How To Create Your Own Hashtag On Domain_6

Hashtags and domain names: What you should include when promoting on social media

Most small business owners know by now that social media can be a powerful and cost effective marketing tool. However, what most people don't realise is that using the right domain name and hashtags in your social media posts can be critical for achieving success.

It goes without saying that if you want to increase your chances of consumers viewing your products and services, it's imperative you include a link to your website with every suitable post – this is where a short, catchy domain name pays off.

Meanwhile hashtags are an effective way to get your social media posts included in the right conversations. They were once used to organise all of the millions of categories being discussed, but now they are a way to identify trends or search for items.

Sales Force Marketing Cloud conducted a statistical review for effective tweeting and found that "tweets with hashtags receive two times more engagement than those without hashtags."

For the customer, the right hashtag combined with a trusted domain name can be an easy and effective way to find a local business.

What to do with your domain name on social media

Include a recognisable domain name

When first creating your domain name, secure one that is short and can be easily read in social media posts. Readers will be more likely to click on your posts if they trust the domain name.

Keep it relevant

You want your domain name to act as a signpost for the content to which you are directing consumers.

That's why domain names that end in .nyc, .sydney or .melbourne are perfect for social media sharing because they also geographically focus the posts to the consumers you are targeting.

Don't shorten your URLs

When you shorten your URL (e.g. bit.ly or owl.ly) you're introducing risk and a foreign brand to your posts. How can consumers know they're not clicking on a phishing scam or other security risk if the URL is unbranded and generic?

Recognisable domain names under .melbourne and .sydney add trust and authority to social media posts and allow you to control your brand in all aspects of your social media posts.

Importantly, it improves the chance of consumers clicking to your website.

URL shorteners were invented to solve the problem of using long, unwieldy domains on social media. Now, the ability to get short .melbourne and .sydney domain names removes the need for URL shorteners.

Creativity

A domain name is the call to action in your social media posts, so rather than using unbranded gibberish with URL shorteners, you should place an emphasis on innovating with your domain names and developing creative messages tailored to your audience.

For example, you could make a call to action aimed at Sydney businesses wanting to create a website using the domain name: www.getonline.sydney.

Hashtags you should use for successful promotion

#SmallBiz / #SmallBusiness

Use one of these variations if you pride yourself on being a small business. Most customers recognise that a small business is more likely to offer personalised service.

#ShopLocal / #ShopSmall

When used in conjunction with a mention of your location, this can be a direct way to indicate that you're a local business. In fact, #ShopLocal isn't just a hashtag anymore – it's a movement that community-minded customers use to promote their favourite vendors to their friends.

#SydneyBusiness / #MelbourneBusiness / #ShopMosman / #ShopToorak

Obviously any of the above hashtags that include your city or suburb highlights you're a proud local business. However, these words are also likely to be used by customers when searching online.

#SydneySales / #MelbourneSales

What does the savvy shopper do before leaving the house? They look for sales and if they can pick up your sale in advance on social media, you're sure to be on their hit list.

Popular themed hashtags

If you want to be part of common hashtags that get lots of views consider posting something relevant to the popular themes such as #ThrowbackThursday or #MotivationalMonday.