#HASHTAGS for Indie Authors: Discoverability, Strategy, and Branding Power
What Are Hashtags and Why Do They Matter?
Hashtags are metadata tags prefixed with the # symbol, used across social media platforms to categorize content and make it discoverable. Though once considered a gimmick, hashtags have become vital tools in digital marketing. For indie authors, they serve as bridges between your content and your ideal reader. They function across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and even within blogs and newsletters when strategically placed.
Used effectively, hashtags can increase the visibility of your posts, connect you with genre-specific communities, and support long-term branding. They also make your content searchable by theme, topic, mood, series name, or marketing angle—critical for authors managing their own platforms and discoverability funnels.
The Mechanics of a Hashtag
When you place #romanticsuspense or #scifireads in a post, you’re essentially flagging that post as relevant to that topic. Users searching or following that hashtag will now encounter your content in their curated feeds. For authors publishing across multiple formats—ebook, print, and audio—hashtags can reinforce your presence in multiple interest streams with minimal effort.
On platforms like Instagram and TikTok, the right hashtag can expose your work to thousands of new eyes instantly. But hashtags aren't magic—they must be chosen, placed, and used with purpose. Overuse, irrelevance, or flooding your content with dozens of hashtags can dilute your message and harm your reach.
How Indie Authors Use Hashtags
Hashtags can help indie authors in several specific areas:
- Discoverability: Use genre, trope, and theme hashtags to place your book in front of readers already looking for it.
- Brand Cohesion: Repeated hashtag use builds familiarity with your author brand. Many authors create and promote their own branded tags like #BooksByRandallWood or #HalfAWorldSeries.
- Community Building: Participating in hashtag challenges like #WIPWednesday or #IndieAuthorDay places you in recurring discussions and trending loops.
- Promotional Events: Book launches, cover reveals, or price promos benefit greatly from event-specific tags (#99cDeal, #FreeBookFriday).
- Content Funnels: Hashtags can serve as breadcrumbs guiding a reader from social media to your newsletter, store, or preorder page.
When used thoughtfully, hashtags become a low-cost yet high-impact part of your long-term marketing strategy.
What Makes a Good Hashtag?
Good hashtags are:
- Relevant to your genre, topic, or marketing focus
- Searchable, meaning readers are actively using or following them
- Specific enough to filter the right traffic but broad enough to generate volume
- Memorable, especially if you’re creating your own
- Platform-aware, since each platform favors different structures and lengths
Avoid hashtags that are too generic (#book) or too long (#ThisIsMyFirstUrbanFantasyParanormalMysterySeries). Instead, opt for terms like #UrbanFantasy, #PWF (Paranormal Women’s Fiction), #CozyMystery, or even reader-behavior tags like #OneClickReads.
Where to Use Hashtags
You’ll want to strategically place hashtags in the following locations:
- Facebook Page and Group posts
- Instagram captions and comments
- TikTok video descriptions
- YouTube video descriptions and comment replies
- Pinterest pin descriptions
- Blog post tags or footnotes
- Email campaigns (used sparingly in headers or CTA links)
It’s important to test combinations. One post might perform well with a few niche hashtags, while another may benefit from a blend of broader and narrower ones. Always align the hashtags with the visual or messaging content they accompany.
Funnel Strategy: Driving Readers to Desired Destinations
Hashtags are not only for engagement—they’re tools for movement. If you want readers to transition from a social post to your author website, link in bio, or direct store, your hashtag strategy should reflect that intent. Combine genre tags with action or value tags like #FreebieFriday, #KindleUnlimited, or #ShopIndieBooks.
Authors who sell direct through Shopify or WooCommerce can also use branded tags in giveaways or launch campaigns. For example, a series-wide hashtag paired with #SignedCopy can build momentum across platforms, turning browsers into buyers.
AI Tools That Help Generate Hashtags
Several AI-driven tools and platforms now make hashtag generation easier, faster, and smarter:
- Flick (https://flick.tech) – A sophisticated hashtag generator that analyzes engagement, reach, and competitive density on Instagram and Facebook.
- Hashtagify (https://hashtagify.me) – Offers data-rich suggestions based on popularity, trends, and influencers using similar tags.
