MTD October 2014
W
h a t 's w i t h t h e
pound signs ev-
e r y w h e r e ? Yo u
know that symbol "#" over the
number 3 on the keyboard that
looks like a Tic-tac-toe game
board. We used to call it the
"pound sign," now it's hashtag
this and hashtag that.
Watch a T V show lately?
Tere are hashtags constantly
displaying on the botom of the screen.
If you visit Twiter, Facebook, Tumblr,
Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Gawker,
Google Plus, etc., you will see hashtags
in use everywhere.
Hashtags can be one word or several
words strung together with no spaces
preceded by the # sign. Teir purpose
is to give a unique identifcation to the
content in which the hashtag is included.
It's a way to group together items with a
common theme.
Te use of the # symbol in front of words
began popping up on Twiter as early as
2007. Twiter popularized the concept in
July of 2009 by making any word with the
# sign in front of it a hyperlink. Tus the
hashtag was born. Twiter further validated
it when they published "trending topics" by
showing the most popular hashtags right
on the front page. Now many social media
sites have adopted the hashtag to group
like content and track trending topics.
Here are some important things to
know about hashtags.
1. They are made up and anyone can
make them up.
2. No one owns them, unless you get them
trademarked.
3. You should capitalize the frst leter of
every word (makes it easier to read).
4. Some are generic (#BestPlaceToDine),
some are very specifc (#WeAreBC).
5. When you click on a hashtag, it redirects
you to search results on that site.
6. When you search for a hashtag on a site
like Twiter or Facebook, you will see
all the postings on that site that
have referenced that hashtag.
It's an indexing methodology
for that site.
7. It's an easy way for sites to
track trending topics.
8. Tey are free.
9. If you make one up (or you
think you made one up), do a
search for it frst to see what's
out there already. You will be
surprised.
10. Don't overuse them in tweets, blogs,
ads or Facebook posts. No more than
two or three per item.
11. Hashtags don't work on smart phones
(yet), but they still work on the sites
you are posting to from your phone.
Can hashtags be useful in your business?
Te answer is, most defnitely. You should
create unique and relevant hashtags for
your business and promotional activities.
In addition, you should be building a raving
fan base of dedicated satisfed customers.
W hen you promote something on
your website, a social media site or in an
ad, make sure to use your hashtags. Ten
track the results. Measure what works
and what doesn't and constantly adapt
to those that are most efective.
Use them especially if you are doing
a civic-minded or charity event in your
community.
When you build a raving fan base, you
want them to reuse your hashtags in their
postings.
Marketing experts have fgured out
new and innovative ways to use these
hashtags to promote products and services.
Have you?
#HappyHashtagging. ■
As CEO and president of WECnology
LLC (www.wecnology.com), Wayne Croswell
is a "complimentary technology advisor"
for independent tire dealers. Croswell can
be reached at wcroswell@wecnology.com
or (603) 249-5530.
Business insight
#EverythingYouEverWanted
ToKnowAboutHashtags
How creating unique and relevant
hashtags pays of for your dealership
By Wayne Croswell
Quik-Link: 800-687-1557 ext. 21116
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