The most common phrase I hear around hash tags from anyone in business is “I don’t really understand this whole hash-tag thing?” and that’s just fine, because I have an answer for you from Facebook itself.
Hashtags turn topics and phrases into clickable links in your posts […] This helps people find posts about topics they’re interested in. To make a hashtag, write # (the number sign) along with a topic or phrase and add it to your post.
Two important features of the hash tag are:
- A hashtag must be written as a single word, without any spaces
- You can include numbers in a hashtag, but punctuation and special characters (like $ and %) won't work
For example:
My daughter just came into my room to give me a hug for no reason at all, and then wandered out! #lovehersomuch #daughters #hugs
Where to use hash tags?
So far some of Facebook uses it, all of Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest use them regularly.
So just how do you make one work for you? Well, since hash tags are used as a keyword to bring all the items featuring the same hash tag on any given site together, this is a good way to get your brand out there. Many people will search by specific hash tags, so you want to use any of the key ones that are relevant to your brand.
But you might also like to create your very own hash tag. This is perfectly okay to do! In fact, it can be exciting to include a hash tag as part of your marketing strategy, maybe you want to get your employees (if you have some) in on the fun, too. Think of a word or a phrase that is relevant to your product, service or cause and check out to see if it is in use already. If it is, maybe consider another tag, or look at who and how it is being used, perhaps it is still relevant for your own use.
And then remember to tag EVERYTHING you put online with your own tag. Whether you are posting a blog to Facebook and Twitter, or a short video clip to Instagram or a DIY page to Pinterest, include your own hash tag in the description along with any other hash tags related to your posting.
The more you use hash tagging, the more you will get used to it and soon it will be like second nature to attach them to all your work online. There’s no need to include them in your blog, as this system isn’t set up to make them work (your blog ought to be set up with categories — we can discuss that in a future post!) unless of course you are unveiling your exciting new hash tag to your followers, in which case, go ahead and have a little fun with it!
What hash tags do you see regularly? Think about how they might work for you. And if you’re already hash tagging, feel free to share your business hash tag here! I’d love to check you out!
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