What are #Hashtags and How to Use Them

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Anyone Know the Right Way to Use #Hashtags?

Know exactly what a #Hashtag is? If you’re not a social media maven, and particularly Twitter, you may not have a clue what a #hashtag is. No need for that to be the case any longer. A hashtag is a # paired with a word or phrase to perform a number of functions. Twitter users affix hashtags to tweets as search conventions, a method of categorizing, and marketing tactics. #Hashtags can also be used in other social media platforms.

#Hashtags guidelines

Make sure the keyword you use is not in use somewhere else, or you may be in for a big surprise. This requires doing a little research (a search on Search.Twitter.com) to determine whether or not that keyword would be a wise decision. Also, don’t use misleading #hashtags, even with significantly trending keywords. This will most certainly not work in your favor. And most importantly, proofread before you create that #hashtag, lest you fall victim to your own hashtag.

4 Ways to market with #hashtags

  1. Make your #hashtags short and direct – Keeping it brief and direct is the proper approach to win with #hashtags. If you need to combine more than one, fine, but don’t string together a small army of them, as that will actually annoy your readers and label you an amateur.
  2. Make them #hashtags to remember – Remarkable #hashtags are much more likely to be shared widely. Give some thought to this and you may get your wish and have it go viral.
  3. Use them on your other social channels – A #hashtag wants desperately to be shared, and you can now do so across multiple social media channels including Facebook, Google , LinkedIn and Pinterest. This can really help to help sear the #hashtag into the brains of your readers.
  4. Use keywords – If you can. It’s not at all times possible, but try and work in your brand or primary keywords.

Creating and making use of memorable #hashtags can keep your brand and conversation before your social media audience, and help perpetuate your campaigns. Try it out today!