5 Key Questions about Twitter #Hashtags

After presenting a session on The Power of Social Media at the Women in the Workplace conference last week, I had so many folks expressing utter exasperation in their attempt to understand the #hashtag in Twitter that I promised a blog post to attempt to demystify it and answer the key questions. I realised that those of us immersed in social media really take it for granted what we understand, so it's important to help educate and not just assume that everybody knows all the in's and out's of social media.

1. What is the difference between @ and # ?

The @ represents the username or person on Twitter that you follow whereas the # represents subject areas to follow. The @ can be a person or a company (like a store) or both, like with my twitter name @jaffeblend (I personally am tweeting but under my company name).

1. How are #hashtags created?

Anyone and everyone can create a hashtag simply by using the button on the "#" button on the keyboard and writing a term (with no spaces). This makes your "tweets" findable by those searching twitter on a particular subject matter. Tools like Tweetdeck allow you to create specific columns searching for all tweets on a specific hashtag e.g. #xfactor

Sometimes a hashtag is created and communicated to help bring people together on a specific topic e.g. at a conference like Google Zeitgeist (#Zeitgeist2012) or for a tv program (#xfactor). Often folks simply guess the most obvious #hashtag and communicate several of them to ensure that 'all bases are covered' e.g. #Zeitgeist2012 #zg2012 #zeitgeistLondon. Bear in mind though that you're using up valuable tweet space with too many #hashtags.

Sometimes people use hashtags for humour i.e. not expecting anyone to really search using them but just making a point e.g. My son just threw up on me #Ihatemondays

1. Why do I need to use #hashtags?

The very nature of tweeting is to communicate and connect, so without #hashtags, only your followers will be able to read your tweets. #Hashtags enable:

• Other people interested in what you're tweeting about to read your tweets
• More people to find you, to then "like" what you're tweeting about and follow you

Think of it just like wanting to appear in the search results in Google.

1. How can #hashtags help my business?

In addition to growing your Twitter follower base, you should use #hashtags to search twitter for relevant subject areas directly or indirectly related to your area of business. You need a Twitter client like Tweetdeck to do this.

This will enable you to:

• See and learn from what your contemporaries are doing (online)
• Learn more about your field of business e.g. if you're a solicitor, you can search on #familylaw #divorce
• Find potential customers (e.g. if you're in the cupcake business, potential customers could be tweeting about cupcakes)
• Find your brand advocates and detractors (e.g. those tweeting positively or negatively about your company)
• Join the conversation with your potential customers on relevant topics (without selling yourself)
• Create and run meaningful authentic conversations with current and potential customers

Using #hashtags in your own tweets will help you grow your customer base using relevant topics for potential customers e.g. if you are a paediatrician, you could post tweets linking to blog posts about useful topics like #flu #eczema #vaccinations #hayfever etc.

1. Did someone really name their child Hashtag?

   Sadly and apparently so …. Read more here. Even scarier is the poor child who has been named "Facebook". I.kid.you.not.

   

   Do you understand the #hashtag better? Do you have any useful tips for me and the readers of this blog? Are there other relevant points I haven't made? Please comment now.