How to effectively use hashtags in your personal training business
A hashtag is a word or phrase that comes after the "#" symbol, used to categorise and organise content on social media platforms. When users click on a hashtag or search for it, they are presented with a feed of posts that include the same hashtag. This makes hashtags a potent method for discovering and participating in conversations relevant to your content.
Why use Hashtags?
Increased Visibility: Hashtags categorise your content and make it discoverable to a wider audience beyond your immediate followers. People who are interested in fitness, wellness, or specific training methods can find your posts easily when searching for relevant hashtags.
Targeted Audience: By using relevant and specific hashtags, personal trainers can attract an audience that is genuinely interested in fitness, health, and training. This can lead to more engagement, interactions, and potential clients who are seeking your expertise. For instance, if you're a fitness enthusiast sharing home workout routines, consider using hashtags like #HomeWorkoutIdeas.
Brand Building: Consistently using certain hashtags can help you create a brand identity and make your content more recognizable and unique. They encourage user-generated content and make it easier for you to track discussions related to your brand. When creating branded hashtags, ensure they're concise, easy to remember, and relevant to your brand's identity (i.e. #movewithsudor).
Content Organization: Hashtags can help you categorise your content, making it easier for both you and your followers to find specific types of posts. For example, you can use hashtags to separate workout routines, nutrition tips, success stories, and more.
Community Engagement: Hashtags not only categorise content but also a foster community. Engage with posts that use the same hashtags as you do by liking, commenting, and sharing. This can help you connect with like-minded individuals and increase your content's visibility within these communities.
Trending Topics: Trending hashtags are those currently gaining significant traction on social media platforms. If a trending hashtag aligns with your content, incorporating it into your posts can expose your content to a wider audience. However, ensure your content is genuinely relevant to the hashtag's theme, as attempting to force-fit your content can come across as inauthentic.
Promotions and Campaigns: Hashtags can be used to promote special events, challenges, workshops, or other campaigns you're running. This can create a sense of excitement and urgency among your followers and encourage them to participate.
Analytics and Insights: The world of social media is constantly evolving, and so are hashtag trends. Regularly test different hashtags to see which ones resonate the most with your audience. Most social media platforms offer insights and analytics tools that allow you to track the performance of your posts with different hashtags. Use these insights to refine your hashtag strategy over time.
TIP: Before adding hashtags to your social media posts, it's crucial to research and select the most relevant ones. Start by brainstorming keywords related to your content, industry, or niche. Then, search for these keywords on social media platforms to identify popular and trending hashtags. Tools like RiteTag, Hashtagify, and social media analytics can also provide insights into hashtag performance.
Some ideas
These hashtags are specific to Pilates - but hopefully they get your creative juices flowing and give you a base to build on specific to your niche.
#pilates #pilateslovers #pilatesinstructor #pilatesreformer #pilatesbrasil #pilatesbody #pilatesmat #pilatesstudio #pilateslife #pilatestododia #pilatesparatodos #pilateseveryday #pilatesteacher #pilatescomamor #pilateslove #pilatestime #pilatesgirl #pilateslover #pilatessolo #pilatesday #pilatesfitness
TIP: Strike a balance between using a reasonable number of hashtags and overloading your post with them. For example, Instagram posts tend to perform well with 5-15 hashtags, while Twitter posts may be limited to 1-2 hashtags due to character constraints.
As social media continues to shape the way we communicate and share information, the humble hashtag remains a testament to the remarkable potential of a small yet impactful innovation. So just remember to remain consistent and build a recognisable brand presence that makes it easier for your audience to connect and find your content.