The Basics: When a number symbol is added in front of a keyword you are creating a special "tag" that relates to a particular place, news topic, event or brand. This keyword will pull up matching results across most social networks making it easy to search for fellow sports enthusiasts for example, attendees to a business conference or lovers of a certain food item.
Try a quick search on Instagram or even Facebook for your city - for this discussion let's take #Chicago as our example. While you will discover a plethora of results, they are filtered down to the city area rather than if you had used a more general tag such as #Illinois. Further exploration might lead you to find narrower categories such as #chicagoeats, #familyfunChicago or products which are #madeinChicago.
Hashtags unite people with similar interests. Let's say that you are an aficionado of classic Volkswagens and and want to locate other collectors. Tags such as #vintageVW, #vwfans or #VWlovers, will return a huge variety of results which may include Tweets about an upcoming event, Instagram photos from other collectors or a Facebook post from a local car show.
Location: Places such as vacation destinations will produce a host of tags ranging from short to long and are often combined with a year as well. So how can you find out which rank highest or are most popular? Do a few searches on social sites using a combination of terms to find out what's most active or indicates a specialty niche, as as #OCfamilies or #honeymoonOC. You can also check on sites such as Hastagify or Tagboard to see what's trending, in addition to those sections on Twitter.
Weddings: Did you know that newlyweds have incorporated special words or phrases into their wedding day? Often a couple will select a unique label to add to multiple aspects of such a celebration, such as the bridal shower, rehearsal dinner and reception such as #JohnsonWedding or #brittanyandtom. Generally the bride and groom will begin using their custom tag months before the big day, allowing those events to be found in online searches and social networks. Here's an example of a sign you may have seen while attending a recent wedding.
How can hashtags benefit a business owner? Use a custom tag to convey a unique message, identify a niche market or specialty product. Let's say you are in the business of repairing clocks, offering skilled service of vintage and antique timepieces. Clever tags such as #OldClockDoc or #vintageclockdoctor are not just catchy ways of advertising your work, but also offer an instant and recognizable impression. To obtain the maximum brand benefits, include your unique "handle" on social media posts, to your paperwork, images and business card.
Events: A reunion concert for a band from the 80's may be an occasion for a custom hashtag, just as a national cheer leading competition or sporting event. Organizers will often create a term which can be reused in following years by adding numbers such as #ironman16 or #sailMD2017. This allows you to recycle the same tag (building community), while separating out results by date. A few things to keep in mind:
•Double check to see if the tag is already widely in use
•Confirm it's both easy to say and remember
•Make sure it relates to your promotion or event
•Broadcast it widely for maximum visibility
I hope you found this short overview of custom hashtags and their many uses helpful in launching your newest phrases or branding labels. Thanks for following my blog and have a great day.
Sincerely,
Andrea @ Marketing Delmarva
Connect and follow Marketing Delmarva @
