Sookio writes:
Originating on Twitter, the hashtag came about when ex-Google employee Chris Messina suggested using the symbol to create groups. Since then, the hashtag has evolved into a way of grouping together messages on a specific topic not only on Twitter, but across various social media platforms.
On Twitter
Why use a hashtag on Twitter? Unsurprisingly, Twitter is the most popular platform when it comes to hashtagging, and it is a particularly useful way to make a noise and get your voice heard.
To react to a trend
Both personal and business accounts use hashtags in order to respond to a trend, current affair or event. By entering into a hashtag group, you are able to engage with or have your say on a specific topic - take #BBCGlasto or #Brexit, for example.
The more a hashtag is used, the more likely it is to become a ‘trend’. Anyone who then clicks on or searches for that trend will be able to see the tweets related to it, which are broken down into ‘top’ tweets (the ones people are engaging with the most) and ‘latest’ tweets (a real-time feed of all the tweets containing the hashtag), as well as photos, videos, people, news and broadcasts related to it.
To improve visibility
For businesses, hashtagging can therefore improve visibility by demonstrating that your brand is engaging in current and topical affairs. Additionally, businesses can harness the hashtag in order to encourage people to Tweet about their own event, respond to a campaign or engage in a topical discussion which is relevant to the business.
When it comes to creating a successful hashtag and becoming a part of the feed, Twitter advises:
“Before launching a marketing campaign centered around a hashtag, search for it on Twitter. Make sure it hasn’t been used in a while or in a way that would confuse your audience. It’s best for a hashtag to be short and distinct so it can be easily added to Tweets. For example, National Small Business Week’s hashtag is “#NSBW2016”, much sleeker than “#CelebrateNationalSmallBusinessWeek2016” would be.”
To gain insights
Displaying hashtags at your own business events or your business location – whether it be a café, restaurant, shop or other space – will also encourage customers to search for your company and see what others have said about it online. It may mean that they have their own say on Twitter, too.
With that in mind, the hashtag is a particularly useful way to gain unfiltered insights about your business. This could be positive or negative feedback, or even consumers' thoughts on certain topics areas which could affect your business.
To be humorous
Hashtags can also be used to add humour or irony to your tweets.
Rather than drawing people towards your posts (although, they can do this too) comical hashtags are a great way to showcase your business' personality beyond what can often be a more serious and professional front.
One of Charlie Sheen's favourite post-reinvention mantras, #winning is another hashtag used for comical, if slightly irritating, value. Explained by Urban Dictionary as an 'exclamation used to denote feelings of joy derived from the achievement of success in life endeavors', the word winning is often used jokingly by hashtaggers to indicate they are doing well - or even not so well - in whatever it is they may be up to.
Pro tip: When creating your perfect hashtag, if you put several words together, check that this doesn't make it difficult to read or change the meaning.
A good way to do this is to CamelCase it and capitalise the first letter of each word. A hint Susan Boyle's PR team could have probably done with back in 2012 when creating the iconic hashtag for her album launch: #susanalbumparty.
Using hashtags on Instagram
Like Twitter, hashtags are also popular on Instagram, drawing people towards photo content rather than engaging them in a discussion. Why else might you want to use them?
For more hashtagging tips, read rest of this post here.