Social media allows us all to promote our businesses in a more cost effective way… but it’s not without its downsides! If you’re feeling a bit lost when it comes to your own equestrian and country social media, you’re in the right place! Blogs with this tag will contain information relating to equestrian and country social media in one form or another. Maybe you’ll find some hints and tips on improving engagement, or maybe you’ll learn about some of the things you really shouldn’t be doing to attract your tribe!

Getting your country or equestrian business’s social media up and performing well can make a huge difference to you business. In terms of revenue, not just adoration! By building your brand, allowing people to get to know you and increasing your touch points through platforms like Facebook and Instagram – platforms that people are already spending a fair amount of time on – you’re greatly increasing their chances of them thinking of you, yes you, when they need to buy something.

One thing to remember, always, and something you’re likely to read about on blogs tagged with this, is engagement. Yes. When someone comments – PLEASE try and reply. Building relationships is a great use of social media, and a huge part of that is the conversation.

Posts

Podcast, Riders, Small business

Why riders NEED social media

I’m a *bit* passionate about why riders need social media. Talk about an understatement!

Why riders NEED social media

If you’re looking to grow a brand or a business in any sphere, in 2022, social media is an essential part of the marketing mix. And that applies to riders too.

With social media, you have access to billions of people, fans and followers, brands who might want to sponsor you, maybe even owners who would like to work with you and invest in you, TV opportunities… quite literally anything you could want. And yet, so many riders leave so much on the table here.

The days of sponsoring a rider based solely on results is fading fast (for most, it’s already long gone), but the good news is that riders have SO much at their fingertips that they can utilise with minimal effort and time (honestly), that they actually have more opportunities- whether that be for sponsorships, affiliations, owners and anything else- than ever before!

I find it incredibly frustrating to see so many riders leave so much on the table when it comes to their business. By utilising these free channels, not only could their business be more profitable, not only could their opportunities increase, but they could actually have a weight lifted off their shoulders when it comes to the financial side of their business, giving them more time to focus in the sport they’re passionate about.

In addition to this (and this a subject that is being covered in a future podcast!), in correct usage of social media is also a huge bugbear of mine. Flaunting the rules and breaking the law is all too common in our industry, and we need to get clued up to ensure we’re doing our best to do things correctly.

In this episode of the podcast, I share a few thoughts on all the above.

May 25, 2022/by Rhea Freeman

General Blog Posts, Social Media

5 reasons the Facebook and Instagram crash was a good thing…

You know when Facebook and Instagram crashed in March 2019? Yep – it was a rather stressful time for anyone who manages any social media platform. Well… stressful, might be the wrong word, frustrating as I know I didn’t know when it was coming back on (or what I’d then need to do with the posts that were scheduled to post but couldn’t!). However, the Facebook and Instagram crash, as I’m calling it, was actually a good thing. Why? Because it highlighted a few key things to business owners, and ones that we shouldn’t forget in a hurry as we should all be building on this…

Five reasons the Facebook and Instagram crash was a good thing…

1- It reminded us all that businesses that don’t have their own website are at risk. I know I’ve said this a million or so times, but if your whole business relies on a platform/s that you have zero control over whether they work or not, you’re exposed. And seriously exposed at that. Websites cost SO little nowadays that it’s madness not to have one if you have a business and you’re even remotely serious about it.

2- It made us remember that mailing lists are important. You may have lots of lovely fans and followers on Instagram and Facebook but they aren’t yours… and you can’t speak to them if the platforms stop working. Mailing lists, however, are quite different. GDPR scared people when it came to mailing lists but they can still be built and grown… and more than that, they should.

3- It nudged us to look for ways to grow our mailing lists. Connected to the point above, now’s the time to take mailing list growth seriously.

4- It reminded us to make real connections. Yes, social media is amazing on every possible level – I love it and use it for me and my clients each day, but use it to form real connections. You know I talk about engagement a lot? This is such an important part of making real connections. Use the amazing platforms to find people to work with and to make genuine connections with, not just gather likes to boost your ego.

