Are you puzzled by hashtags on Twitter? It’s one of the things that confuses people when they start using Twitter. Even people who have been using Twitter for some time can be uncertain about how to use them. They are part of the Twitter jargon and should not be overused, but used correctly, hashtags can be an incredibly useful tool.
What is a hashtag?
On Twitter you will often find words prefixed by a “#” symbol (or hash symbol). These are known as hashtags. This convention was started by the Twitter community as a way of grouping conversations about topics. They create hyperlinks. By clicking on them, you will see all the conversations going on using that particular hashtag. The search results will include all the people who have used that hashtag whether you follow them or not.
Anyone can create a hashtag and I will come onto some guidelines in a minute, but you might be still wondering why you would want to. I thought the easiest way is to show you five different ways hashtags are being used on Twitter. Hopefully, at least one of the ways will spark an interest in you.
Different ways to use hashtags
- Joining chat
- Events
- To show expertise
- To add value to the tweet
- News and Emergency Coordination
1. Joining Chat
Twitter can seem like a mishmash of disjointed conversations, but hashtags allow groups of people to chat to each other about the same topic. There are pre-arranged times when groups will get together and have conversations. By using the hashtag, people can talk about a particular shared interest with other people in the group. In effect, it creates a chatroom. For example, every weekday morning at 11 am to 12 pm, small business owners join into #watercoolermoment chat that was started by Enterprise Nation.
2. Events
Hashtags can create buzz around events whether they are at a particular location or virtual. During the event, people can follow all the discussions going on about the event. People can connect with each other. For example, if you are going to a conference by knowing what the hashtag is for the event, you can start chatting to people who are using that hashtag. Great for the event organiser and for people who take part in the event. Using the event hashtag it makes it easier to find people.
This also works well for people doing a 30 day challenge. For example, the Ultimate Blog Challenge had #blogboost as its hashtag. By following the hashtag, members of the group can publicise their new blog posts to each other.
3. To show Expertise or a specialised area
Often experts will add a hashtag to show that they are giving advice on a topic such as #MarketingMoment, #prtip, #salestip, by following the hashtag, you can pick up useful information in bite sized pieces.
There are a number of hashtags used for job seekers and recruiters, so if you were looking for a job, you may want to follow #hirefriday #HF (hire Friday) or #HFUK (hire Friday UK for jobs in the UK market) or #HFchat. I think you can work out which day of the week this hashtag gets used!
4. To comment on the intent of a tweet or to add extra information
Sometimes hashtags are used for fun. I think you can work out what the following hashtag was about…
If someone adds #ironic to a tweet, you can tell the tone they meant by it.
Many people do tweet about food (yes, it is true!) and thanks to Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster, #onnomnom is become a popular hashtag to show enjoyment of food.
See what other ways you can find where the hashtag adds value to the tweet.
5. News and Emergency Coordination
Hashtags become even more useful in a time of crisis or emergency as groups can rally around a common term to facilitate tracking. By using the same hashtag, real time reporting of the disaster can be monitored. You don’t have to say, this is about the news story X and waste precious characters. Simply by using the news hashtag, people know what you are talking about. It makes your tweet more succint and helps everyone follow the news.
Hashtags make topics easier to search for and therefore more likely to trend.
I have learnt a lot by keeping an eye on the trending topics for news stories.
Considerations when choosing a hashtag
- Check to see if it is already being used
- Keep it short, it is part of your 140 characters
- Keep it as obvious as possible,
- Capitalise separate words to make it easier to read if appropriate eg #SouthAfrica instead of #southafrica.
- Publicise it and encourage everyone to use it.
Caution 1: Do not overuse hashtags, it becomes very annoying!
How to find out what a Hashtag is about
- The best place to find what a trending topics are about is at What the Trend, this will cover not only the trending hashtags but all trending topics too.
- Another place to find out what hashtags are being used and to see the popularity trending is Hashtags.org
Caution 2: Do not try to use a trending topic to promote your product, it can backfire on you!
- Kenneth Cole, a fashion house, used the hashtag #Cairo during the Eqyptian uprising to promote their spring range and caused a massive outcry earlier this year. They later apologised for their insensitiviy
If you are reading this on Friday and are still wondering what #ff are all about, then read this article What is #ff?
