The Best #Travel #Hashtags to Use and How

They might seem annoying, confusing and pointless. But if you understand their purpose and how to use them, hashtags will help in engaging your target audience and increasing awareness.

A hashtag is simply a keyword or phrase preceded by the ‘#’ sign, often used in social posts (eg. #travel or #ILoveChocolates). It makes the content of your post accessible to all people with similar interests, even if they’re not your fans or followers.

And that reach is exactly where the power of a hashtag lies.

However, simply adding # behind random words and phrases won’t earn you followers. Using them successfully requires a bit of research and creativity. Before we get into tips, let’s get our head around types of hashtags.

Types of Hashtags

#Content hashtags. Based on the subject of the post, it is perfect for novices. Example – #travel, #coffee, #hotel, etc.

#Trending hashtags. Something that is already popular, has a significant audience and is currently top-of-mind and widely used on social platforms. Example – #ValentinesDay, #Christmas, #Olympics, #TravelTuesday, #WanderlustWednesday, etc. However unless your post is funny or engaging, it is unlikely to catch any attention under this hashtag.

#Brand specific hashtags. A hashtag you create for your brand for general awareness, events, contents and other marketing campaigns. Example – #PutACoinOnIt (Red Bull), ShareACoke (Coca-Cola), etc.

Tips on How to Use Hashtags

#1 Generic hashtags are good. But to get noticed, try and hone in on the passionate travel community that shares an interest in one specific theme. For example, instead of using a hashtag like #travel, use #EcoTravel or #GreenTravel to highlight your property’s environmental friendliness.

#2 Don’t go overboard with adding hashtags to your post. On Instagram, up to five hashtags are more than enough.

#3 Always use a location tag and destination tag along with your other tags. Eg. #nzmustdo, #auckland, #seeaustralia, #vividsydney, etc.

#4 When creating a brand hashtag, make sure it is unique and memorable. It need not necessarily have your brand name in it but should signify what you’re all about.

#5 Spend some time researching the hashtags your guests are using. Incorporate them into your post.

#6 Hashtags work differently on different social channels. Click on a few hashtags on your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts to see how they work on each platform. This will help you in designing a more engaging post for every channel using a relevant hashtag.

#7 Don’t go too long or too clever with hashtags. Eg. #AvocadoOnToast vs. #AvoToast – which one do you think is more catchy?

#8 Not every post needs or should have a hashtag.

Travel Hashtags to Use