Tip of the week: Use hashtags and location tags sparingly and locally

Hashtags help people find you, but long lists of random tags look messy and do not help. Think of tags as labels for people who are searching for what you sell, in your area.

Use three to five tags that are specific. A general tag like #love is crowded and useless. A tag such as #ZanzibarFashion or #ArushaCakes, or a clear product and place tag, reaches people who actually could visit you.

Add your location to posts, because many customers search for businesses near them. Write the area in your caption as well, such as "Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam".

Create your own small tag, such as your business name, and use it on every post so customers can find your work in one place. Encourage customers to use it when they share photos.

Look at pages of successful local sellers and notice which tags they use.

This week: choose five specific local tags, save them in a note on your phone and use them on your next three posts.