#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:

Organize your #crochet hooks with a compact roll-up case http://t.co/JgtjaWOV5q #giftsforgrandma pic.twitter.com/jRWAQibYHW
— thechillydog (@thechillydog) July 23, 2014

(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.

Post by The Chilly Dog.

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.

I <3 Chicken Jungle! http://t.co/ErtezakIgt #SPSTeam #EtsyCIJ #Chickens #OOAK pic.twitter.com/pKGKZzXUjM
— thechillydog (@thechillydog) July 18, 2014

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.

www.etsy.com/shop/thechillydog
http://www.thechillydog.com