How to use #hashtags

How to Use Hashtags in Your Marketing Strategy to Boost Local SEO | Sarah Naylor Academy

When it comes to marketing your business, especially in the beauty industry, the right hashtags can make all the difference. Hashtags help categorise your content, making it more discoverable across social media platforms, but did you know they can also support your SEO efforts when people search for your services locally?

The Power of Strategic Hashtag Use

Hashtags work across multiple platforms to increase your visibility:

📱 Instagram

📘 Facebook

🎵 TikTok

💼 LinkedIn

Know Your Audience and Location

🎯

The first step to choosing the right hashtags is understanding your target audience and location. You want to attract potential customers in your area who are actively searching for the services you offer.

Location-Based Hashtag Examples:

#DublinNails

#DublinBeauty

#NailSalonDublin

#CorkLashes

#GalwayBrows

#LimerickBeauty

Pro Tip:

By using location-based hashtags, you'll increase your chances of appearing in local searches, improving both your reach and SEO!

Research Industry-Relevant Hashtags

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Look at what hashtags your competitors are using and research which ones are trending in your industry. Don't stop at generic hashtags—add more specific, niche terms that reflect your unique services.

🌟

Generic Beauty

Broad reach hashtags

#NailsOfInstagram

#LashExtensions

#BrowGoals

🎯

Niche Specific

Targeted audience hashtags

#HDBrows

#VeganLashes

#RussianLashes

Strategy:

Combining general beauty hashtags with localised tags (#DublinBrows) creates a strong foundation for both broad and local reach.

Use Hashtags to Support Your SEO

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When people use Google to search for services like "nail salon in [your location]," they are using keywords that could lead them to your social media profiles if you've used similar hashtags consistently.

The SEO Connection

While hashtags themselves aren't directly crawled by Google, social media profiles are. The keywords used in your hashtags can boost your SEO if they align with what people are searching for.

SEO-Supporting Hashtag Examples:

#MicrobladingDublin

#AestheticsClondalkin

#FacialsDublin

#BeautyTherapistCork

Mix Popular and Niche Hashtags

⚖️

While it's tempting to use the most popular hashtags, it's important to strike a balance between broad and niche tags.

Finding the Perfect Balance

🌍

Popular Hashtags

Wide reach but high competition

#Beauty

#Skincare

#Nails

🏆

Niche Hashtags

Targeted audience, less competition

#FacialDublin

#BeautyAcademyIreland

#IrishBeautyPro

Track and Adapt Your Strategy

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The key to a successful hashtag strategy is tracking what works and adjusting as needed. Take note of which posts generate the most engagement and examine the hashtags used.

Recommended Tracking Tools:

Instagram Insights

Hashtagify

Later Analytics

Sprout Social

Action Step:

If you notice certain hashtags consistently leading to more clicks or local inquiries, double down on those. Don't be afraid to experiment!

Leverage Community and Event Hashtags

🎪

Using community or event-specific hashtags can help you tap into local conversations and trends. Participating in these local conversations can introduce your business to a whole new audience.

Event & Community Hashtag Examples:

#DublinBeautyExpo

#TallaghtBridalFair

#CorkWeddingShow

#IrishBeautyWeek

Don't Overdo It

⚠️

While hashtags are powerful, you don't want to overwhelm your audience by overloading your posts.

⚠️ Hashtag Guidelines

Stick to 10-15 relevant and well-researched hashtags per post. Going beyond this can make your content seem spammy and may even have a negative effect on engagement.

Best Practice Formula

📍

3-5 Location Tags

💄

4-6 Service Tags

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3-4 Trending Tags

Your Hashtag Strategy Success Formula

Hashtags are not just for social media visibility; they can play a key role in your local SEO strategy. By using a combination of location-based, industry-specific, and niche hashtags, you increase the chances of being found by potential customers.

Remember: The goal is to make it easy for your audience to find you both on social media and when they turn to Google. With the right hashtag strategy, you'll not only boost engagement on your posts but also improve your local SEO and attract more clients to your business.

Join the Sarah Naylor Academy Community

Use these hashtags to connect with our community:

#sarahnayloracademy

#lashcourse

#lashcoursetallaght

#lashcoursedublin

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Start implementing these hashtag strategies today and watch your local visibility grow!