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A Quick Primer For How To Use Hashtags Online, And See How Your Peers Do It | November 13, 2013 (0 comments)
Merrick, NY--Even if you're not active in online social media, if you hear 'hashtags,' you probably think Twitter (also perhaps Tumblr, Google+, and Instagram, to name a few). Hashtags on Twitter have been the best known and are used so one can keep up with a particular topic such as Veterans Day. You compose your tweet and add a hashtag: #HappyVeteransDay.
You can make your own hashtag or use one that's popular to join in on the conversation. The #HappyVeteransDay hashtag search on Twitter will show you tweets from everyone on Twitter who is talking about that topic. Plus now, Google has rolled out hashtag support in its searches.
A few months ago, Facebook added hashtags to their newsfeed format. According to Facebook's own hashtag page, "Hashtags turn topics and phrases into clickable links in your posts on your personal timeline or Page. This helps people find posts about topics they’re interested in. To make a hashtag, write # (the number sign) along with a topic or phrase (written as one word) and add it to your post."
You can click on the link to see comments on the topic from your Facebook friends. In that way, you may find it more personally relevant than Twitter. But on Twitter, you'd may also see opinions from experts that won't show up on Facebook - unless your friend is one of those experts.
So why does all this matter? Because if you and your customers are interested in the same things (jewelry, gold, big diamonds, great birthday idea, etc.) this gives you another way to reach them: #Jewelry, #Gold, #BigDiamonds, #GreatBirthdayIdea, etc.
Here are a three key things to remember about hashtags, (and more available here):
1) Capitalize the first letter of each word in your hashtag: #BabyBling is easier to read than #babybling
2) Don't overdo the hashtags. One or two is plenty.
3) Use your hashtags to start a conversation with your customers.
Facebook hashtags are still new, but the hashtag clearly has its place in social media. Here's the Facebook hashtag link for Happy Veterans Day. Use them to better communicate with your online friends and customers.
Now, see how a few prestige jewelers use hashtags:
Here's one example of a Facebook hashtag, from Stanley Jewelers. Note the top of page use of capital letters for easier reading.
Below, here's a humorous hashtag from the personal Facebook page of jeweler Caroline Hill, Van Scoy Jewelers, Reading, PA. Raise your hand if you can relate to both the icky ring situation and the "why I love my job" sentiments Hill expresses below!
Here are two examples from the Diamond Cellar. The top entry focuses on celebrating Ohio sports, the bottom, a fashion entry.