5- For me, it confirmed that social media is really amazing. Didn’t expect that one, did you? Yes, the great Facebook and Instagram Crash reminded me how incredible social media is. Yes, it has its fair share of flaws and niggles and we like to moan about it – but actually, we shouldn’t. With over 2.2 billion people using Facebook each month and over 1 billion people using Instagram, social media provides us with the most amazing opportunities to grow our business for no or little cost. So let’s put the time into using it properly and well. Let’s not focus on cheating the algorithm, let’s work with it, shall we?

March 21, 2019/by Rhea Freeman

General Blog Posts, Small business, Social Media

5 reasons Instagram isn’t working for your business…

Do you feel like Instagram isn’t working for your business? That you’re putting in effort and generating nothing in return? You’re not alone. Here, I’m going to give you five reasons Instagram isn’t working for your business, (and therefore five ways to fix it)… and a link to a podcast too, where you can find out more. Are you ready?

You’re focusing in the wrong thing

How do you judge your account’s success? How do you know Instagram isn’t working for your business? The number of people who like it? STOP… followers are great for the ego but you can’t base your success/failure assessment purely on this. Look at engagement. The people who comment on and like your content. The DMs you receive. The conversions to your website. If you’re basing ‘success’ on the number of followers, by that rationale you could just buy more (it’s a thing – don’t do it!) and you’d be winning at life – right? See, you don’t just want followers, you want the *right* followers who are interested in what you do and want to engage.

You’re not being consistent

You know how magazines publish in a regular pattern, not just when they fancy it? You know how TV programmes come out each week/day in a pattern? It’s not just for kicks. Being consistent with your social media is REALLY important… how can you expect loyalty and engagement if people aren’t even sure when you’re going to show up? You don’t have to burn yourself out over this – use scheduling tools to make sure you post consistently as you can schedule a load of content in one hit. But do. If you want your Instagram account to work for your business, you HAVE to be consistent.

Your images are a bit rubbish

Sorry – it had to be said. You don’t need to be a professional photographer to ‘win’ on Instagram, but you do need to take good images. And by good images I mean in focus, accurate, and representative of your brand. Of course, if you can get some professional shots, do, please, but it’s a really good idea to up skill yourself. Take lessons, take a course, Google and watch YouTube videos about it. You don’t need a fancy camera, your phone will be fine, but you need to learn how to use it and how to take pictures that are going to inspire your fans or followers.

You’re not thinking about your captions

Don’t just post a picture and leave your audience hanging – talk to them – include a question or other call to action. On Instagram, you can have pretty long captions that can be used to talk about whatever you want… use them. Separate out paragraphs, use emojis, add value…use that space to engage your fans and followers. If the image you post makes people stop scrolling, a strong caption is the next thing you need to encourage them to comment and engage with what you’re saying or doing.

You’re not USING the app properly

Do you post and run? Do you schedule and never check in? Have you tried any of the functions beyond the grid? I’m a HUGE fan of scheduling, but I still spend a HUGE amount of time on the app after a scheduled post goes like. I comment, answer DMs, add to Stories, look at hashtags and comment on the feeds of others and more. I try out new features, I do a lot of hashtag research. I try new things. If you want it to work for you, use it.

For me Instagram is an essential marketing tool for my business. In addition to my own account, I manage a range of other accounts for clients of all shapes and sizes – into the many tens of thousands, all of who have seen consistent, quality, engaged and genuine growth by following the above. The five reasons your Instagram isn’t working for your business detailed above is all logical – it’s not rocket science at all- and if you take these and change your ways, you’ll be amazed at the difference you see.

If you’d like to learn more about how to use social media to grow your equestrian business, following on from the five points about, have a look at the Small & Supercharged Podcast episode – how to use social media to grow your equestrian business. Enjoy!