Have fun using Hashtags, but remember if your tweets mostly contains hashtags, are you really communicating?
Nicky Kriel
Nicky Kriel is a Social Media Coach & Trainer inspiring, educating and empowering Business Owners to use Social Media more strategically. She is also the author of How to Twitter for Business Success. For more information visit http://www.nickykriel.com or to find out about her courses that she runs in Guildford visit http://www.nickykriel.com/courses
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Great information Nicky,
I’ve been using hashtags for some time for most of the reasons above.
Love using them for events and particularly group chat.
I think I can sometimes overuse them though – it must drive people mad wondering what all the weird code is after a tweet – so I’m very mindful now.
Other tweeters have been very helpful and added hashtags to my tweets if they feel I’ve got something of value to add to their community or want to give me some kudos for a piece of advice or expertise. That’s a really nice thing to do and I’m very grateful.
And I LOVE #ff
Hi Heather
I am very mindful of using hashtags because I attract a lot of Twitter newbies and I am conscious that hashtags are very confusing when you are new to Twitter. I know that hashtags can be a very powerful tool and get help boost your visiblity considerably so it is lovely that your followers are adding the appropriate hashtags to your tweets, Heather.
Great post, Nicky, very useful as usual!
Thanks for the article Nicky; there is a lot of great information included. I have been learning more and more about hashtags and their importance.
Many thanks… and I love using #FF.
Candace
@Candace_Davies
Hi Candace
Thank you for leaving a lovely comment. There is so much more I could have added, but I thought it would be more useful to get it published!
Nicky x
Great post! I use several hashtags, but the other day saw someone say you can subscribe to a hashtag so that you can more easily follow it. Is this true? How would I do that? I follow a LOT of people, but would love to have an organized place to go to for 3 topics in particular.
Hi Amethyst
Glad you asked the question. You can’t technically subscribe to or follow a hashtag, but you can track a hashtag as a searched item. I am going to write a quick blog about how to do that so I can show you screen shots.
Very good explanation Nicky. I will send my new Twitter friends your link! Thanks for being so helpful, it was just enough information to let people know what it’s all about – especially if they are new to Twitter
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I love hashtags! Another great way to use them is during a blog talk radio show or a live interview. People can follow the show and also chat on Twitter about the topic. Hashtags have been a great way for me to build my list and also my network. My favorite hashtag? #besocialberich
Hi Martha
Thank you for adding your comments. I love feeling part of a larger group of people during a webinar and often great tips from the presentation are captured in less than 140 characters! It is great that you mentioned it. Will check out your favourite hashtag too.
Nicky
I use hashtags for various reasons – especially following specific topics or events. I have my own #timetips However there are some people who over use them and hashtag almost every word in their tweet. Makes it annoying to read.
Best use is one or two at the end of the tweet.
I can quickly follow a specific hashtag by creating a new stream in Twitter and then removing it when I no longer need it.
Hi Clare
I think I might need to follow your #timetips hashtag! Thank you for adding a comment x
Super tutorial! I know what a hashtag is in the basic sense, but I learned a few new things. Thanks. I need to check out the #onnomnom one.
Hi Traci
Thank you for your lovely feedback. Do you have a favourite hashtag?
Thanks for this it is really useful but I have a mac and it doesn’t seem to have a hash key! hence why I have written it rather than used it? Any ideas of how I use hash on my mac?
Hi Debbie
I have been told Alt – 3 will give you the # symbol on a Mac. I had no idea there was a difference in keyboards. Hope that has helped?
Nicky
Thank you Nicky! I’m such a newbie to Twitter – and you ALWAYS give the best info and tips. I was just wondering about protocal re: hashtags. Also thrilled to know about What the Trend and Hashtags.org. Haven’t tried a hashtag on my own yet… soon! Cheers – Andrea
Great article Nicky…
I use Twitter but did wonder where to create and check hashtags. I recently came across hashtag.org but thanks for recommending whatthetrend.com
I see great value in hashtags around events and niche topics.
Always wondered if many start using a hashtag. not knowing that one is being used for something else… you would then need to let follows know to use a different one once checked.
Hi Jo
I have heard of someone who publised a hashtag in a big way without checking to see if anyone was using it. It was being used by a group in the adult industry, so he was forced to change it.
Nicky
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