Have you ever gone on Instagram and scanned the hashtags that are trending, only to find out that not one of them is actually related to what you’re trying to find? It’s an issue that plagues social media users who frequently have difficulty finding their favourite influencer or viral video amidst a sea of irrelevant searches.

The solution to this problem may lie in Social SEO Search, which is “the practice of adding text-based features like captions, alt-text, and closed captions to your posts to help people browsing social platforms easily find your content”- [Hootsuite].

For example, if you frequently search for makeup tutorials on YouTube, Social SEO Search would note this and start showing you results from your favourite creators first. Similarly, if you always click on the first result when you search for a specific hashtag on Instagram, Social SEO Search would learn this behaviour and prioritise that result for you.

This technology is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to revolutionise the way we use social media. No longer would we have to wade through a sea of irrelevant content; instead, we could find exactly what we’re looking for with just a few clicks.

So, would Social SEO Search replace hashtags? It’s possible. Hashtags are one of the many factors that Social SEO Search would consider when returning results. Even without a hashtag, Social SEO Search may find what you're looking for if you're searching for something specific.

When used correctly, hashtags can be a powerful marketing tool. They can help you reach a larger audience, connect with like-minded people, and track your progress over time. However, there are some advantages to using a word search instead of a hashtag.

For one, a word search is more inclusive than a hashtag. Anyone can join in on a word search, regardless of whether they’re already following you or not. This makes it a great way to connect with new people who might be interested in your content.

Another advantage of using a word search is that it’s easier to track your results. Using a hashtag effectively requires other people to use the same tag. With a word search, you can see how many people are searching for your topic and what results they’re finding. This can help you adjust your content accordingly and ensure that you’re providing what people are looking for.

Finally, word searches can be more specific than hashtags. This means that you’re more likely to reach people who are actually interested in what you have to say. If you use a broad hashtag like #fitness, you’ll get lots of results, but only some of them will apply to your niche. If you use a specific word like #yoga or #pilates, however, you’ll reach people who are specifically interested in those topics.

Word searches have some potential advantages, but they also have some potential disadvantages. First, if a word search is not well-designed, it can be ineffective in helping users find the content they are looking for. Additionally, word searches can be time-consuming to create, and they may require more effort to maintain than hashtags. Finally, word searches may be less effective than hashtags in certain situations, such as when a topic is trending on social media or when there is breaking news.

What are your thoughts? Do you think Social SEO Search will replace Hashtags? Leave a comment below.