Since the hashtag first hit the social media scene, it has swept users off their feet. The simple symbol has secured its place in our culture and is not going anywhere anytime soon.
When first coming into contact with this popular social strategy, it can be a bit overwhelming and confusing to understand and employ properly, especially for businesses’ social strategy. But, with a bit of guidance and advice you’ll be a hashtagging pro in no time at all.
In this article, I’ll answer six of the most common questions surrounding this technique and provide a breakdown of the best practices for each social media platform.
6 Common Hashtag Questions
- What is a hashtag? A hashtag is simply the pound sign (#) in front of the word, words or phrase you are categorizing your topic into. Common trends that are sorted using a simple hashtag could be #Gift or #Shopping.
- How do I enter the conversation? Figuring out what hashtag is the best fit for the topic you are trying to write about can be hard. Thankfully, there are quite a few websites designed to follow trends and help users identify them. Hashtags.org, TweetChat.com, Twitter.comor Twubs.com are good options to find real-time information on hashtags and conversations with lots of traction.
- How do I use multiple words? Many categories have hashtags with multiple words in them such as #ThrowbackThursday or an event name like #MarchMadness. When using multiple words in your hashtags, keep in mind that any punctuation and spaces will end the hashtag. To help readers, capitalize the first letter of each new word to make it easy for them to identify what you are saying.
- Can I make my own? Absolutely! Creating your own using keywords for your customers and followers to use is a great way to spread the word about your business or event. Simply place the pound sign (#) directly in front of a keyword (like your business name) or a unique, catchy phrase related to your product or services. Don’t forget to share them with your followers and encourage them to use these branded tags when they are talking about you! It’s a great way to get customer feedback about a new product or service and gain valuable insight to what people are saying about your brand
- Is it okay to use more than one? The answer is yes, but up to a point. The most you’ll want to use per post is three, with the exception of Instagram, because research shows engagement actually declines when 4 or more are used. Not sure what else to add? The site Hashtagify.Me is a great way to find hashtags related to any word or phrase you want to use.
- Should I only use hashtags on Twitter? Even though Twitter is the birthplace of hashtags when it comes to social media, using your hashtags across all of your
Twitter is the birthplace of hashtags,but it’s not limited to just that platform; learn how to use them below.
channels will establish consistency. Many social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook and Google+, have integrated the use of hashtags to allow your followers to easily identify you. However, how hashtags are used on the platforms varies slightly.
How to Use Hashtags the Different Platforms
Before we dive into each individual platform, it’s important to understand that all of the social media sites share a few basic…