February 28, 2019/by Rhea Freeman

Social Media

How to use social media to grow your equestrian business

Do you use social media to grow your equestrian business? I mean, do you really USE it? Or do you have pages and accounts on various social media platforms and post randomly? Or only about you and your products? Don’t worry- whatever the answer to the above, I’m here to help you use social media to grow your equestrian business. Because it can be a hugely valuable marketing tool… or a massive time suck. And we always want the former!

How to use social media to grow your equestrian business

In this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, we talk about how to use social media to grow your equestrian business (and why you might not have hit the sweet spot in terms on this so far). In this episode…

We talk about the amount of time that social media takes, and why we need to make sure we’re all using it properly to help grow our equestrian businesses.
The difference between what it used to be like pre-social media, and how lucky we are to have this free resource that we can use.
The importance of putting in consistent effort when it comes to your social media if you want it to grow to support your business.
Why you need to USE social media if you want it to work. And when I say work, I don’t mean just putting one post on a week, I mean why you need
How to really USE a platform. And by this, I mean more than just posting. In order to get to know a platform, you need to use it. You need to get under its skin, engage with people, and find out how it works.
We talk about hashtag research – something particularly valuable for Instagram and Twitter where hashtags are best used.
How it’s important to not underestimate the value you’ll gain from properly using a platform.
The value of high quality images on all social media platforms- and what out of focus and low quality images say about your brand.
How you can get involved with professional photographers to help increase the quality of your images, but also how investing time in up-skilling yourself is a good idea.
The value of getting yourself in front of the camera, but also being aware that it’s not all about you. Your social media should be about your fans and followers. Telling people you’re amazing won’t work people get bored.
I give a real life example of the value of getting yourself out there… even when it feels a bit icky.
We talk about creating value in your social media content. Don’t just use it as a platform to sell from. Think of Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook (that Gary Vee!)… what can you give before taking?
Why you should consider using video on your social media… and why even if you’re anti video, you need to address that and get on that train! We also chat about the kind of simple videos you can create on your phone.
The value of collaborations and competitions when you’re looking to use social media to grow your equestrian business. I also talk about how to make sure everyone wins if you do it properly.

So there you have it – how to use social media to grow your equestrian business. I really think that it’s so important to make sure the time we put into things pays us back… and by following the steps above, you can do this.

What’s Small & Supercharged Mastermind?

In the podcast you might have heard about Small & Supercharged Mastermind, my membership group where members get access to a new knowledge bundle each month, a live training each week, opportunities, free images and lots more. Read more about the Small & Supercharged Mastermind here.

February 27, 2019/by Rhea Freeman

digital marketing, Equestrian Business, General Blog Posts, Social Media

5 ways to use Instagram challenges

Did you take part in Sophie Callahan’s #jan19ruralbusiness challenge? I dipped in and out (sorry Sophie!), but I did do most of the days and really enjoyed in. At the end of December, I ran a short five day #5thingsimproudof Insta challenge too, so I have experience from both sides of the coin! With this in mind, I thought I would use the opportunity of two recent Instagram challenges to chat about their value and how you can use Instagram challenges for your own gain.

How to use Instagram challenges – five ways…

They inspire you. If you’re feeling a bit ‘meh’ about Instagram, an Instagram challenge can really help. With specific prompts for as long as the challenge lasts, you can use the ideas listed to create your content. Saving you from having to worry about the idea behind the content.
For blogs. Yep – you read that correctly. I launched my Instagram challenge with a blog about five things I was proud of. I did this as a way to explain the challenge. However, a number of people also wrote their own blogs around the theme, which was great. If you can use the prompts or ideas to create additional content, then get on that case!
They can organise you. If you know you need to get images for your challenge, you can look ahead and see which images you have/source the props you need for when you get time to take the images. This can be really useful if you’re a busy bee.
You can use it on other social media platforms too. You might be taking part in an Instagram challenge, but there’s nothing to say you can’t use the prompts on other platforms too.
To connect. Most Instagram challenges are connected by a hashtag. Search that hashtag and you can find others who are also taking part. You might find new people to follow in your field, or new brands to love, And you might get found by these people too.

