CALL US Hashtags are like the cockroaches of the online world. They’re absolutely everywhere, we couldn’t get rid of them even if we wanted to, and we hate to admit that they probably serve some kind of actual purpose. And yes, we do believe they could outlive any nuclear fallout just as well as cockroaches also. #survivor #blessed
The History of Hashtags
Hashtags are primarily associated with Twitter, but their history goes further back than any social media platform. Originally, hashtags (formerly known as the lowly pound sign) popped up in programming languages to denote special keywords.
Twitter came up with the idea to use hashtags to create more searchable content. The idea took off so insanely that hashtags skyrocketed right out of social media and straight into pop culture references. It’s now standard practice to slap a few hashtags onto every social post.
But that’s enough history lesson for today. Let’s skip ahead to how hashtags can benefit your business in the here and now.
How to Not Look Like a Hashtag Rookie
Using hashtags will feel awkward at first, especially for anyone over the age of 14. There’s no way around it. Know that eventually you’ll stop feeling like an impostor and start hashtagging like a pro. There’s really only one tip you need to know before jumping in: Learn the expected etiquette rules surrounding hashtags before you post.
On Instagram, for example, it’s typical to use a few hashtags in your post, followed by adding a gazillion hashtags in a comment you add to your post right after you publish. This helps keep your post itself tidy while still optimizing for search. But don’t flood Facebook with hashtags this way. You’ll look ridiculous.
#DoYourResearch
Within your social platform of choice, you should run a hashtag search related to terms in your niche to see the kinds of stuff that other folks are tagging with that hash, and then follow suit. This is the social media equivalent of buying the same sunglasses the cool kids wear.
And listen, unless you’re promoting a specific event or special, please don’t make up your own hashtag. There’s just no point, other than mild novelty value. The purpose of hashtags is to make your content more searchable, more easily categorized, and also to make you look semi-knowledgeable about how social media works. Making up your own hashtags at will accomplishes the exact opposite of all of those things.
Hashtags for #SEO
Like so many of the online marketing strategies we recommend, hashtags aren’t just for the benefit of your audience; they help search engines, too. Google’s search results sort differently if you search for a phrase (election 2016) compared to a hashtag (#election2016).
Using hashtags to check out what’s trending according to Google searches can help you identify what’s trending across various social media platforms as well.
#Success!
Just remember that hashtags have a pretty short shelf life, so don’t get too married to any hashtag-based online marketing strategies unless you’re prepared to constantly adapt your tactics at a rapid-fire pace.
Instead, use hashtags to augment whatever social media and blogging game plan you already have in place. Hashtags, boiled down to their simplest purpose, help readers (and search engines) find your content, which needs to be a top priority of any successful online marketing strategy.
