How a Simple Hashtag Strategy Can Boost Your Canadian Business

If you’re not using hashtags on social media, you’re missing out on a significant opportunity to reach new audiences and grow your profile. Hashtags allow you to connect with people who are interested in the same things as you and can help boost your visibility online. This post will explain what hashtags are and how to use them effectively. We’ll also give you tips for creating effective hashtags that will help you stand out from the competition. So read on to learn more!

“Nobody counts the number of ads you run; they just remember the impression you make.” –Bill Bernbach

What are hashtags?

The hashtag was created on Twitter in 2007 by Chris Messina, who proposed using the pound symbol to group tweets around a common topic. The idea soon caught on, and Twitter users started using hashtags to create “chats” around specific topics. Hashtags quickly spread to other social media platforms and are now an integral part of social media culture.

 

Hashtags are a powerful tool for connecting with others on social media. By using hashtags, you can join conversations that are already happening and start new ones. Hashtags can be used to promote your brand, raise awareness for a cause, or simply connect with others who share your interests.

 

If you’re unsure how to use hashtags or which ones to use, start by searching on social media for keywords related to your topic. You’ll quickly see which hashtags are being used most often. Keep in mind that many people will use popular hashtags, so you’ll need to stand out from the crowd. Use hashtags creatively, and don’t be afraid to experiment.

How do they work?

Hashtags work by connecting users with similar interests. When you use a hashtag on social media, it becomes a link that connects you with other users who have used that same hashtag. This makes it easy to find others who are interested in the same things you are and to join conversations about those topics.

 

Hashtags can also be used to start new conversations. For example, if you see a trending hashtag that you’re interested in, you can jump in and add your voice to the discussion. By doing so, you’ll not only connect with others who share your interests, but you’ll also be more likely to be seen by people who are searching for that hashtag.

 

If you’re promoting a brand or product on social media, hashtags can be a great way to connect with potential customers. Use hashtags relevant to your industry, and keep an eye on trending hashtags that might be related to your business. By using relevant hashtags, you’ll be more likely to reach people interested in what you offer.

 

Hashtags can also be used to raise awareness for a cause. If you’re passionate about an issue, use hashtags to share your voice and connect with others who care about the same things you do. Popular causes often have their own hashtag, making it easy to find others interested in supporting the cause.

 

Why should businesses be using hashtags on social media platforms like Instagram?

Hashtags are a great way for Canadian businesses to connect with potential customers on social media. By using relevant hashtags, Canadian companies can reach people who are interested in what they have to offer. Hashtags can also be used to raise awareness for a cause or promote a brand or product. If you’re unsure how to use hashtags or which ones to use, start by searching on social media for keywords related to your topic. You’ll quickly see which hashtags are being used most often. Keep in mind that many people will use popular hashtags, so you’ll need to stand out from the crowd. Use hashtags creatively, and don’t be afraid to experiment.

The power of using hashtags

Hashtags are a powerful tool for connecting with others on social media. Using hashtags, you can join conversations that are already happening and start new ones. Hashtags can be used to promote your brand, raise awareness for a cause, or connect with others who share your interests.

If you’re unsure how to use hashtags or which ones to use, start by searching on social media for keywords related to your topic. You’ll quickly see which hashtags are being used most often. Keep in mind that many people will use popular hashtags, so you’ll need to stand out from the crowd. Use hashtags creatively, and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Which hashtags are most relevant to Canadian businesses right now, and why?

Which hashtags are most relevant to Canadian businesses right now, and why?

Some of the most relevant hashtags for Canadian businesses are #madeincanada and #canadiansmallbusiness. These hashtags are all related to Canada and/or small businesses, which makes them a perfect fit for Canadian businesses. As well, by using these hashtags, businesses can connect with others who are interested in Canada or small businesses and join in on relevant conversations.

Here are more Canadian hashtags, Canadian businesses can be using right now:

  1. #Canada
  2. #Brand Canada
  3. #CanadianBusiness
  4. #MadeInCanada
  5. #ProudToBeCanadian
  6. #WeAreCanada
  7. #DiscoverCanada
  8. #BuyCanadian
  9. #ILoveCanadianBusinesses
  10. #SupportCanadianBusinesses

There are many reasons why Canadian businesses should focus on Canadian hashtags out of all hashtags.

  • First and foremost, using Canadian hashtags connects businesses with other Canadians who might be interested in what they have to offer.
  • Secondly, using Canadian hashtags showcases your patriotism and supports Canadian businesses.
  • Finally, Canadian hashtags can help increase brand awareness and promote your brand or product.

So, if you’re a Canadian business looking to connect with other Canadians, using Canadian hashtags is a great place to start. Try out some of the hashtags mentioned above and see how they can help you reach your goals.

Stay Local

Small businesses should focus on local hashtags because they are more likely to be seen by people in their area. This is especially important because small businesses often rely on word-of-mouth marketing to get new customers. If people in your area are using a local hashtag, it’s a great way to get your business in front of them.

