It’s safe to say that even the least tech-savvy person you know has heard of hashtags. Since the first post with a hashtag was uploaded in 2007, they’ve become increasingly popular across every social media platform. You may be thinking, “So? What’s the point?” The truth is that hashtags hold a surprising amount of power, so learning how to use them correctly is essential for writers today.
Why Hashtags Are Important
Hashtags can be used to promote products, communicate news, associate your message with a trending topic or just to optimize your post for search results. Posts can easily gain worldwide attention through specific hashtags. For example, the hashtag #royalwedding during Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton in 2011 was used worldwide. Hashtags are also common after other big events, such as elections or the Superbowl.
Companies, artists, brands, and other influencers can use hashtags to attract a larger audience. Your average person on social media often search various hashtags so they can find and follow specific content. Authors who take the time to learn what their potential readers are searching for can quickly start using hashtags to their advantage.
How to Use Hashtags
Hashtags are important, but don’t overwhelm your social posts with them either! Using too many hashtags or using a popular tag that isn’t related to your post can annoy users or make your account look like spam. Finding the right hashtags can be a balancing act; you don’t want to be too broad or too specific when describing your work. It may take some trial and error before you find the magic combination for your audience, but in general, here’s how hashtags work on the most popular social media platforms:
- Facebook. One study looked at how the number of hashtags affected engagement from Facebook users. Posts with 1-2 hashtags had an average of 593 interactions, while posts with 3-5 hashtags only averaged 413. When it comes to hashtags on Facebook, less is more! One aspect to keep in mind is that many Facebook users have private profiles, so most public hashtags are from brands, groups, or other types of influencers.
- Instagram. Unlike Facebook, you can feel free to be more liberal with hashtags on Instagram. However, if you use more than 5 hashtags, it’s recommended to put them in the comments so your post doesn’t look spammy. People use hashtags on Instagram to find specific content they enjoy, so along with broad, general tags, such as #book, add a few more descriptive hashtags, like the genre of your work or #writersofinstagram. You’ll be able to attract a larger audience while still letting users know what your book is about.
- Twitter. Tweets with hashtags had 2 times more engagement than those without, and 55% more Retweets. However, Tweets with just a single hashtag had the most engagement than Tweets with 2 or more. When using a hashtag on Twitter, use it to either join in on a conversation (like #writerwednesday), or target a specific audience like fellow authors or new readers.
Best Hashtags for Authors
In general, hashtags should reflect the genre of your books and help the right audience find your work. As a writer promoting your work on social channels, your hashtag strategy is simple: Use a hash tag that an enthusiastic reader of books in your genre would be likely to search. When these users land on your posts they increase engagement on your posts and they’ll likely share your content with others. Some of the most popular hashtags for that writers us in posts about books include:
Book Promotion
#99c
#authorrt
#bookgiveaway
#bookmarketing
#followfriday
#freereads
#alwaysreading
#amreading
#bookaholic
#bookboost
#bookclub
#booklovers
#bookstagram
#bookworm
#bookworms
#freebook
#greatreads
#beachread
#kindledeal
#lovebooks
#mustread
#RT
#whattoread
Romance
#amishromance
#badboyromance
#BDSM
#christmasromance
#cleanromance
#erotica
#eroticromance
#mcromance
#romance
#romancebook
#romancenovel
#romancewriter
#romanticsuspense
#RWA (Romance Writers of America)
#scintilatingsunday
#secondchance
#sweetromance
Mystery
#mystery
#mysterynovel
#mysterybooks
#thriller
#crime
#crimefiction
#cozy
#cozymystery
Horror
#horror
#horrornovel
#horrorstory
#dark
#supernatural
#creepy
Sci-Fi
#scifi
#Sci-Fi
#litrpg
#spaceopera
#sciencefiction
#firstcontact
Fantasy
#darkfantasy
#epicfantasy
#fantasy
#swordandsorcery
#yafantasy
Other Genres
#christianfiction
#fiction
#paranormal
#selfhelp
#cookbook
#urbanfantasy
#womensfiction
#ya
#yabooks
Publishing
#askagent
#askauthor
#askeditor
#bookmarketing
#MSWL (Agents use this hashtag–manuscript wish list–when looking for new manuscripts)
#publishing
#selfpub
Writing Process
#amreading
#amwriting
#amediting
#copywriting
#creativity
#editing
#indieauthor
#romancewriter
#wip
#writechat
#writegoal
#writemotivation
#writetip
#writerslife
#author
#authorlife
#writersofinstagram
Use Hashtags Specific to Your Genre
Remember that while the hashtags listed above can help your posts gain more visibility, the more specific the tags you use, the more likely you are to attract new followers. Another strategy is to use a variety of general and niche hashtags to increase your online visibility. For authors who write in one of the top 3 genres you might consider joining social groups and posting to the group’s boards.
Posting to Groups
When it comes to social, you are not limited to posting on just your own social accounts. You can also join groups on Facebook and post to the followers of those groups. Groups such as Hot Reads, Book Heaven, ReadersCoffeehouse and others allow you to join and then post about your book to promote it and get feedback.
Making Your Own Hashtag
Authors may also choose to create a specific hashtag for their work. Having a unique or witty hashtag can help people understand your “brand” with just a few short words. For example, the hashtag #JustDoIt is automatically associated with Nike’s values of determination and strength. If you already have a well-established audience, you could even post a poll asking for creative hashtag suggestions!
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