How to select hashtags for your campaign

how to select hashtags for your campaign

The first hashtag appeared in 2007 and has been used in many different ways over the years. Today, people commonly use them as a search tool, especially on Instagram, and for tracking campaigns or contests.

Brands must list two Hummingbirds hashtags in their post requirements, and we recommend you include one or two brand hashtags, as well.

Brand Hashtag

Does your business already have a unique hashtag that you use on Instagram or Twitter? If not, brainstorm some hashtags that you could use. Ideally, they should represent your brand, be easy to read and type, and be natural for anyone to search or use. LOF Xpress, for example, uses #LOFXpress. If someone reads your hashtag and has to google to understand what it means, it’s not a great hashtag.

One problem that brands have run into over the years is choosing a hashtag that can be read in different ways. One great example is the hashtag #nowthatcherisdead. It began trending when Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the UK, passed away, but viewers immediately read it as ‘now that Cher is dead.” Fans of the singer began to panic, and other celebrities had to clarify that Cher is very much alive before all was well again.

Next, search your hashtags. If another brand is already actively using the hashtag, you shouldn’t use it.

Nailing the perfect hashtag can be tricky, especially if another brand is already using the one you want. If you get stuck, ask friends, family and customers to see what they’re naturally searching to find your brand on social media. In the end, select 1-2 hashtags that you can use in your posts including one that contains your company’s name for SEO purposes.

Franchises or Multi-Location Brands

If your brand has multiple locations owned by different people, or with different offerings, consider using a brand hashtag and a location-specific hashtag. The latter hashtag can be as easy as adding the city name or abbreviation before the brand name. Doing this will allow viewers to easily look at the brand’s Instagram and also images of the specific location that they want to go to.

Hummingbirds Hashtags

Along with your brand hashtags, we require Hummingbirds to use two additional hashtags. The first is their city-specific hashtag, like #dsmhummingbirds or #omahahummingbirds.

The second hashtag is #partnership and indicates that hummingbirds were gifted the product, service, or other experience that they’re posting about. It’s important for our hummingbirds to disclose that this was a gifted experience so it keeps the relationship they have with your brand honest. It’s also an FTC requirement to disclose partnerships.