January 31, 2019/by Rhea Freeman

Equestrian Business, General Blog Posts, Social Media

What rocks and sucks about running Facebook groups?

Do you run a Facebook group? Have you thought about it? I run the free Small & Supercharged Facebook group and the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group too. The free group started life a few years ago and, since it launched, I have been on a very steep learning curve when it comes to running Facebook groups. So in this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, I talk about what rocks… and what sucks… enjoy!

What rocks and sucks about running Facebook groups?

Here are the show notes for the Small & Supercharged Podcast episode 20 – what rocks and sucks about running Facebook groups. In this episode you’ll hear…

Why I started the Small & Supercharged Facebook group and the kind of people you’ll find there (as in, people connected to the equestrian and rural industry).
The differences between Small & Supercharged and the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group.
What rocks- you get to know people really well when running Facebook groups. You get to see the people who support others and understand what makes people tick too.
What sucks – it is hard work. The vast majority of the Small & Supercharged group members are very good, follow the rules and work together. One thing that takes a lot of time is the questions and the requests – particularly when people don’t fill in the questions.
What rocks – the engagement. In a group you get much better engagement than on a page. This can work whether you’re the admin or if you’re an active member of the group.
What sucks – people breaking the rules. I have really simple rules for the Small & Supercharged group, but these do still get broken. If you are involved with running Facebook groups, rules are really important as they allows everyone to work in the same way. When rules get broken, it does make you feel like the bad guy when you delete posts. That’s not fun.
What rocks- groups can be real forces for good. I give a few examples of how Facebook groups can do great things together. Being able to achieve lovely things, as a group, is such a great feeling. Without groups it would a lot more fragmented.
What sucks – copycats. I know I’m not the first person to ever have a Facebook group, but copycats in the same area are a bit of a kick (often using very similar wording and sometimes even promoting their groups in yours).
What rocks- the support of a community. This can be so, so lovely when people are having a challenging time or having issues. A good group means that you have somewhere to go and share and get support as needed. It can help to break a cycle of frustration and sadness and allow people to kick on.
What sucks – not answering the questions. Even if you set questions for your Facebook group, be aware that a LOT of people won’t answer them. I have just under 200 requests at the moment from people who haven’t answered the three simple questions that allow me to make sure they’re a good fit for the group.
What rocks – collaborations. I know that because of the Small & Supercharged Facebook group, a lot of collaborations have happened. Without the Facebook group they may not have found each other. And being able to facilitate this is so, so lovely.
What sucks- things can escalate really quickly. It can be a little stressful if something gets out of hand and it can get out of hand very quickly.
What rocks – people have got to know me. I really like the fact that people have got to know me better. It means that when I meet people at events and shows, we don’t have to go through the awkward first stages of a connection and friendship. It makes networking so much easier and it feels like I’m meeting up with friends at these gatherings, rather than strangers. I might not have met them in person all that much, if at all, but I know them.
what sucks – people not using the group properly. This is more disappointing I guess. It’s all about give and take, and some people tend to take a lot and give very little. This isn’t so much against the rules but it doesn’t feel great.
What rocks – it allows real life activities to happen. Things like the Small & Supercharged meet ups at Badminton. It’s nice to see people in real life, of course it is, but without the group I wouldn’t necessarily know these people. With the Hiho & Co event, a lot of people from S&S are coming, and I think letting people make these connections before an event is a real biggy.

So, that’s my what rocks and sucks about running Facebook groups podcast. I hope it shed a bit of light on the subject of groups for you, whether you want to run one or just want to get the most out of the ones you’re in!

If you’d like to join the Small & Supercharged Facebook group, you’d be very welcome – just join the Facebook group here.

