You’ll have seen them everywhere, but what do they mean? Are they actually useful, or are they just a fad that’ll be forgotten in 6 months’ time?
The hashtag was born out of Twitter, but its success has seen it now inhabit Facebook, Google+, Instagram and other social media sites. It’s even entered our vocal parlance, but why?
Very simply, using a hashtag before a key word of phrase allows it to be highlighted as a topic of discussion. When used wisely, they can open up new areas of potential clients. More and more people are turning to social media to research any number of things (from finding a new job, to finding a plumber) and these hashtags become keyword searches.
Adding appropriate hashtags to your status updates will enable people to find you. Although, it is important to remember you can only use letters and numbers, no punctuation marks will be recognised.
The above picture shows how using multiple hashtags (industry: “#jobsuk” and geography: “#oxted”) can open you up to multiple searches. HOWEVER, it is important to remember “less is more”; littering your post with irrelevant hashtags can actually have a harmful effect. It looks unprofessional and readers will generally be mistrustful of clicking links.
If you’re unsure, using just 1 or 2 on the most relevant words will be the most effective:
E.g.
“Looking for a #plumber in #Woking? DM us now for a professional quote”
Also, most social media sites have daily lists of the most popularly used hashtags – are any of these relevant? If so, use them?
Can’t find anything relevant? Make your own and encourage your followers to use it – it will draw new users in every day.
E.g.
“RT your feedback using #wokingplumbers for your chance to win!”
#happyhashtagging
Further Information
Footprint specialise in creating bespoke websites designed to help take your business to another level. If you’d like to speak to us regarding any of our services, give us a call on 01883 372488 or contact us via Facebook and we’ll be happy to talk you through your options.
