your brand.
Feed the Algorithm
Hashtags tell Instagram/TikTok what your post is about and who should see it.
How to develop your hashtag strategy
Research your audience hashtags
Competitor analysis: Check which hashtags your successful competitors use and note their engagement levels.
Audience behavior: Look at what hashtags your target audience follows and uses in their own posts.
Platform research: Use each platform's search function to explore hashtag performance and related suggestions.
The 5 Types of Hashtags You Need
| Type | What It Is | Example | Why Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏷️ Branded | Your company name/campaigns | #SocialRailsTips | Build brand recognition |
| 🏭 Industry | Broad business terms | #SocialMediaMarketing | Reach wide audience |
| 🎯 Niche | Specific expertise | #ContentScheduling | Find ideal customers |
| 👥 Community | Groups of people | #SmallBizOwners | Connect with tribe |
| 📍 Location | Where you are | #NYCSmallBiz | Local discovery |
Hashtag Rules for Each Platform
| Platform | How Many? | Best Practice | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-10 tags | Mix big + small hashtags | Check if tags are banned first! | |
| 3-5 tags | Professional terms only | Put tags IN your post text | |
| TikTok | 3-5 tags | Mix trending + niche | Jump on trends fast! |
| 1-3 tags | Very selective use | Less is more here | |
| Twitter/X | 1-2 tags | Part of the conversation | Join trending topics |
⚠️ Hashtag Don'ts:
- Don't use #love #instagood on business posts
- Don't use banned hashtags (check first!)
- Don't use the same 30 hashtags every time
- Don't put hashtags in your first comment on Instagram
Optimal number: 3-5 hashtags per video Research trends: Check TikTok's Discover page for trending hashtags in your niche Avoid: Overused hashtags like #fyp (unless relevant to trending content)
Twitter/X hashtag strategy
Optimal number: 1-2 hashtags per tweet Trending participation: Join relevant trending conversations Event hashtags: Use event-specific hashtags during live events or conferences Keep it simple: Hashtags should improve, not clutter your message
How to research effective hashtags
Tools for hashtag research
Native platform search: Use each platform's search to see hashtag volume and related suggestions.
Competitor hashtags: Analyze top-performing posts from competitors to identify effective hashtag combinations.
Industry publications: Follow industry leaders and publications to see which hashtags they use consistently.
Hashtag analytics: Track which hashtags drive the most engagement for your specific content.
Hashtag performance indicators
Engagement rate: Posts with strategic hashtags should see 15-20% higher engagement than posts without.
Reach expansion: Monitor how hashtags increase your content's reach beyond your follower base.
Follower quality: Track whether hashtagged posts attract followers who engage with your content long-term.
Comment quality: Good hashtags should attract meaningful comments, not just likes.
Creating branded hashtags
Characteristics of effective branded hashtags
Memorable: Short, easy to spell and remember Unique: Not used by other brands or for unrelated content Relevant: Clearly connected to your brand or campaign Engaging: Encourages user participation and content creation
Types of branded hashtags
Company hashtag: Your main brand identifier, Example: #SocialRails
Campaign hashtags: Specific to marketing campaigns, Example: #SocialRails2025Goals
Community hashtags: Encourage user-generated content, Example: #SocialRailsSuccess (for customer wins)
Event hashtags: For webinars, launches, or live events, Example: #SocialRailsLive
Common hashtag strategy mistakes
Using irrelevant popular hashtags: Adding #love or #instagood to business content doesn't attract quality engagement.
Too many hashtags: Overloading posts with hashtags looks spammy and can reduce engagement.
Never updating hashtag sets: Using the same hashtags repeatedly limits your reach as algorithms favor fresh content.
Ignoring hashtag performance: Not tracking which hashtags actually drive results means missing optimization opportunities.
Copy-pasting competitor hashtags: What works for them might not work for your audience or content style.
Measuring hashtag strategy success
Key metrics to track
Reach increase: Compare reach on posts with strategic hashtags vs. posts without hashtags.
Engagement rate: Measure likes, comments, and shares on hashtagged posts.
Hashtag-specific analytics: Track which individual hashtags drive the most engagement.
Follower growth: Monitor whether hashtag use correlates with quality follower growth.
Monthly hashtag review, Analyze your top 20 hashtags by engagement, Remove underperforming hashtags from your regular rotation, Test 5-10 new hashtags based on trending topics or competitor research, Update branded hashtags based on campaigns or business changes
Hashtag strategy with SocialRails
SocialRails helps you implement your hashtag strategy efficiently by:, Saving hashtag sets: Store your researched hashtag combinations for quick use, Cross-platform optimization: Adapt hashtag strategies for each platform's requirements, Performance tracking: Monitor which hashtags drive the best engagement across platforms, Content suggestions: AI recommendations include relevant hashtags based on your post topics