Are you Small & Supercharged (find out more about the Facebook group)

Behind the Small & Supercharged group

January 30, 2019/by Rhea Freeman

General Blog Posts, Social Media

5 ways to upset your social media followers

This is more a DON’T DO THIS post, but I think it’s a good thing to draw attention to. See, we all invest so much time in growing our social media followers, nurturing them, creating engaging content, trying to take lovely pics… the last thing you want to do it pee them off. But it’s actually amazing how many people upset their social media followers. Some are minor infringements and some are a lot more significant. And there are way more than five ways to upset your social media followers, but it’s a starter for 10, isn’t it? I’d urge you though, when you notice someone doing something on social media that seems a bit out there or wrong, note it. Then think about it. Is it going to upset their followers? Why is this? It’s interesting if you’re a bit geeky… yeah… I’m that person. Hopefully the five below will provide a little food for thought and get the grey matter whirling… it’s something I am thinking about way too much…

5 ways to upset your followers…

Inconsistency – you don’t have to post three times a day, but I see so many people who post in an almost scatty fashion. I know that sometimes it’s unavoidable but most of the time, it isn’t. Consistency matters. Being inconsistent is a really easy way to upset your social media followers. People like to see things they expect. And you ‘going dark’ doesn’t help. Also, the way we present ourselves on social media does reflect in us as a brand or a business. Does sporadic posting give off a solid, reliable vibe? Or not?
Demanding things from interested people. Private accounts, blocking people for no reason/because they won’t do what you want… just don’t. If you want people to learn about you, let them see you. Whether they follow you or not, let them have the chance to get to know you. Of course, it would be nice if these people followed you but for whatever reason, they haven’t. Don’t stress. Nothing says ‘you’re here for my ego and nothing else’ more than making demands on people interested in your account.
Never comment. Have you ever commented on someone’s post and they haven’t so much as bothered to tap the tiny heart? Or like your comment? And I’m not talking about people like Taylor Swift who have millions of followers, I’m talking about ‘normal’ people, and normal accounts. If you never so much as tap the heart on anyone’s comments, don’t expect people to keep coming back for more. It’s a bit like trying to start a chat with someone in a room and they just keep blanking you. How long do you try for?
‘You know I’m great, don’t you?’. Please stop. I like to see what people I follow are up to, I like to smile at their stunning images and stories. But what I don’t like is someone continually telling me they’re great. You don’t need to say ‘Wow, I’m great, did you know’, just share in a way that others might enjoy it. I share when I’ve done idiotic things (quite often!), I share content I produce, I share testimonials, I share lots of things, but I personally despise arrogance… and I’m not alone in that.
Have someone who doesn’t get your audience run your account. How many times have you followed a brand, noticed a weird change in style and then felt really disconnected to the brand. I have. I’m not against working with people to help you run your social media (I do this for a number of businesses), but an understanding of the audience and industry is key. Otherwise you just leave your audience scratching their heads, wondering what’s happened. This is such an easy way to upset your social media followers.

What tips would you add to this list? Pop over over to my Instagram and comment on the graphic – I’d love to hear some of your top ‘don’t’ tips!

January 17, 2019/by Rhea Freeman

Business, General Blog Posts, Small business, Social Media

5 things I’m proud of (and I want to hear yours!)

5 things I’m proud of, hey? This might be one of the most self indulgent posts I’ve ever written, so please don’t discount me as an egotistical so and so. If you know me at all, you know I’m not. However, as we look ahead to 2019, I think it’s also important to look at how far we’ve come in our businesses. Do you ever do that?

See, I am a devil for pushing on with things. I’m always looking ahead and onto the next thing. I’ll work my backside off to get it and I’m pleased when I have, but I’ll then assess what’s happened, improve, and move on. Sometimes without so much as ‘yeah- good job’ to myself.

Can you relate to this?