To find local hashtags, you can search for ones that are specific to your city or state. You can also try using hashtags that are related to your industry. For example, if you’re a restaurant, you might search for hashtags like #foodie or #eats.

Once you’ve found some relevant hashtags, start using them in your posts! Make sure to use them in a way that makes sense and is relevant to your business. For example, if you’re a clothing store, you might use a hashtag like #ootd (outfit of the day) to show off your latest arrivals.

Focus on your city’s hashtags

Small businesses need to focus on their city’s hashtags in order to connect with their customers and promote their products and services. By using local hashtags, businesses can reach out to people who are interested in what’s happening in their city and who may be looking for recommendations for local businesses. Additionally, using local hashtags can help businesses connect with other local businesses and build relationships that can lead to referrals and partnerships.

Some examples of popular city hashtags include:

#toronto– Toronto

#northvancouver – North Vancouver

#calgary – Calgary

#montreal – Montreal

#ottawa – Ottawa

Businesses should also search for city-specific hashtags that are specific to their industry. For example:

A restaurant in Toronto might use the hashtag #torontorestaurants to connect with potential customers.

how a simple hashtag strategy can boost your Canadian business: Image of a restaurant in Toronto

A clothing store in North Vancouver might use the hashtag #northvancouverfashion to reach out to people interested in fashion.

How a simple hashtag strategy can boost your Canadian business: Image of a clohting store in North Vanvouver

How can businesses create their own unique hashtags for branding purposes?

When it comes to branding, businesses need to find a way to stand out from the competition. One way to do this is by creating your own unique hashtags. This can be a great way to connect with customers and promote your brand or product.

To create a unique hashtag, come up with a catchy phrase or motto that reflects your brand. Then, add the hashtag symbol (#) in front of it. For example, if your brand is all about being unique, you could use the hashtag #BeDifferent.

Make sure to promote your new hashtag on all of your social media channels and encourage customers to use it when they share content related to your brand. You can also run social media campaigns and offer discounts or prizes to customers who use your hashtag.

A Canadian business that uses hashtags for branding purposes and a way to connect with their customers and followers is Frank And Oak

A business that created their own unique hashtag is Frank And Oak. This is a screen shot of Frank And Oaks Instagram

By taking the time to create a unique hashtag, you can reach new customers and promote your brand in a fun and creative way.

What are some tips for using hashtags effectively in a business context?

When it comes to using hashtags for business, there are a few things to keep in mind.

  • First, make sure that your hashtag is relevant to your brand or product. It’s also important to make sure that your hashtag is easy to remember and easy to type.
  • Another thing to keep in mind is that you should use hashtags that are on a similar topic in some way. Using too many hashtags that aren’t on a similar topic can confuse a lot of social media algorithms. An example you’re looking to make a post on Instagram about a new collection of jeans, use hashtags related to fashion, jeans, and your brand. Don’t use hashtags about hats, shoes, or jewelry. Instagram will get confused about who you’re trying to target and will not push your post to potential clients.
  • Finally, it’s important to monitor your hashtag usage and see how it’s performing. Keep an eye on how many people are using your hashtag and what kinds of conversations are being had.

If you notice that your hashtag isn’t performing as well as you’d like, make changes as needed.

How often should businesses be changing up their hashtags to stay current and relevant?

Businesses should be changing up their hashtags frequently in order to stay current and relevant. If you’re not using the latest hashtags, you’re likely to miss out on potential customers.

It’s important to keep an eye on how your hashtags are performing. If you notice that one of your hashtags isn’t doing well, don’t be afraid to ditch it and try something new.

Tip: Remember that you don’t need to use a ton of hashtags aim for at least 11 hashtags when it comes to Instagram. As well a few well-chosen hashtags will do the trick. So, focus on quality over quantity.

Strategy

Hashtags can be a great way to increase brand awareness and connect with customers on social media. However, if you’re not using them effectively, you could be doing more harm than good.

Here are a few tips for businesses on how often they should update their hashtag strategy:

  1. Update your hashtags regularly.

If you’re not using the same hashtags all the time, you’re missing out on potential customers and followers. Keep your hashtags relevant to your brand and business goals, and update them regularly to ensure you’re reaching the right people.

  1. Do some research.

Before you start using a new hashtag, do some research to see if it’s being used by others and if it’s relevant to your audience. You don’t want to use a hashtag that’s already being used by someone else, or one that isn’t relevant to your brand.

  1. Be consistent.

Once you’ve chosen the right hashtags for your business, be consistent in using them. Inconsistent hashtag usage can be confusing for customers and make it difficult for them to find your content.

  1. Monitor your results.

Pay attention to the results you’re getting from your hashtags. Are they helping you reach more customers? Are people using them to engage with your brand? If not, it may be time to reassess your strategy.

  1. Have fun!

Hashtags are a great way to connect with customers and promote your brand. But at the end of the day, they should be fun too! Don’t take yourself too seriously – have fun with your hashtags and let your personality shine through.

