De-mystifying hashtags – some do’s and don’ts

(Posted on 18/09/17)


De-mystifying hashtags – some do’s and don’ts

Hashtags are evident everywhere but a huge number of people still don’t really understand how to use them. Found all over social media, the purpose of hashtags is to categorise content and help make it easy to find. Using hashtags will also make it easier to engage with other people on social media who are interested in the same things as you.

When it comes to using hashtags, here are five basic rules, which will really help you make them effective: 

  1. Be specific – there’s no point in choosing a hashtag that’s all encompassing. Think about who you want to target or what you are promoting. 
  2. Make sure you are using the right sort of hashtag with the right platform. For example, on Instagram, try and use hashtags that describe the content, while on Twitter, focus on the topic or a group of people. Don’t forget to look at each social media platform’s user guide for hashtags such as Twitter’s here. 
  3. Make time to find the most relevant hashtags for your purposes for each platform. 
  4. Avoid using your brand name in a hashtag but make sure it still represents what you want it to. Brand hashtags are a great way to raise awareness for campaign and initiatives. 
  5. Keep it clear and concise – don’t try and be too clever or too longwinded. Hashtags need to be obvious, easy to understand and easy to type. 

For advice on how to make your social media campaigns work hard for you, contact the Zebra team at info@zebra-comms.co.uk, or give us a call on 01978 437070.