I meet so many business owners who are the same. And that got me thinking. So for the next five days (please join me!), I’ll be sharing five things I’m proud of over on Instagram… and I really would love to know five things you’re proud of. As I said, I’m going to run this over on Instagram (#5thingsimproudof) where I’ll be giving more detail on each of these each day… and I would love you to join me…

5 things I’m proud of…

1 – Two TEDx talks. Being the ‘special’ person I am, I decided getting the first, and not combusting/being heckled or booed, must have been a fluke, so I went again and secured a second at TEDxTelford. I’ve talked about my TEDx talks on my blog before, but I’m really proud of both of these achievements. I know many people have this as a life goal and I would urge you, if you do, to follow it. It did take work to land both, but I think it was a lot easier than many people would have you believe…

2- The Small & Supercharged Podcast. You know when something has been bouncing around your skull for a while and then, even though you’ve spent AGES convincing yourself it’s too difficult, you give yourself a slap? Yep, that’s what happened to me. The Small & Supercharged Podcast is alive and kicking and I’m SO proud of it. I love it.

3- I had a flipping photoshoot. I tell all my clients that they need good quality pics. Because it’s true. But I do not like having my photo taken. And I don’t HAVE to take my own advice now, do I? Well, when Sophie Callahan gifted me a shoot I was kind of screwed as it would be rather rude not to take her up on such an amazing opportunity, wouldn’t it? Well, I had the shoot, and it was incredible, I’ve written all about why having a photoshoot is important and… wait for it… I loved it. I know. I was surprised too.

4- The Small & Supercharged Mastermind Group. This only launched a few months ago but the results that the amazing people inside the group have seen warms my heart. And makes me smile. And I’m so so proud of them all. I can not wait to see the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group grow and develop more during 2019!

5- Getting out of my own way. This year I’ve told my negative self talk to pipe down a bit more… and I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve given a seminar at the Farm Business Innovation Show (which was packed out and people were waiting outside), chaired the PR and marketing panel at the event, worked with the Hiho team on the really successful Style, Skills & Silver event at The Fish Hotel in September and more. If I’d listened to the voice in my head that said ‘I’m not sure you can do this’ I wouldn’t have done any of these things…

I wanted these five points to be specific, rather than ‘grew my business’ or ‘helped other businesses grow’. It does, however, go without saying that I am so, so proud of all the businesses I work with. Working with some of the best businesses in the industry and seeing how hard these people work and the results they achieve is a constant source of inspiration. I know that sounds a bit slushy but it’s true. When you’ve seen people making faux grass boards for selfies, going above and beyond on a customer service level, taking some of the most amazing images you’ve ever seen, designing jaw droppingly beautiful stands and products. Well, it just spurs you on, doesn’t it?

Will you join me and celebrate 5 things you’re proud of?

OK, not me, YOU! Using the #5thingsimproudof hashtag on Instagram I’d love you to join me in celebrating five things you’re proud of between now (27th December) and the end of the year (31st December, inclusive). Each day, I’d like you to post something you’re proud of, using this hashtag. I’d also love you to search the hashtag and support other people using it… who’s with me?

You can find me on Instagram @rheafreemanpr – come and join me and see 2018 out with a bang!

December 27, 2018/1 Comment/by Rhea Freeman

Business, digital marketing, Equestrian Business, General Blog Posts, Social Media

Equestrian social media – 5 ways to promote your equestrian business on social media this Christmas

Are you getting in the festive spirit? Have you got your Christmas stock in and raring to go? Have you planned your social media for the next few weeks on the lead up to Christmas? The thing is, now is most definitely the time to be harnessing social media for your equestrian business… and it’s definitely worth a bit of thought. From the really obvious posts that drive a sale to something a little more thoughtful, here are five ways to promote your equestrian business on social media at Christmas. And, spoiler alert, none of them are advertising…