- RiteTag by RiteKit (https://ritetag.com) – Integrates with your browser and recommends hashtags based on images or written content.
- Copy.ai (https://copy.ai) and ChatGPT – Can generate dozens of hashtags based on your book description, blurb, or genre keywords.
These tools save time and make your efforts more strategic—an important advantage for indie authors with limited bandwidth.
The Role of ScribeCount in Tracking Hashtag Success
ScribeCount (https://scribecount.com) doesn’t just track book sales across platforms—it also offers integrated calendar and campaign tracking tools. When authors map their marketing campaigns (email launches, Facebook ads, BookBub promos), they can correlate those efforts with sales spikes, platform performance, and ROI.
For hashtag-driven campaigns, this feature allows authors to track indirect performance. If you launch a TikTok hashtag campaign the same week as a sales spike in your series, it’s not coincidence—it’s data. By maintaining a detailed marketing calendar in ScribeCount and logging hashtag use alongside promotions, you can fine-tune your strategies with measurable results.
Hashtags on Facebook
While Facebook isn’t primarily a hashtag-driven platform, it does support them. For authors using a Facebook Author Page, a few relevant hashtags in each post can help your content show up in searches or connect with Facebook groups discussing the same themes.
Use 2–3 hashtags per post, not 15+. Choose tags that mirror your book’s genre and mood. For example, a thriller author might use #ThrillerTuesday and #FBIProfiler when posting a teaser from their book.
Hashtags on TikTok
TikTok is arguably the most hashtag-sensitive platform today. Readers actively follow #BookTok, #IndieBooks, #FantasyReads, and niche hashtags like #QueerRomance or #SpicyBookTok. TikTok's discovery algorithm relies heavily on hashtag cues to deliver content to viewers’ For You pages.
Authors launching TikTok content should research trending hashtags in their genre, balance 2–3 high-traffic tags with 2–3 niche ones, and include a call-to-action like #ReadMore, #PreorderNow, or #SignedBooks.
Videos perform better when hashtags match the audio and visual theme. For instance, a steamy romantic suspense video might use tags like #RomanticSuspense, #GrumpySunshine, and #EnemiesToLovers.
Building Your Own Hashtag
Many indie authors benefit from developing branded hashtags for series, launches, or challenges:
- #BooksBy[AuthorName]
- #NameOfSeries
- #AuthorLastNameReads
- #ReadingWith[PenName]
Encourage readers to use these tags when reviewing your book, showing off merch, or participating in your events. This creates a loop of engagement you don’t have to constantly monitor or generate yourself.
Best Practices for Indie Authors Using Hashtags
While avoiding bullets as requested, here's a narrative summary of best practices:
Authors should aim to use hashtags that reflect their genre, theme, and brand voice. Keep them concise, readable, and consistent. Each platform has its own best practices—TikTok rewards trending tag alignment, while Instagram prefers steady niche usage. Facebook and LinkedIn work better with minimal, relevant tags, and YouTube benefits from placing tags in the video description, rather than title.
Too many hashtags can look desperate. Readers interpret hashtag bloat as inauthentic. Stick to 5–7 tags per post, max, and focus on relevance over volume.
Hashtags as a Long-Term Strategy
Hashtags aren’t a one-time marketing trick. They become more effective over time, especially as you build your author platform. A consistent set of 10–20 rotating hashtags can cover all your bases: genre, audience, promotional angle, and branding.
Track which tags perform best, eliminate underperformers, and double down on those that bring traffic and engagement. Tools like Instagram’s Insights or TikTok’s Analytics help, but ScribeCount’s calendar overview offers the widest lens when paired with sales data.
Final Thoughts: Why Indie Authors Should Embrace Hashtag Strategy
Hashtags empower authors to cut through the digital noise and reach their readers organically, without paying for ads. They are branding tools, discovery tools, and community tools all in one. When paired with consistent content, clear CTAs, and smart tracking, hashtags can drive measurable results.
As the publishing landscape continues to evolve, indie authors must treat every platform as part of an integrated ecosystem. Hashtags—simple as they seem—offer some of the most flexible, scalable, and strategic tools in that ecosystem. Use them wisely, track their impact, and build campaigns that keep readers coming back.
