Hashtags serve as a digital compass that guides social media users towards content that resonates with their interests. When you use relevant hashtags, you’re essentially categorizing your content, making it more discoverable.  For your art gallery, this means that whether someone is looking for #ContemporaryArt, #AbstractPainting, #Sculpture, or #ArtInDallas, the right hashtags can bring your artists’ work and the gallery into the spotlight for your targeted audience.

Hashtags can be a valuable marketing tool to promote your art gallery, events, and artists, but only if used properly.  Here, we will talk about some basic best practices for an art gallery to make the most of hashtags.

Your social media followers use hashtags to search topic trends and related posts. Interested users often follow custom tags for a specific subject. Posts worthy of sharing include those hashtags, therefore increasing the post’s exposure to new audiences for your gallery. There are many benefits to an art gallery on social media.

Benefits of Using Gallery Hashtags

• Increases potential exposure for your gallery events and artists, particularly with the millennial generation of art collectors.
• Encourages engagement and discussion with your gallery from your social followers.
• Enables greater insight into your gallery’s presence on social media by tracking your hashtag activity.
• Promotes your art gallery’s brand and your representation of a particular artist through unique hashtags.
• Enhances your art gallery’s marketing and sales goals.

Hashtags started on Twitter (now X), but are now also used on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and others.  Focus your marketing energy on these platforms if you are just starting out.

Rules for Hashtagging

• Keep hashtags short and easy to spell. If your gallery name is long or not easy to spell, try using the initials. For example, instead of #johndoecontemporary use #JDcontemporary or #jdcART
• Don’t include too many hashtags in a single post.  It will be perceived as spam.
• Always use hashtags that are unique and relevant to the post topic, such as your unique gallery hashtag, the artist’s name, or the exhibition name.
• Hashtag phrases must be all one word, but capitalizing the first letters in the phrase makes them easier to read. For example, #JohnDoeOpening is easier to read than #johndoeopening.
• Use gallery-specific hashtags across different social media platforms and offline marketing to help your followers become familiar with them.
• Not every post needs a hashtag.  Limit use to important announcements, such as an event or new artist.
• Always research a hashtag you want to create. You may find a hashtag you want to use already associated with something negative or topics unrelated to your business.  This could be most important when using a gallery exhibition name as a hashtag. Below are a few tools you can use for research.

Hashtag research tools

• TagsFinder
• Toolzu
• MetaHashtags (particularly for Instagram)

When promoting an artist, find out if that artist already uses a hashtag for themselves.  Include it in your gallery posts about them.  You can take advantage of their existing followers. The research will show if a competitor gallery is using the same tag.  Your gallery events may also attract a wider audience by including a search term for your location.  For example, if your gallery is in Washington, D.C., you may create a hashtag #DCartevents or #DCartOpenings.

 

To the Point

If you are new to using hashtags in your social media marketing, it will take time to find the right tags. This is similar to keyword planning. Experiment and use your social media tracking tools to see which tags are most effective.

In the dynamic world of social media, hashtags have emerged as a powerful tool for amplifying visibility and connecting with a broader audience. Understanding and utilizing hashtags can be particularly beneficial for art galleries looking to attract new collectors and art enthusiasts. By learning some fundamental best practices, your gallery can harness the potential of hashtags to significantly increase its reach.

As you go about implementing hashtags into your posts, be sure to keep your overall gallery marketing and sales goals in mind. Create a list of hashtags that complement those goals. And remember, don’t just use hashtags; engage with them. Search for your chosen hashtags and interact with other posts. This builds community and can lead to reciprocal engagement.

Check out these articles too

How to Collaborate with Your Gallery’s Artists on Social Media

Creating an Art Gallery Social Media Strategy

 

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