Move over Twitter, hashtags aren't just for tweets anymore. Hashtags, the pound symbols that help catalog content on Twitter, have made their way onto platforms such as Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Vine and Instagram. But why? Whats the point of using hashtags and do they even matter?
Hashtags are an effective way to organize and discover interesting content. Whether its an industry topic, event or television show, there are hashtags out there for everything, making it easy for social media users to find and follow the content most important to them.
For example, like many other social media enthusiasts, I was excitedly following the news surrounding the arrival of the royal baby. While logged into Twitter, I was able to sort through all of the content in my newsfeed by following the hashtag
Hashtags can be just as powerful when promoting content for your business. Whether youre sharing a new blog post or attending a conference, incorporating a hashtag increases the odds of your message being found by the right audience those who find what you have to say relevant and engaging.
However, when using hashtags for business and thought leadership purposes, there are three best practices to keep in mind.
#AVOID #USING #TOO #MANY #HASHTAGS
Dont feel pressured to overuse the hashtag. No one wants to read a post primarily composed of hashtags. Its overwhelming for the reader and your message will become lost. Remember, its all about quality, not quantity. As a best practice, try to centralize your message around one hashtag. This will demonstrate to your audience that you know what youre doing and ensure that your message makes its way to the right readers.
MAKE IT RELEVANT
People create hashtags for everything (and I do mean everything). When using a hashtag, keep it short and simple. Using extremely long hashtags like #lifeislikeaboxofchocolates might not be the best way to make sure your posts get a bunch of clicks. Just because its trending on social media, doesnt mean you should use it!
Remember, conversations start around hashtags. Concise hashtags (i.e.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
When looking for a strong hashtag to use, remember to listen on social media. Look to those you follow online friends, colleagues, experts and thought leaders and discover what hashtags are prominently used in their content. Also, take the time to click on the actual hashtag hyperlink to see the other content that falls within that hashtag category. Is it content you find relevant? Do you notice posts similar to what your target audience is looking for? If thats the case, that hashtag might be right for you. Give it a try and keep track of your clicks rates once you begin using a new hashtag.
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