5 tips for using #hasHtags #Hashtags in socal media What is a hashtag? A hashtag is made up of a word or phrase prefixed with the hash symbol (#) there are no spaces between any words. They are popular on social networking platforms such as Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Twitter etc, although LinkedIn stopped using them from 2013. By placing a #hashtag before the word or phrase it makes it possible to group messages, allowing people to search for the #hashtag and get the whole set of messages or images. When I watch The Voice or XFactor on the television, I am just as interested in their #TheVoice #XFactor twitter updates. It can be quite funny. Even the more mundane programmes that I watch become a lot more humorous when you read their unique #hashtags at the same time. Some people have a wicked sense of humour! I use #BusinessHelperTip If you use the Twitter search tool with this hashtag, you will find lots of useful social media tips. Please feel free to RT (Re-tweet) them!
If you are attending an event
SOCIAL MEDIA ADVICE LOCAL CHARITIES
projector screen during your event for attendees to read....people love to see their name come up!
5 Tips for your #hashtags 1. The more unique your hashtag the better, try not to duplicate the same #hashtag with someone else – unless of course it is something generic and popular that you are joining in with 2. Remember your tweets are limited to 140 characters. Therefore make your #hashtag short – ideally less than 8 characters 3. Make it obvious what the topic is about in your choice of keyword 4. Don’t put people off by using several #hashtags in one status update; it’s annoying and hard to read 5. Research your proposed #hashtag before using. Make sure it isn’t being used for something controversial!
Tracey Bartlett
Facebook: businesshelpers Twitter: _businesshelper LinkedIn: traceybartlett
Ask the event organisers what their unique event #hashtag is, so that you can follow the tweets using that hashtag during the day and be able to converse with the event organisers and other attendees.
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Encourage the use of social media at your event and encourage use of the #hashtag don’t forget to add the unique #hashtag to all of your literature and emails. Get a buzz going before the event remember that after the event has finished your #hashtag updates will be there for others to continue reading and adding to consider running a Twitter feed on a
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