The Art of Hashtaging

    While reading the book, “The Art of Social Media,” I found the part relating to hashtags very interesting. On any social media platform, a hashtag is very important. If you want your post to stand out among others, use a hashtag or two. Typically, the hashtag is a word that sums up what the written post is about. The hashtag is one powerful symbol in the forever growing worldwide web.

     I like using the hashtag feature when I want to search for a specific thing. For example, if I want to find pictures of polar bears on Instagram, I will type in #polarbears in the search bar. Please follow that link, you won’t regret it. Also, I think hashtags at the end of a post gives it some character and something to look toward to. I especially like when the hashtags are funny and witty. By using a hashtag, you can reach past your niche of followers. I can handle two or three hashtags, but I can promise you I will not read any of them if there are over six. Hashtags give an audience an easy opportunity to follow a trending thread on Twitter or find specific pictures on Instagram like I did above. A hashtag can be a crucial part for a marketing campaign. It allows a brand to effortlessly sift through hundreds, possibly thousands, posts for a promotion or contest.

     There is a difference between mentioning the brand name and hashtaging it. Guy Kawasaki touched on the topic briefly, but he suggests mentioning on social media so the brand or person can engage with the post. A mention is more effective, because it actually notifies the person. The odds of that person replying increases when they are mentioned.

  If you are an avid hashtager, here are somethings to always do and perhaps avoid. You should keep them short and to the point, never overuse, think outside the box and keep your hashtags up to date and relevant. I hope this blog post inspires you to use more hashtags, or maybe rethink your hashtag usage. I believe hashtags should be used to enhance a post, not solely be the content available. Talk to you next time on #KeepingUpWithPaige!