How To Get The Best Out Of #Hashtags

Hashtags have become so popular over the last couple of years, that by 2010 the word itself has been included into The Oxford Dictionary. They have first emerged in the world of technology, but now they are being used almost everywhere.

Hashtags have taken over social media and only few people are left unfamiliar with this phenomenon. The hashtag has become a self-sustained pawn in the content that gets published on social media channels.

You’d think that with them being so popular, everyone would know how to use them, right? Bad news: although, everyone seems to know the meaning of a hashtag, few people know how they should be used.

People have a superficial understanding of the concept and their lack of knowledge leads to significant misuses and errors. Not having this necessary understanding of hashtags, can lead to a multitude of wrong uses. Learn to avoid them simply by following these tips:

#1 Narrow It Down

The idea is quite simple: the more peculiar your hashtag is, the more defined is the audience it addresses. This means higher rates of engagement, thus more success.

#2 Research The Networks You Intend To Use

It’s mandatory to perform this step, as every social network is different and each has its own particularities. Instagram and Twitter are the best environments for hashtags, but they both approach them in a different manner.

With Instagram, these hashtags are used in describing photos and maybe the context in which they were taken like: feelings, tools that have been used in taking the captions, brands etc.

On the other hand, Twitter’s hashtags are usually gathered around a certain topic of discussion or around a group of people you are aiming to engage into your tweet.

#3 One Specific Unbranded Hashtag For Your Business

Should you be in the process of creating a hashtag for your company, you have to know right from the start that, as much as you’d wish to make your brand more visible by creating a hashtag with its name, the key to becoming a voice on the Internet in your market, is to offer small clues.

This means: a well-thought hashtag containing specific points from your area of activity. Take bits and pieces of your products and create a unique hashtag. What exactly defines your business best? Find out what it is and find a way to engage your customers, as well!

Though companies should have a specific hashtag defined, choose a hashtag which already exists and which bends the best to your business’ needs but if you can’t decide on one.

#4 Avoid Long Smartsy Hashtags

Why should you want to avoid long hashtags? Because people will not use it. It has too many characters and no one has the patience to type endless hashtags.

You don’t want to go on the other side, either, and create a hashtag people don’t really understand. Shortening words or abbreviating them excessively will also push followers away.

Searching for a hashtag should come naturally. Keep in mind that they have been created, so that people will find things easier and faster. Nobody will use or even bother to read long and complicated hashtags!

#5 Balance Hashtags & Words

It all started with Instagram users who got used to the idea that, when posting a picture, they can use up to 30 hashtags at once. More hashtags equals more followers, and in all this hunt for followers, this is the ultimate trap on social media. Most of the times, they are the wrong kind of followers: spammers and users who are only interested in you following them back.

Too many hashtags in a single post not only will diminish the essence of your message, but it will also make you seem desperate.

#6 Not Every Word Has To Be A Hashtag

Whenever you are tweeting something and think about adding a hashtag ask yourself: Is this hashtag going to bring substance to my message? Is it going to make my message more powerful?

If you don’t notice any difference in the texture of your message or if you can’t narrow down the audience to reach a certain target, you’re probably better off not using it!

You should focus on sharing the best content and on making a great impression. Be careful not to seem desperate, otherwise you will become the target of social media users who are often annoyed by the excessive use of hashtags and who are constantly making jokes on this matter.

Not sure what I am talking about? Take a look at the video below and see it for yourself 🙂

Oh, and one more thing: #You’reWelcome!

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