Saturday, August 2, 2014

#WhatIsAHashtag

I was recently inspired by a series of convos I exchanged with Laura from Chicken Jungle during the Christmas in July event. (By the way, many thanks to Laura and all of the other dedicated  SPS Team shops that helped promote each other through treasuries and social networking during the sale.)

Laura and I discussed that we are both relative newcomers to the social networking scene and are constantly trying to learn more about effectively using different social platforms.

I shared with her, and would like to share with you, one of my most helpful discoveries, #hashtags.

What is a #hashtag?


In simple terms, a #hashtag is used to mark a keyword in your post/tweet.

Almost every social platform (Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram Tumblr, Wanelo...) allows you to use #hashtags in your posts.

How do you use a #hashtag?


When you are writing your post/tweet simply put the # symbol before keywords. They can be in the middle of your post, or at the end. Just make sure there are #NoSpacesInYourHashtag.

So, if I were sharing a link to one of the roll-up crochet hook cases listed in my Etsy shop on Twitter, my tweet might look something like this:


(I like to include a picture of my item in my posts/tweets, too.)

You always want to use #hashtags that are relevant to the photo, link or message that you are posting.

Why should I use #hashtags?


Using #hashtags helps you reach a larger audience.

People often search social networks for a certain topic they are interested in whether it's #EntertainmentNews or #HandmadeEtsyItems.

During the cross-team adopt-a-shop, I promoted Lucky Lizzie's from the Etsy Christmas in July Team and used #EtsyCIJ in my Facebook post about her item.




The Etsy CIJ Team discovered my post through their search for #EtsyCIJ and left me a nice comment.

It's not unusual for people who discover your post/tweet through a #hashtag search to comment, favorite or repost/retweet what you have written or even start following you.

How many #hashtags should I use?


While there's no limit to how many #hashtags you can use in a post, most serious social networkers recommend using no more than 2-3 per tweet/post, but it's up to you.

How do I find #hashtags that might be relevant to my product?


It takes a little practice. One thing that's helpful is to brainstorm possible #hashtags and then do a search to see how many other posts/tweets have the same #hashtag and if they appeal to the audience that you are trying to reach.

Don't be afraid to try a variety of different #hashtags and don't get stuck in a rut and use the same #hashtag for every item you share. The goal is to reach new customers, so it's okay to experiment with different #hashtags.

I heart Chicken Jungle!


Thanks for inspiring me to write this post.



PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER :


My name is Ellen and I LOVE to design and create things. I find it deeply satisfying to start with nothing more than an idea and finish with a tangible, beautiful, functional piece of work. I enjoy learning new techniques that I can incorporate into my creations. I practice a variety of different art forms, but find I always have at least one knit, crochet or sewing project in progress.

Boho Crochet Backpack Purse - Aqua, Light Teal



8 comments:

  1. Very clear, precise and informative! Thanks!

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  2. Wow! It makes much more sense now! Thank you Ellen for the useful tips and info!

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  3. This is a great, well explained article. I didn't know any of this, thanks so much! Thanks for sharing with us, I can't wait to try it.

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  4. A great informative article! Very helpful information.

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  5. Useful information. I discovered the use of hashtags when my daughter made mention of it yesterday, and I was trying to figure out how to use it. This article explains it all! Thanks.

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  6. Thanks SO much for this article, Ellen, I FINALLY think I'm beginning to get my head around what a hashtag is....You explained it very simply. Maybe I can actually use a hashtag soon. Sharing on Facebook now.

    (This is Laura at Chicken Jungle!)

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  7. Great explanation of hash tags. By the way the team hash tag for Twitter is #spsteam . I often search for team members tweets to retweet (both my personal page & for the team Twitter page) using the #spsteam.

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  8. Great @Ellen! You are doing an amazing, essential service to your #spsteam members working through these social media things!
    thank you so much for being our Lewis and Clark, out there on the edge, opening up trails we can follow! I mean that.
    Diana

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