Here’s the one some who follow social media blogs have been waiting for.
What in the world is a hashtag, anyway?
Or, in the Twitterverse: #WITW is a #hashtag #anyway?
It is true that hashtags started on Twitter, but, as you have most likely seen, they have spread to Facebook and Instagram and even LinkedIn and…they’re everywhere!
There was once a Google Guy by the name of Chris Messina. He was looking for a way to distinguish a group of messages all related to the same subject. Taking a hint from other web applications that used the pound sign (or what we used to call it), he made the suggestion. While there was a lot of debate on whether or not they were useful, they certainly caught on.
It’s pretty simple. Adding a #hashtag is a lot like distinguishing a #label for whatever you’re working on. For instance, you know some types of labels when you see them on products when you see the color of the label. The only difference is, instead of a color, you start the label with the # symbol. Those familiar with social media immediately know what they are.
There’s actually two applications.
Yep, you use them to #expandthebrand and #buildtheguild. We here at Webbin’ It often use #areyouwebbinit. It helps us get brand recognition because it is catchy and memorable. When on social media, you can do this for your brand alone or on a product by product basis.
Remember those #harmonicas we’re such fans of? You could have a whole campaign on whether red harmonicas are better than green ones. You might use something like:
#teamred #teamgreen
Sometimes on Twitter and other social media networks there is a #hashtag that is #trending. The ones that are particularly hot are put in your news feed from time to time. If you put in your two cents but don’t include the needed hashtag, #nobodyseesit.
For example, let’s say the trend was #changeamoviewith1letter (and, yes, #theycanbethatlong).
If I, cleverly, tweeted:
Star Warts! LOL
Those that follow me would see it. They would wonder if I was #justalittleofftoday, but the context of that tweet is lost. The reason is that I should have tweeted:
Star Warts! LOL #changeamoviewith1letter
This is now in context. They can even click the hashtag to see #whatothersdidwithit.
Well, I hope I #cleareduphashtags for you. If not, you can always join us for Webbin’ It Wisdom and ask us to clarify further.
