The Power of the #Hashtag

Hashtag Concept
# – This symbol has been around for a long time, but the purposes it serves have changed over the course of the past decade. This change has been so drastic, you can gage how old a person is based on whether they refer to it as the “pound sign” or a “hashtag.”

Hashtags became commonplace in the digital marketing world in 2007,when Chris Messina suggested users use the “#” to identify groups. Although the initial idea of hashtags was rejected in 2009, Twitter began hyperlinking hashtags. This way, users would be able to categorize what they were tweeting about, and they could easily seek out similar content by searching hashtags, and clicking on them.

Hashtags seem like a fairly simple tool to use, but users should actually put thought and consideration into when and how they’re using them from platform to platform.

First, let’s go over hashtag don’ts.

  • Don’tuse too many hashtags in one tweet. You only have 140 characters, use them wisely. Plus, your tweet probably doesn’t pertain to as many things as you think it does.
  • Don’tuse a hashtag just because it appears in the #trending section on Twitter. Be sure to understand why the hashtag is trending, and that it’s actually relevant to what you’re tweeting. You don’t want to make this mistake
  • Don’t #stringtoomanywordsbehindahashtag. They’re impossible to read.
  • Don’t use hashtags when speaking.

 

Once you’re confident you can avoid those hashtag don’ts, it’s time to put hashtags to work for you.

It’s important to remember that hashtags are all about creating or continuing a conversation. If you’re the only person using a hashtag, it is not doing you any good. So before you even begin using them, do a quick search on all your social platforms to find out what hashtags are popular in your industry.

Now that you have an idea of what’s out there, it’s time to start using or even creating your own!

Here are just a few ways you can hashtag effectively.

  • When tweeting, always include a hashtag. Make sure it’s relevant to your industry, and whatever you’re tweeting about. For example, if you’re a physical therapist and tweeting out an exercise idea, you could use #fitnesstips.
  • Having an event? Create a hashtag for your event and ask attendees to use it when they tweet about it. This will create a conversation, and help you increase engagement on social media! Just be sure to research beforehand so you can create a unique or branded hashtag.
  • Want to increase the number of followers you have on Instagram? This is one of the few times it’s okay to use multiple hashtags in the same post. After posting a photo and caption, comment on your own post with as many hashtags as you’d like – just make sure they’re relevant. This way, people who don’t already follow you can still find you based on what kind of content you’re posting. And your caption isn’t flooded with different hashtags.

 

Hashtags are powerful tools, but they need to be used wisely. If you’re not so sure about your #hashtaggame, set up a Strategy Call with Connections Healthcare Strategies. Our digital team will help you with all of our social media needs to ensure you’re getting the most out of the #hashtag.

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