In 2009, Twitter hashtags were adopted by Twitter so anything with a # in front of it became hyperlinked.  They later introduced Trending Topics which showed the most popular hashtag from around the world. If you use Twitter you will no doubt be aware of hastags and most likely use them yourself.  It’s a great way to organise conversations and also, a faster way to find information.  For example, if there is breaking news you can click on a hashtag and get a real-time feed of tweets using the same hashtag. Hashtags are everywhere. Twitter may have been the first social media platform to use them but the other big sites have caught up and are using them too. We are sure you have noticed them all over Facebook over the last few months.   Businesses large and small use them as part of their marketing strategy and even TV shows use hashtags to encourage people to talk about the programme. You may recognise #SCD, #BBUK and #XFactor One thing has become apparent is not everyone knows how to use hashtags.  It’s not just about adding # on the front of a word, phrase or statement.  Below we will list a few things you shouldn’t do. DON’T

  • Don’t use too many hashtags in your post. Only use two (three at a push).  If you use too many your followers will think you are spamming them.
  • #Don’t #add #a #hashtag #in #front #of #every #word
  • Don’t use spaces or symbols in your hashtag  as they don’t work.
  • #DontUseLotsOfWordsAsItWillBeTooLong – Keep your hashtag short and simple. For example #Christmas #IPad #RoyalBaby.  If it is too long people could skim past it.  Keep it short, simple and to the point.   If you do need to use more than one word make sure you add a capital letter in front of each word. Makes it easier to read.
  • Don’t hijack hashtags that have nothing to do with the subject of the post.  We see people do this as they are trying to get into the hashtag search results and get more traffic but it is just another form of spamming.  We have seen companies use popular, trending hashtags that are completely unrelated.
  • Don’t hit the post button before you have checked your hashtag is spelt correctly.

In the next part we will talk about how to use hashtags properly and how they can help to promote your brand. We run workshops on how to use social media for engagement and you can read more about it by clicking HERE.  If you have any questions about our workshops please call 01245 791969 or email [email protected]