#BrandedHashtags vs #UnbrandedHashtags
Hashtags, denoted by the # symbol and followed by text or numbers, serve as invaluable tools across social media platforms. These digital signposts categorise content, enabling seamless discovery and connection within the vast online landscape.
All of your postings gain discoverability, context, and relevancy from the use of hashtags. Without them, information can be misplaced, forgotten, and transient noise. They help increase the lifespan of posts where millions of stories are told every day on social media.
Hashtags can be either unbranded or branded, and both are beneficial for different scenarios…
What is a Branded Hashtag?
Pine Crest School’s usage of branded hashtags on Instagram
A branded hashtag is more than just a typical hashtag; it's a way to infuse your school's identity into the digital conversation. By incorporating your school's name or unique identifier into the hashtag, you carve out a distinct space in the vast realm of social media. This ownership empowers you to curate an exclusive online repository of content that embodies your school's values.
Consider this:
Imagine sharing highlights from your school's music lessons.
Using a generic hashtag like #Music might lead your content to get lost in a sea of unrelated posts.
However, by crafting a branded hashtag specifically tied to your school, such as #YourSchoolMusic, you transform the narrative.
This tailored hashtag acts as a filter, directing users toward the treasure trove of your school's captivating stories and fostering a deeper connection with your audience. You can take ownership of this hashtag with all music stories filtering into one place, increasing the lifespan of your content.
What is an Unbranded Hashtag?
Bryanston School’s use of unbranded hashtags on X
An unbranded hashtag is simply a standard hashtag that is not affiliated with your school.
You may be asking: “Why would I use an unbranded hashtag if I can own a library of specific content?”.
Well, here’s your answer:
Using unbranded hashtags is pivotal when contributing to trends and wider conversations on social media.
It increases the chance of engagement as lots of users are creating and viewing stories with unbranded hashtags.
A great example of this is telling stories around World Book Day. Thousands of schools and organisations across the world will be telling stories using the hashtag #WorldBookDay and by utilising it, you can seamlessly align your school’s storytelling with the education community’s broader dialogue.
By including an unbranded hashtag, online users will be more likely to come across your school’s related posts, increasing your story’s reach. Branding the hashtag would hold your post back from increased visibility and detach it from ongoing discussions.
Where is the best place to use hashtags?
Hashtags are incredibly versatile - they can be used across an array of platforms! From the familiar realms of social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to niche channels like SoundCloud, hashtags serve as pivotal markers, even boasting dedicated areas for tagging:
Tagging on SoundCloud, as exemplified on our #InspiringSchoolsPodcast account
The British School in The Netherlands’ #BrandedHashtag in their bio
We want your content to be clearly categorised into your own library on each social media platform. By utilising branded hashtags you are able to do so on all major social media platforms, allowing social media users to view all stories relating to a certain aspect of school life.
Notably, bios aren't exempt from the hashtag magic! Integrating branded hashtags into your bios serves as a potent tool for showcasing your school's unique identity and amplifying brand recognition.
It's an opportunity to encapsulate your school values - ones that resonate within your storytelling. This strategic approach invites your audience to delve into your content, providing evidence to the world that these values are more than just words on a page.
The British School in The Netherlands does this fantastically in their X bio, using their #BSNPride branded hashtag.
It only takes seconds to implement a branded hashtag into your bio. Try and choose one which best encapsulates your school’s values. For example, if your school’s mission was to inspire students you may choose to add #[YourSchool]Inspires.
Want to learn more? Our Digital Storytellers would love to support you with your use of hashtags and how to implement them into your social media strategy. Get in touch: social@interactiveschools.com