What Is The Relevance Of A Hashtag On Twitter?

Posted on November 15th, by Kim Randall in Blog Row, Social Media, Social Media Success, Social Media Tips, Twitter, Uncategorized. No Comments

What makes a hashtag relevant on Twitter?

Is it the popularity of the Tweeter that makes up the hashtag? Is it the creativity?

It seems like many brands don’t quite understand how, why or when to actually use hashtags so we’ve decided to break it down for you. We’re here to let you know how relevant a hashtag is on the various platforms, insider tips on using hashtags and mistakes we’ve all made, but need to stop making.

Twitter is one of the most relevant places that hashtags are used… and coincidently enough the first place hashtags were relevant.

Ways To Use Hashtags on Twitter

As keywords describing content in the Tweet so users are able to find it even if they aren’t following you.
As a way to host Twitter chats or parties.
To find information on a specific topic.
To follow trends.
To connect with people attending the same events.
To follow breaking news.

Twitter Hashtag Tips

Try to only use 1 or 2 hashtags per Tweet, any more than that looks like spam… also known as hashtag stuffing.
If you’re using hashtags for a branded Twitter chat try to make it as short and sweet as possible.
For branded chats and events check to make sure the hashtag isn’t already being used.

Our Favorite Hashtags to Follow

#Quotes – this one always has some great quotes, motivational, inspirational and sometimes hilarious!

#Question – we like to help where we can so we’re always up for answering a few questions.

#BeSocial – we love to see other people being social online

Mistakes Brands Make

Thinking that their made up hashtag is going to get their content in front of the right people.
Hashtag stuffing posts.
Using trending hashtags to push their content in front of a new audience even when the content has nothing to do with the hashtag.
Not tracking hashtags relevant to their brand.
Not engaging with hashtags their target audience is using.

Here’s a fun hashtag fact for y’all…

Before the hashtag was known as a hashtag it was known as the pound sign, but the original name for the hashtag is an octothorpe, however “octotherp” was the original spelling. The word arose in the 1960s among telephone engineers as a joke. The first appearance of “octothorp” in a US patent is in a 1973 filing which also refers to the six-pointed asterisk (✻) used on telephone buttons as a “sextile”