The Power and Use of #Hashtags

Tiffani StephensonUF/IFAS Social Media Manager

Agenda

• The Hashtag• Who Can Use ‘Em?• Basic Rules• Top Hashtags• Do’s and Don’ts

#Hashtag

This is how you sound if you’re using hashtags the wrong way!

Hashtag Misuse

If #YOU had to #change in order to #succeed with #YOUR#social media efforts – could you?If you answered YES to this question….congrats! If you answered NO – HOW CAN I #HELP YOU? Change, despite being necessary at times, is not easy!

(Taken from a Facebook Status Update)

“Social media is a source of a whole lot of noise, use [hashtags] as a way to create signal… not add to the noise.”

-Josh Decker, Tagboard’s Founder and CEO

The Hashtag

• Once your phone’s pound sign, the octothorpe now has a place on most popular social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Vine and Pinterest.

• The hashtag is likely the most popular means of categorizing content on social media.

• It makes your own content discoverable and allows you to find relevant content from other people and businesses.

• The hashtag also allows you to connect with and engage other social media users based on a common theme or interest.

Who can use Hashtags?

• Anyone can make a hashtag at any time!

• They are a completely organic form of organization, created and managed by users, not the platform.

• Big brands build hashtags to create and monitor a conversation surrounding a specific topic.

• Individuals use hashtags to either take part in a larger conversation or begin a conversation of their own.

Basic Rules of a Hashtag

• Always use the # before your chosen keywords.• Do not use punctuation or spaces in hashtags. If there are numerous

keywords in a hashtag, #theyshouldallflowtogether in one fluid phrase.

• Never put characters immediately before the #. For example, it wouldn't be: news#WorldCup. Instead, you'd write: #WorldCupNews

• Use letters and numbers, never numbers alone. Using all numbers like #1 will not generate a positive search but #No1inSports will.

• Keep it brief! Some people use too many words in a hashtag. Use the most distinguishable keywords or phrase as possible.

Top Hashtags

• You can monitor a hashtag in the search option of Twitter or you can visit sites like Hashtagify.me or hashtags.org and check out what’s being talked about, the top influencers, and even usage patterns.

• There is even a Twitter Account for @hashtag that monitors conversations and all things hashtags.

Do’s and Don’ts of Hashtags

• DON’T:• Go too long or too clever• Use inaccurate hashtags• Have more hashtags than words • Hashtag everything• Not use Hashtags

Do’s and Don’ts of Hashtags

• DO:• Be specific • Cater to Social Network (Instagram,

Twitter) • Come up with relevant, unbranded

hashtags • Join a conversation• Engage with Fans and Followers

Questions?