Social media simplified - How do I use a hashtag?

Social media simplified

In this series of mini blogs I explain some of the basic elements involved in social media.  My aim is to help people to understand what social media is and how they can benefit their business or life from using it properly.

Social media should not be taken out of context; whatever line of business you are in, social media can help you to reach a far greater audience, but only as part of your overall marketing plan.

 Questions

The subjects covered in this mini-series are questions I have been asked by  clients, colleagues and friends.

What is a hashtag? (#)

A hashtag is a type of digital alarm or label that signposts users to a specific conversation or subject.

Why would I use a hashtag?

To draw attention to a specific subject you want to talk about, or to a specific event or item that you would like to share. For example, one of the hashtag trends for 5th May in the UK was #pollingday

How do I use a hashtag?

You can create your own hashtag, but be specific, keep it short, and make it relevant. You can search for trending topics across all of your social media channels and use those as hashtags for your relevant posts.

Where would I use a hashtag?

You can use hashtags across many social media channels including  Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram – the secret to success is not putting too many hashtags in – personally I never use more than five (although many Instagram users use far more than these as you can use up to 30!)

Hootsuite have a great blog on  the do’s and don’ts of hashtag use

If you would like to read more in this series, or would like a subject covering, just follow this link and fill in your details.