How Can I Use Hashtags on Social Media to Boost My Business?

Social media may be the single most effective tool to advertise your business for free. 

But have you ever wondered, how can I make it easier for future clients and customers to find me on social media?  

That’s a question with many answers! However, one of the best social media tricks that small business owners often miss out on is the use of social media hashtags to get found on sites like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and more! 

Learn more about Legend Web Work’s marketing methodology! Legendary marketing awaits! 

But before you #gocrazy, let’s take a look at what hashtags on social media are, how you can use them, as well as some social media hashtag best practices.  

Learn more about social media hashtag best practices in Cincinnati and Dayton to help give your small business a social media boost. Keep reading to learn more! 

Use These Ten Social Media Hashtag Tips to Get Found on Facebook In Cincinnati and Dayton 

Hashtags are one of the most powerful, yet oft-neglected, social media tools at your disposal. Don't let them go to waste! 

Every time you make a social media post, you have the opportunity to expose your brand to a new set of clients or customers (and then boost your sales). But, if you are not using hashtags, you are letting dozens of prospective sales slip through your fingers.  

Let’s look at ten quick tips you can use to get more eyes on your social media posts using the power of hashtags! 

Research popular hashtags in your local area. Before you start using hashtags, it's important to research and identify those that are popular in your local area. This practice will help you to identify which hashtags are being used by your target audience and it will increase the chances of your posts being seen by potential customers or followers. Use tools like Hashtagify or Keyhole to research popular hashtags in Cincinnati and Dayton. 

Chances are you do not run a nationwide brand (and if you do, this is still a good tip regardless). You will want to compete on a local or state level before you make a run at national attention. Local eyes make local sales, and if you can identify and use relevant and popular local hashtags, you will get more eyes on your post! 

Use specific location-based hashtags. Using hashtags that include the names of specific locations, such as Cincinnati and Dayton, can help you to reach a local audience. For example, if you're a restaurant in Cincinnati, you can use hashtags like #CincinnatiRestuarants or #CincinnatiFoodie to reach “foodies” in the area. 

This will help reinforce the first tip and will play a role in helping you build up a local following. People love to shop locally! Wear your hometown stripes with pride by incorporating location-specific hashtags into your social media posts.  

Use hashtags that relate to your business or industry. It is wise to use hashtags that are relevant to your business or industry. This will help you to reach an audience that is interested in the products or services that you offer. For example, if you're a fitness instructor in Dayton, you can use hashtags like #DaytonFitness or #DaytonGyms to reach fitness enthusiasts in the area. 

You can even be more specific if you choose. For example, if you run an indoor cycling center, you might choose a hashtag like #DaytonCycling. Just be sure your hashtag is clear, specific, and relevant to your field.  

Use a mix of popular and niche hashtags. While it's important to use popular hashtags to reach a wider audience, be sure you also use niche hashtags to reach a more specific target audience. For example, if you're a fashion boutique in Cincinnati, you can use hashtags like #CincinnatiFashion and #CincinnatiStyle to reach a wider audience, but also use hashtags like #CincinnatiBoutique or #CincinnatiFashionFestival to reach a more specific target audience. 

Whoever said "don't put all your eggs in one basket" was on to something. Don't be afraid to follow what is popular with your rivals and partners. But don't stop yourself from trying out new niche hashtags either. One of the best parts of using hashtags is you get to experiment and see what works for your business! 

Use hashtags in the caption and the comments. Facebook allows you to use hashtags in both the caption and comments of your posts. By using hashtags in both the caption and the comments, you will increase the visibility of your post and reach a wider audience. 

After all, who doesn't love a freebie? Hashtags are a great way to engage with your followers in the comment section and allow you to diversify your hashtag palette and let your followers get a piece of the pie.  

Create your own branded hashtags. Creating your own branded hashtags can help you to build a community around your brand. For example, if you're a coffee shop in Dayton, you can create a hashtag like #DaytonCoffeeLover and encourage customers to use it when they post about your shop on social media. 

You need something that is uniquely yours that your friends, customers, and partners can follow to keep up on specific topics that you post about. This is often helpful for building a close inner circle that is curious about more niche topics.  

Track the performance of your hashtags. It's important that you track the performance of your hashtags to see which ones are working well and which ones aren't. You can use tools like Hashtracking or Tagboard to track your hashtags and adjust your strategy accordingly. 

It’s one thing to come up with an array of interesting hashtags, but unless you are tracking your hashtags you will never know which are the most effective. It is important to continuously brainstorm and experiment with new hashtags. It is equally important to drop ineffective hashtags. This is an important hashtag best practice. Track your hashtag success and failures! It’s all part of the ever-competitive social media game! 

Need to know more stats? Check out this guide for the top stats of 2023! 

Join local Facebook groups. Joining local Facebook groups can help you to reach a more targeted audience. Look for industry-specific or niche groups and use relevant hashtags when posting to these groups. 

If you haven't noticed by now, the best thing you can do to build a solid hashtag foundation is to target local audiences first, then move on to more competitive fields. It is never a bad idea to see what your rivals are doing and then throw your hat into the ring.  

Participate in local events and use event-specific hashtags. Participating in local events and using event-specific hashtags will help you to reach a wider audience. For example, if you're a business participating in a local trade show in Cincinnati, you can use the event-specific hashtag, such as #CincyTradeShow2023 to reach a wider audience. 

Go where the people are (and you know you will be seen)! If you know that members of your community are already going to be looking at an event-specific hashtag, then a sound hashtag strategy will see you using that hashtag to promote your business. It's free advertising, use it! 

Use hashtags in your Facebook ads. Using hashtags in your Facebook ads can help you to reach a more targeted audience. For example, you can use location-specific hashtags like #CincinnatiAds or #DaytonDeals to reach customers in your local area. 

If you are paying for ads on social media (a great idea and part of a very solid social media and SEO strategy), then make sure you are using social media hashtags to get just a little bit more. You are paying for your ad to be seen by thousands of local eyes, use hashtags on your paid posts to get extra hashtag engagement and establish your hashtag branding.  

Learn More About Hash Tag Best Practices in Cincinnati and Dayton with Legend Web Works 

Hashtags are one of the most powerful tools you can use to get your social media posts seen. They help you engage with your followers, attract new customers, and hone in on specific topics.  

Hashtag engagement can be tricky to figure out, but once you develop a hashtag strategy, tacking a few onto your post will become a breeze.  

Not sure if your hashtags work? Use this handy trick to learn more about how your customers heard about you! 

If you are not getting new followers on your account, then it may be a problem with your hashtags. A little hashtag research can help you make up some ground and will have your competitors taking notice.  

Not sure where to start? You are not alone! Legend Web Works has helped dozens of businesses just like yours use hashtags and other social media tools to improve their SEO and online presence.  

If you want to learn more about how your Cincinnati or Dayton business can succeed on Facebook and other social media platforms, then reach out to Legend Web Works now! 

Already a client? Tell us about your Legendary experience or drop us a #fivestarreview here! 

The best is yet to come! Follow Legend Web Works on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram for more fabulous free social media best practices, pro SEO tips, and blogging strategies to get your brand seen online!