Why using place hashtags matters for local businesses

Why use place hashtags?

Hashtags are a useful search tool. Not just for Instagram users to find inspiration, but for people to find, follow and engage with you. Hashtags can also be used to identify conversations you want to listen to and engage with, and inform what content you want yours to sit alongside. You want your content to be seen amidst that of  businesses in your place, and be seen by the people that trade and use them. Local hashtags allow you to share online space and conversation with people with whom you are likely to share customers, share struggles and successes, and a common passion and pride in the area in which you live and trade.

Customers want to shop locally, when restrictions permit. So help them help you by making your content easily discoverable.

Who’s doing it well

Putney BID, Positively Putney launched the hashtag #shareourputney as a campaign which local and independent businesses could rally around. The hashtag provides a signpost for the BID and all the businesses in Putney who can then share all the content within the campaign, shining a light on each other's services, and the people behind them. When all businesses and placemakers get behind the hashtag, both social media engagement and reach increase, benefitting all of the businesses.

Harrogate is another great example of a place utilising the value of a hashtag. The Harrogate hashtag sits firmly at the centre of the Harrogate and wider Yorkshire conversation. The word cloud shows that Harrogate businesses have a lot to say about the snow and lockdown, as well as Happy New Year messaging and Veganuary. But we can also see multiple towns within the Harrogate area featuring in the business conversation showing that the area has plenty to say about place and offers plenty of variety.