Hashtags are not just random symbols anymore. They have become a strong part of online communication, branding, and even business success. Many people use them daily, but only a few truly understand how to use them smartly. If you’re running a business or just love posting on social media, learning how to hashtag properly can give you a bigger reach, more clicks, and even more sales.
Let’s break down everything you need to know—from the basics to advanced tips. This post is for everyone who wants to master the art of hashtagging with clear examples, real strategies, and practical tips.
What is a Hashtag?
A hashtag is a word or group of words with the # symbol in front. When you add it to your post, it becomes clickable and searchable. People can click or search that hashtag to see all posts with the same tag.
For example, if someone posts a photo of coffee and writes #CoffeeLovers, anyone who clicks that tag can see other coffee-related posts. It creates a digital collection under one label.
Common platforms that support hashtags include:
- Twitter (now X)
- YouTube
- TikTok
The Rules You Should Follow
If you want your hashtags to actually work, a few rules must be followed:
1. No Spaces Allowed
You can’t use spaces in hashtags. For example:
Wrong: #Social Media
Correct: #SocialMedia
Even if your hashtag has two or three words, join them together.
2. No Punctuation
Avoid commas, periods, or exclamation marks. Hashtags break after a symbol.
Wrong: #Sale!
Correct: #SaleTime
3. Use Letters and Numbers Only
You can combine alphabets and numbers:
Correct: #Event2025
Correct: #DubaiExpo2020
But avoid symbols like &, %, or @.
Why Hashtags Matter for Your Brand
Hashtags increase visibility. If your post is public and someone searches or follows that hashtag, your content could appear—even if they don’t follow you. That’s how brands reach new people every day.
Using hashtags the right way also helps categorize your content. It connects your post with others talking about the same thing, like a digital topic folder.
How to Create Your Own Hashtag
You don’t need permission to make a hashtag. You just write one that hasn’t been used widely. But to make it useful, follow this:
Be Clear
Avoid complicated spellings or long phrases. Keep it simple and readable.
Make It Relevant
If you’re a brand in Dubai launching a clothing line, use something like:
- #DubaiFashion
- #StyleByYourBrand
Check Before You Use
Search your hashtag first. If it’s already in use by something unrelated, you might confuse your audience.
Make Your Hashtag Unique
A good hashtag is not only short and clear but also memorable. Think about campaigns like:
- #ShareACoke by Coca-Cola
- #LikeAGirl by Always
- #BecauseYoureWorthIt by L’Oreal
These weren’t just creative—they matched the brand voice and message. You can do the same by:
- Matching the tone of your brand
- Avoiding generic words like #Sale or #Nice
- Creating a campaign name that people can reuse
Where to Use Hashtags
You can use hashtags in:
- Post captions
- Story stickers (on Instagram/Facebook)
- Reels or short video captions
- LinkedIn articles
- Pinterest pin descriptions
Avoid stuffing hashtags. Choose only the best and most fitting ones.
How Many Hashtags Are Enough?
Using too many hashtags can look messy or spammy. The right number depends on the platform:
| Platform | Suggested Hashtags |
|---|---|
| 5–11 | |
| 1–3 | |
| Twitter/X | 1–2 |
| 3–5 | |
| TikTok | 3–6 |
Placing hashtags in the caption helps indexing. On Instagram, some users prefer placing them in the first comment to keep captions clean—but it still works.
Tools to Help You with Hashtags
You don’t need to guess hashtags. There are tools that help you:
- Generate hashtags
- Analyze trending ones
- Check hashtag popularity
Useful Tools:
- Hashtagify.me – Helps find relevant and trending tags
- All Hashtag – Offers hashtag generators
- RiteTag – Shows live engagement stats
- Display Purposes – Filters banned and spammy tags
- Instagram Search – Gives auto-suggestions while typing
These can guide you in selecting the most powerful hashtags in your niche.
Categories of Hashtags
Hashtags are not all the same. Here are the main types:
1. Content Hashtags
They describe what your post is about.
Example: #TravelPhotography, #FitnessTips
2. Brand-Specific Hashtags
These are made for your business or campaign.
Example: #RedSpiderDesign, #GCCWebHostingDeals
Encourage customers to use them. This builds trust and spreads awareness.
3. Trending Hashtags
These are popular right now.
Example: #ThrowbackThursday, #Viral, #MeToo
Jumping on trends can increase visibility but make sure it fits your message.
4. Location-Based Hashtags
They target people in a specific area.
Example: #DubaiEvents, #UAEFashion, #AbuDhabiDeals
Especially useful for local businesses.
When Not to Use Hashtags
- Don’t use too many—your post will look messy.
- Don’t use irrelevant hashtags—this will confuse users and reduce engagement.
- Don’t repeat the same hashtag on every post—mix it up.
- Don’t use banned hashtags—these are often blocked by platforms. For example, #humpday is banned on Instagram.
To check banned hashtags, use DisplayPurposes.com or search them directly on the platform.
How to Measure Hashtag Performance
If you’re serious about results, you need to track what works.
Use:
- Instagram Insights – Check impressions from hashtags
- Twitter/X Analytics – Shows engagement per hashtag
- Facebook Page Insights – Basic tracking of post reach
- LinkedIn Analytics – View impressions and clicks
- Bitly – If using links in hashtags, track them here
Also, look for patterns—like which hashtags perform best on weekends or which ones attract comments.
Hashtag Placement Tips
Where you put hashtags affects how your post looks and how people engage.
- Instagram: In the caption or 1st comment
- Twitter: Inside the post, for example, “Loving the vibes at #Expo2025”
- LinkedIn: Add them at the end of your post
- TikTok: In the caption and on-screen if it fits your video
- Stories: Hide the hashtags behind stickers to keep design clean
Real-World Hashtag Campaign Examples
#ShareACoke (Coca-Cola)
People were invited to share personalized Coke bottles and tag them. It exploded globally.
#IceBucketChallenge (ALS Association)
This challenge raised awareness and donations—proving how powerful a viral hashtag can be.
#MyDubai
A tourism initiative that helped boost Dubai’s online tourism visibility through user-generated content.
These examples show how even a single hashtag can shift attention and action worldwide.
Hashtags and the Dubai Market
Dubai is one of the fastest-growing digital markets in the world. Hashtags used in UAE can often trend fast, especially if they are:
- Event-specific such as #GitexDubai
- Business-related such as #StartupUAE
- Real estate or tourism tags such as #VisitDubai, #DubaiMarina
If your business is based in the UAE, don’t ignore geo-specific tags.
Some examples:
- #WebDesignDubai
- #UAEEvents
- #DigitalMarketingUAE
- #DubaiShoppingFestival
These attract targeted local visitors who are more likely to engage.
Boosting Your Campaign with Hashtags
If you’re launching a product or service, make hashtags part of your plan.
Steps:
- Create a unique campaign hashtag
- Use it in all content: videos, posts, blogs, emails
- Ask customers to share it with their photos
- Run contests or giveaways using that hashtag
Example:
Launching a new design agency? Try something like #WebDesignWithRedSpider and ask clients to tag their new projects with it.
Final Tips for Smart Hashtagging
- Mix popular and niche hashtags
- Avoid misleading or irrelevant tags
- Keep your list updated monthly
- Study competitors’ hashtags
- Use branded hashtags for every campaign
- Track and tweak based on results
Conclusion
Hashtags are more than just symbols. They serve a real purpose in reaching the right people, spreading ideas, and building strong connections online. With smart use, consistent testing, and a little creativity, you can turn simple hashtags into powerful tools for your brand or personal profile.
