Are you planning a summer holiday or series of days out? Would you like to share your adventures with our Trips100 community? Then follow us on Instagram and use our new hashtag #trips100. We will share a selection of the best pics to a community of engaged travellers and social media experts. Trips100 Commissioning Editor Kirstie Pelling explains more…
Trips100 launched just a few months ago, creating a new network of travel bloggers, a resource for brands, and a library of information for people who would like to dip their toe (quite literally) into the industry. Alongside our top 100 travel blogs list, our blog and social media channels profile, we share bloggers’ experiences, tips, knowledge and ideas on travel.
One of the platforms we will be developing this summer is our new Instagram feed @trips100index with the hashtag #trips100.
Why use hashtags?
If you aren’t a regular user of hashtags then maybe you should experiment this summer. Why? It can widen your circles and increase engagement with people who are interested in the same things you are interested in. Using a hashtag in a focussed, targeted way extends your reach. It make it easier for people who don’t follow you on Instagram to discover and like your content. Hashtagging your holiday shot #sunset #italy is a great way of getting your fabulous Italian sunset in front of people who like fabulous Italian sunsets. Or people who like sunsets. Or Italy. Or maybe just fabulous people? Your sunset may be indeed be fabulous enough to be discovered on its own, but why leave that to chance?
How to use hashtags
Yes, you can use 30 hashtags on every post. They’re free after all! But experienced Instagrammers tend not to. Firing off hashtags in an unfocussed way is seen as pointless, a bit spammy and, in my opinion, a bit needy? It may eventually result in people blocking you from their account. Clever gramers use hashtags sparingly and relevantly. No more than maybe two or three per post. They use them to engage and attract like-minded followers and comments. They use them to feel part of communities and to browse who to best follow. For example if you are a fitness enthusiast you may reach (and find) other fitties by posting on Nike’s #justdoit hashtag. Hashtags can help build the size of your community as some feeds regularly repost favourites to their gazillion thousands of followers. Carrying on the fitness example, try posting your next swimming triumph on Sport England’s #thisgirlcan (assuming you are female) and see if they pick it up. You’re also likely to have an @igers community near you. These feeds exist all over UK and the world. They are run by Instagram enthusiasts like you and me who organise meets and showcase the best local pics.
Oh how I wish I was here now #SouthPacific #BoraBora #FourSeasons #LuxuryTravel My sis stayed here on her honeymoon lucky lady! A photo posted by My Travel Monkey (@mytravelmonkey) on
Instagram users, collectives and brands sometimes create their own hashtag. That’s free too and a great way of monitoring and cataloguing what you have published on a theme. Have a go for fun with one of your own.
Use us to expand
But for even more fun, (and an easy way to get started if you are new to Instagram) why not post on our hashtag? Throughout the summer, we will be picking our favourites from the hashtag and profiling them, widening your circle of people who love to escape. And while #trips100 has a travel theme, you don’t need to head off to the far flung reaches of the universe to use it. If you are doing a day trip with your family we’d love you to share it with us. If you are simply off to the beach, we’d appreciate seeing your sandcastle making skills or your kite flying. You can post Instavideos too. As the year goes on we will set challenges and maybe even try and organise an instameet at a blogcamp next year.
Use us to inspire
And if you are stuck for ideas for what to do and where to go this summer, why not keep an eye on our #trips100 tag or @trips100index feed for inspiration. After all we will have some of the UK’s best travel bloggers and photographers sharing their thoughts and experiences. Happy holidays and happy Instagramming! We look forward to seeing you on the beach…in the mountains…under the sea…and of course in that #fabulousitaliansunset!
A photo posted by Trips100 (@trips100index) on