The pros of using hashtags

The pros of using hashtags are that they can help businesses connect with customers, promote their brand or product, and stay current and relevant. Additionally, hashtags can help businesses monitor how their content is performing. By using the right hashtags, businesses can reach a larger audience and increase brand awareness.

In addition to connecting with your target audience and brand awareness, niche hashtags can also help you stand out from the competition. With so many businesses competing for attention on social media, it’s important to find ways to make your brand stand out. Using niche hashtags can be a great way to do this.

The cons of using hashtags

Like anything, there are also some risks associated with using hashtags. One risk is that businesses could be inadvertently promoting a competitor by using their hashtag. Another risk is that businesses could use too many random hashtags  that aren’t related to each other and confuse social media algorithms. Additionally, businesses should be aware of how their hashtags are performing and make changes as needed. Finally, businesses should focus on quality over quantity when it comes to hashtags.

When used correctly, hashtags can be a powerful way for businesses to reach new customers and promote their brands. However, there are some risks associated with using hashtags, so businesses should be aware of these before they get started.

Additionally, businesses should be aware that there is such a thing as using too many random hashtags. If you use too many random hashtags, social media algorithms will be confused and your content is less likely to be seen by potential customers. So, focus on quality over quantity.

How do you measure the success of using hashtags on social media?

When it comes to measuring the success of using hashtags on social media, businesses can look at a variety of metrics.

  • One way to measure success is by looking at how many people have clicked through to your content from the hashtag.
  • Another way to measure success is by monitoring the conversation around your hashtag. If you notice that people are talking about your hashtag in a positive way, that is a good sign that it is successful.
  • Finally, you can also measure the success of your hashtag by looking at how many people are using it. If you see a lot of people using your hashtag, that means it is likely to be successful.

Ways To Measure

Ways To Measure The Success of Hashtags: Hashtagify

One way to measure how many people clicked through to your content from hashtags is by using a tool like Hashtagify.

  • This tool allows you to see how popular a particular hashtag is and how it is being used. By using this tool, you can see which hashtags are the most popular and which ones are the best for your business. Additionally, you can use this tool to measure the success of your hashtag over time.

Ways To Measure The Success of Hashtags: Hootsuite Logo

Another way to measure the success of using hashtags on social media is by looking at the conversation around your hashtag. You can use a tool like Hootsuite Insights to track the conversation around your hashtag.

  • This tool allows you to see how many people are talking about your hashtag and what they are saying. Additionally, you can use this tool to monitor the sentiment around your hashtag. If you see a lot of negative sentiment, that might be a sign that your hashtag is not successful.

High volume vs. low volume hashtags

When it comes to using hashtags on social media, businesses should use a mix of high volume and low volume hashtags.

High volume hashtags

Using high-volume hashtags is an excellent way to reach a lot of people and get your content seen by more people. However, you don’t want to use too many high-volume hashtags because social media algorithms will be confused, and your content is less likely to be seen by potential customers.

Low volume hashtags

Low-volume hashtags are a great way to reach a specific group of people. For example, if you’re a business selling dogs’ products, you might use the hashtag #doglovers. This hashtag has low volume, but it’s an excellent way to reach people interested in dogs.

You can also use a mix of high-volume and low-volume hashtags. For example, you might use the hashtag #doglovers and the hashtag #dogs. This will help you reach a wider audience while still targeting people interested in dogs.

Don’t forget about niche hashtags

Niche hashtags are a great way to reach a specific group of people. For example, if you’re a business selling dogs’ products, you might use the hashtag #dogparents. This hashtag has low volume, but it’s an excellent way to reach people interested in dogs.

How many hashtags should you use for each social media platform to reach your target audience?

  • Instagram: You should use at least 11-20 hashtags on Instagram to be successful.
  • Facebook: To be successful on Facebook, you should use at least 6 hashtags.
  • LinkedIn: You should use at least 5 hashtags on LinkedIn to be successful.
  • Twitter: You should use at least 3 hashtags on Twitter to be successful.
  • Tik Tok: You should use at least 5 hashtags on Tik Tok to be successful.
  • Pinterest: You should use 5 hashtags on Pinterest to be successful.

Engage With Others That Use The Same Hashtags As You

Now that you have done your research, created a hashtag strategy, and posted your posts and reels (videos) using those hashtags you’ll now need to engage in those hashtags. When you like and comment on other accounts that use hashtags that you use as well, social media platforms will notice how you interact with other accounts and aren’t just posting photos, so the social media platforms will then push your content even more to your ideal customers and followers. The Accounts that you engage with will get curious and check out your account, which will most likely convert to sales/leads.

Hashtags are a powerful way to amplify your social media posts and get in front of more people. By using hashtags, you can connect with people who are interested in the same topics as you and build relationships with potential customers. Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about how to use hashtags to grow your business. 

 

Matthew Goulart


|13 minutes read

Matthew Goulart is the founder of Ignite Digital, a Canadian digital marketing agency. Through Ignite Digital, Goulart works with Fortune 500 companies and advertising agencies from around the world and has helped launch profitable and highly successful digital marketing initiatives for his clients.