Five ways to promote your equestrian business on social media at Christmas

Collaborate – I love a collaboration, and there’s no better time than Christmas. Collaborating with businesses that complement yours can be a great way to get in front of potential customers who might not know about you. One of the key points to remember when you’re plotting your collaboration is that a collaboration should benefit all parties. Your equestrian business, the other equestrian business… and your customers too. It shouldn’t be all ‘me, me, me’, quite the opposite actually!
Shoppable links – have you seen that Instagram has now added shoppable links to Stories? I let out a little squeal when this happened a few months ago. If you have a Facebook shop connected and working, this means you can now add shoppable links to Facebook, Instagram and Instagram Stories. It might be simple, but we need to do all we can to make it easy for people to shop. If they need to remember a complicated website address and type that in to their computer/phone before they get anywhere near your business. Well, it’s just not good, is it?
Behind the scenes – and if you’re so inclined you could have some fun with this too. There’s no better time to show what goes in behind the scenes of your business. How are you making sure that people get their orders on time? How are you harnessing the Christmas spirit in what you do? Has the office dog also donned his antlers to get involved? SHOW US!
Competition – competitions can be a great way to raise the profile of your equestrian business. You can either do this on your own or as part of a collaboration with a sponsored rider or maybe another business. Please, PLEASE make sure you competition is easy to enter, complies with all relevant Ts and Cs depending on the platform you are promoting/hosting it on though. Please. For me. And sharing or tagging on Facebook don’t comply. See the Pages Promotion Guidelines.
New products – tell the world about the new equestrian products you have in store ready to delight and excite them. Maybe you can help to show how these new products work together (and even how they work)? What about who they would be good for? Help people. We all need some help at Christmas time and your equestrian business, if promoted well, could be that beacon of fairy lights for all those tired horsey shoppers.

These are five easy ways to promote your equestrian business through social media at Christmas, but there are plenty more too. What’s more, these ideas aren’t JUST for Christmas, oh no, they’ll work all the time. So yes, they might help you promote your equestrian business this Christmas, but take them into the New Year too!

November 21, 2018/by Rhea Freeman

digital marketing, Equestrian Business, General Blog Posts, Social Media

Equestrian Social Media – 5 ways to hide hashtags on Instagram Stories

Did you know that you can use hashtags on Instagram Stories too? Actually, you can hide hashtags on Instagram Stories too!

If you use Instagram at all, you’ll know that hashtags are really important. These nifty little words and phrases prefixed by a # allow your content to be categorised and searched by these terms making it a lot more discoverable.

But what about Instagram Stories? You might not realise, might think that not that many people use them, or might thing they would look ugly. Thing is, you can hide a hashtag on an Instagram Story, which means that more people might be using them than you think… and that they won’t mess up any aesthetic either. So, without further ado, here are five ways to hide hashtags on Instagram Stories.

5 ways to hide hashtags on Instagram Stories…

1 – Colour match. This is particularly good for still images or text based posts on a coloured background. You can type your hashtags in and then just use the colour match option to make the hashtags the same colour as the background. This hides your hashtags. Simples.

2. Make them REALLY small. You can make your list of hashtags really, really small by just pinching them and making them tiny. This doesn’t mean they’re completely hidden from view but depending on the image or video, it’ll make them hard to spot.

3. Put them behind a sticker. For this one, just put your list of hashtags onto your Story and then use a Sticker over the top. Shrink the list down and it’s a lot easier to hide!

4. Put them behind a gif or Emoji. The same as the above applies really – get the hashtags added, decrease their size and pop them under a gif or an Emoji as relevant – and then you’ve hidden them on Instagram Stories.

5. Put them behind a shared story. When people tag you in Stories you usually have the option to share on yours (depending on their settings). When this is the case, you can share at full size, but you can also shrink and rotate the shared image and, if you like, you can pop your hashtags behind it. Good eh?!

These are five easy ways to hide your hashtags on your Instagram Stories. Of course, if you want to use them and not hide them, all power to you! You can even use the hashtag sticker if you like (although this will only allow you to post one). But do give it a spin and have a look and your insights to see if it helps the reach of your Stories, you might be surprised.

Pssst – Episode 8 of the Small & Supercharged Podcast was all about Instagram Stories… you can listen here…

November 15, 2018/by Rhea Freeman

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