Have you ever felt like your hilarious tweets or insightful commentary disappear into the void of social media? You‘re not alone! With over 300 million monthly active Twitter users, standing out is a struggle.
Luckily, we have a secret tool that can help cut through the noise: the almighty hashtag.
In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll learn how these powerful tags work plus a simple 4-step process for adding them to tweets. With some expert-level tips built on years analyzing social data, you‘ll be hashtagging like a pro!
What Are Hashtags & Why Do They Matter?
We see hashtags everywhere nowadays but many don‘t fully grasp their purpose and impact.
A hashtag is any word or phrase prefixed with the pound sign (#). By tagging keywords, your content gets classified into specific conversations. This makes it discoverable to users interested in those topics.
Some history for context…
Hashtags originated on Twitter in 2007, created organically by users as a way to group messages. The company didn‘t make them clickable links until 2009 when hashtag use exploded^1.
Over a decade later, they are a ubiquitous part of the social media lexicon. And as an engagement and growth tool, they CANNOT be ignored!
Relevant hashtags provide visibility within your niche and industry. Twitter‘s algorithm also uses them to determine what content to show users in their feed.
Simply put: you want them on your tweets whenever possible!
Now let‘s get into the easy 4 steps for making that happen…
Step 1: Craft Your Tweet
Compose your clever quip, hot take, or thoughtful thread in 280 characters or less.
Leave a bit of extra room for hashtags rather than maxing out your word count right away.
Step 2: Type the "#"
Locate the "#" symbol on your device‘s keyboard. It‘s usually shift+3 on desktops or found by tapping the symbols key on mobile.
Type "#" without any spaces before or after.
Pro Tip: To check if Twitter recognizes your hashtag, look for automatic hyperlinking (blue, underlined text). If it doesn‘t change colors, revise your tag.
Step 3: Add Your Keyword(s)
With the hashtag symbol in place, it‘s time to choose those all-important keywords.
👍 DO:
- Use 1-2 relevant words that describe your tweet‘s focus
- Keep hashtags short and snappy
👎 DON‘T
- Include spaces, punctuation, or emojis
- Choose trendy topics unrelated to your niche
Some hashtag examples:
#SocialMedia#ContentCreator#UXDesignTips
Each gives readers context on your message while organizing it for those interested in those subjects.
Step 4: Tweet It Out!
Review your full tweet with hashtags included, then hit send!
Sit back and watch as targeted audiences immediately discover and engage with your content in their feeds and searches.
Now you know how to add hashtags, but which options will benefit your tweets most?
There are a few key categories to focus on:
🔥 Trending
These hashtags relate to current events drawing lots of buzz. For example, #StPatricksDay or #MarchMadness.
☘️ Pro Tip: Combine 1 currently trending hashtag with a couple industry- or niche-specific ones.
This increases visibility beyond just your existing followers.
🗓 Event-Specific
Attach your content to highly-anticipated happenings like conferences, TV premieres, or holidays:
#SXSW2022#StrangerThings4#InternationalWomensDay
Timing is crucial when leveraging these limited-run hashtags.
💼 Industry-Related
Already popular hashtags frequently used in your business sector are ideal for connecting with that existing community.
For a social media consultant, that could include:
#SocialMediaMarketing#DigitalMarketing#ContentStrategy
🤓 Niche & Lifestyle
Match your tweets to engaged user groups around hobbies, interests, and everyday moments.
Some examples:
#BookLovers#Foodie#FridayFeeling
Unsure where to start hashtag hunting or want to refine some underperforming tags you already use?
You‘re in the right spot!
Here are 3 tips for researching the best options:
Check Twitter‘s Suggestions
As you type a hashtag, Twitter will show autocomplete recommendations based on previous popularity. High volumes indicate interested audiences exist.
However, this is biased towards your existing activity and interests. So additional research helps.
Leverage Reliable Tools
Sites like Hashtagify allow entering possible hashtags to view past performance and usage data. Look for trends showing consistent or growing usage.
Analyze Competitors & Influencers
What tags are industry leaders using frequently? Which ones elicit high engagement levels from their audience?
These hashtags already resonate with your target users.
Some additional services providing insightful hashtag data include Keyhole and RiteTag.
You made it to the end of our guide…hopefully feeling like a Twitter hashtag master!
Here‘s a quick recap of key learnings:
💡 Hashtags categorize your tweets by topic to boost visibility
💡 Use 1-2 per tweet max that are relevant, concise, and error-free
💡 Prioritize trending, events, industry terms and niche interests
💡 Check suggested and preforming hashtags for ideas
Now it‘s time to put this into practice!
Start tweeting with targeted hashtags consistently and keep track of any boosts in engagement. Refine low-performing tags over time.
With the right hashtags highlighted in your content, you‘ll stand out on Twitter and connect with the perfect audience for you!
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