In honor of Neighbor Month, Nextdoor has made it easier for small businesses like yours to get discovered. If you have a neighbor account, you may have noticed some updates to the post composer which include new features like the ability to add hashtags and @mentions in your posts. While these features are not currently accessible from your Business Page, they do offer benefits for your small business. Read on to learn how you can leverage these new features to attract more customers and clients.
What are hashtags and @mentions
Hashtags
Hashtags can be a single word or several words strung together that are preceded with the hashtag (#) symbol. When neighbors add hashtags like #loveyourneighborhood or #supportsmallbusinesses to their posts, other neighbors will be able to click through the hashtag to see all other posts that include the same hashtag.
NOTE: Neighbors actively use hashtags to get recommendations for local businesses. The #askyourneighbor and #askaneighbor hashtags drive around 15% of all hashtag content on Nextdoor.
@Mentions
Neighbors on Nextdoor now also have the ability to mention a local business in their posts. When your business is mentioned, you’ll receive a notification via email letting you know that a neighbor has included your business in a post. From there, you’ll be able to join the conversation.
While you may not yet be able to include hashtags or use the @mentions features while posting from your Business Page, they are still a powerful tool for your business to take advantage of.
3 Ways to leverage hashtags and @mentions to increase your visibility on Nextdoor
As neighbors continue to use the new hashtags and @mentions features and include businesses in their conversations, your Business Page has the potential to gain even more visibility. Here’s how you can leverage them to attract more traffic to your business.
#1 Make sure your Business Page is up to date
When a neighbor @mentions your business, a preview card that includes your business name, business information, profile photo, and recommendation count will appear. Make sure you have these filled out on your Business Page. This allows neighbors to not only have the basic information they need to know about your business available at glance, but it also helps your business stand out among other businesses that may also be mentioned.
TIP: Since Business Pages with a profile photo and photos in their “photos” section are the most visited, be sure to include a high-quality profile picture or logo as well as a photo gallery.
#2 Create a branded hashtag
With hashtags, neighbors will be able to click through to see all other posts with the same hashtag. Incorporating a branded hashtag into your marketing strategy is another opportunity to gain exposure, increase engagement with your customers, and even collect user-generated content for your online marketing. Neighbors will be able to click on your unique hashtag and have direct access to other posts and photos about your business – giving them a better understanding of your offerings.
TIP: You can go in many directions when creating your branded hashtag. The most straightforward approach is to use your business name. For example, #nextdoor. You could also use the name of your business in a particular saying, or use a hashtag that emulates what your business stands for like #loveyourneighborhood. Either way, the most important thing to do is make sure neighbors know to use that hashtag. Promote it through a Nextdoor Post, social accounts, and website.
NOTE: You can only access a specific hashtag feed by switching to your neighbor account and going to www.nextdoor.com/hashtag/<insert hashtag>. Let’s say your branded hashtag was #loveyourneighborhood. You would type in the URL www.nextdoor.com/hashtag/loveyourneighborhood to see all posts that have your hashtag.
You can also lookup general hashtags related to your business. For example, if you’re a home service or real professional, you can look up www.nextdoor.com/hashtag/plumber or www.nextdoor.com/hashtag/realestate to get a curated feed of all plumber or real estate tagged posts. This includes questions and recommendations for plumbers or real estate agents in local neighborhoods.
#3 Be an active part of the conversation
When neighbors choose to @mention your business in a post, chances are they are signaling their support for your goods and services. When you’re mentioned, be an active part of the conversation. Respond to their post and any additional comments or questions that may come up. Staying engaged in the conversation shows potential customers and clients that you not only care but that you value customer service. This helps build trust and credibility around your business, making you more attractive to neighbors.
TIP: Stay on top of your email notifications so you know when your business has been mentioned and so you can respond in a timely manner.
NOTE: Since the launch of hashtags and @mentions, the top industries mentioned in posts are real estate and home services, including cleaning, landscaping, and home improvement. If your business falls within these industries, be encouraged that neighbors are actively talking about your area of expertise. Don’t forget to respond.
Get more eyes on your business with Nextdoor
Nextdoor’s new hashtag and @mentions features pave the way for your business to attract new customers. Take advantage of the tips above to ensure your business stays top of mind and top of conversation among neighbors on Nextdoor. Get started by claiming your free Business Page.
