The SaaS industry has experienced tremendous growth in recent years with many businesses are becoming increasingly reliant on cloud-based software solutions.
However, competition in the SaaS market intensifies, thus it’s essential for companies to effectively market their products and stand out from the crowd. One platform that has proven to be instrumental in this endeavor is Instagram.
Industry Overview
The SaaS industry encompasses a wide range of software applications delivered over the internet, typically on a subscription basis for the customer. From project management tools to customer relationship management (CRM) systems, SaaS products offer businesses flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
With the global SaaS market projected to reach a value of $307.3 billion by 2026, being able to cement a strong brand presence is paramount for SaaS companies seeking long-term success.
Importance of Instagram for SaaS brands
Instagram, a visually-driven social media platform, has emerged as a powerful tool for brand building and customer engagement. With over 1 billion active monthly users, it provides a vast audience for any SaaS based company to reach and connect with potential customers.
Instagram’s emphasis on visuals and storytelling allows SaaS brands to better showcase their products, share valuable content, and build meaningful relationships with customers.
Role of hashtags in growing a SaaS brand on Instagram
Hashtags can play a crucial role in the growth and visibility of a company on Instagram. The use of relevant and strategic hashtags can be an incredible tool for businesses looking to increase their reach, engagement, and brand awareness.
Why?
Because hashtags act as discoverability tools, enabling users to find content related to specific topics, industries, or interests. When used correctly, hashtags can help SaaS brands attract their ideal customers, increase their followers, and ultimately drive more conversions and revenue.
Understanding Instagram Hashtags
Hashtags on Instagram (and social media more generally) are words or phrases preceded by the “#” symbol, which serve as a way to categorize and organize content. Their purpose is to make posts more discoverable to a wider audience beyond just the people who are already following you.
When users click or search for a specific hashtag, they can view all posts that have used that hashtag, allowing them to explore related content and discover new accounts. Hence, hashtags are a strong tool for SaaS companies.
Popular Types of Hashtags For SaaS Brands
Branded hashtags are unique to your SaaS brand and they can help build brand identity and community. They can be your company name, tagline, or a specific campaign hashtag. Branded hashtags encourage user-generated content, foster engagement, and create a sense of belonging among your followers. This is especially useful if you are trying to associate your business with a new trend.
Industry-specific hashtags are great because they are associated with the wider industry or niche. This type of hashtag helps you to better target users who are specifically interested in topics and trends related to your software solutions. Examples could include #MarketingAutomation, #CloudComputing, or #ProductivityTools depending on your service offerings.
Industry-specific hashtags can help you to connect with a relevant audience and position your brand as an authority in your field.
You can also try out trending hashtags that are popular and widely used at a particular time. Hashtags that are on trend often revolve around current events, holidays, or viral trends. By leveraging trending hashtags that align with your SaaS brand’s messaging, you can ride the wave of popularity and gain visibility among a broader audience. Take advantag eof trends, don’t be afraid of them!
Niche hashtags are more specific and targeted, catering to a particular subset of users within your industry. They can be focused on a specific feature of your software, a specific customer segment, or a unique use case. Essentially, these hashtags help you reach a very specific subset of users.
Researching and choosing relevant hashtags
There are various tools and strategies you can use to discover relevant hashtags for your SaaS brand. Instagram’s search feature allows you to explore related hashtags and see their popularity. Third-party tools like Hashtagify, RiteTag, or Display Purposes provide insights into hashtag usage, reach, and related hashtags.
Evaluating hashtag popularity and engagement is key. While using popular hashtags can help increase reach, they may also result in your content getting lost in a sea of posts. Balancing popular hashtags with less competitive ones can yield significantly better results. Additionally, consider the engagement on posts using a particular hashtag. Look for hashtags with active discussions and interactions to maximize your brand’s visibility.
Another thing to consider is the crucial ability to strike a balance between broad and specific hashtags. Broad hashtags with a high volume of posts can help you reach a larger audience, but your content may get buried quickly. While, very specific hashtags may have a smaller audience they can also result in higher engagement and a more targeted reach. Using a mix of both can increase your chances of being discovered by the right audience.
Incorporating Hashtags into Your Instagram Strategy
You can enhance the discoverability of your SaaS brand by incorporating relevant keywords in your Instagram posts and reels. This allows your content to appear in searches for those keywords, increasing the chances of attracting users interested in your industry or products who don’t always follow you.
As a SaaS company you may also consider participating in popular hashtag challenges and trends that align with your brand. This allows you to tap into a larger conversation, increase engagement, and attract followers who are actively participating in or following those trends.
Additionally, remember to create and leverage branded hashtags that encourage your customers to share their experiences with your SaaS products. This not only generates user-generated content but also builds a community around your brand, enhances brand loyalty, and provides social proof to attract potential customers.
Tracking and analyzing hashtag performance
Make sure that you leverage Instagram Insights to gain insights into the performance of your posts and the reach of your hashtags. Additionally, you may want to consider using third-party analytics tools that provide more detailed metrics and analysis of your hashtag performance.
By monitoring the reach, impressions, and engagement metrics of your hashtags you can better assess their effectiveness. Identify which hashtags are driving the most engagement and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Try to continually experiment with hashtag placement, and regularly track and analyze hashtag performance to continually refine and improve your strategy.
