Virgin Airways hashtag-heavy post is just one example of how savvy Instagrammers use hashtags to get more exposure.
Last year Instagram hit 400 million users—many of them young women—so, of course you’re active on the social media site. (Right?)
But according to marketing expert Nathan Chen, there’s a big difference between having an Instagram page and using it to its full advantage. One thing that helps? “Shout-outs” in the form of post shares by influential people — be they movers and shakers in your town or international celebrities.
“Nothing beats having your posts shared by social influencers, he wrote recently for the Huffington Post. “Getting a shout-out…means that authority rubs off on you, their fans will automatically become more receptive to your message. Which means more followers, more engagement and more sales.”
Here are some of Chen’s tips on creating posts too good not to share:
Keep images simple. “Pictures speak a thousand words, and a well-crafted image with a clear message is more likely to be shared than something that’s aesthetically convoluted and messy,” Chen said. “Think pop music, not experimental art rock.”
Focus on basic emotions. “Research suggests that we’re only capable of feeling four basic emotions: happy, sad, afraid/surprised, and angry/disgusted,” Chen said. “It’s all about creating content that targets one of these emotions, depending on what it is you want to achieve.” Remember, he added, “Images that evoke happiness are more likely to be shared.”
Use the right hashtags — and plenty of them. “Hashtags allow you to get your content in front of your desired audience and keep your account up to date with the current trends,” he said. “Make sure that you’re maxing out Instagram’s limit of 30 hashtags per post, especially if you’re a smaller account. Every hashtag you use drastically increases the likelihood of your content getting likes and shares.”
