What Are Twitter Hashtags?
We all know what tags are, right? Those are words used to tag a post or bit of information so one can know what it basically about. Tags also help us to better organize our data. The hash character (#) when combined with a tag, becomes a hashtag.
What tags and hashtags allow you to do, especially with all the noise on Twitter, is to search for a particular hashtag thereby allowing you to find the Tweets that have appended that hashtag.
Hashtags are a great way to focus on a certain topic, join in a conversation or search for specific information without having to weed through hundreds and thousands of posts just to find the information you are interested in.
As an example, when I have time (which hasn’t been the case lately) I’ll announce a TwitterChat. If you want to participate all you have to do is Tweet your WordPress, Marketing or Online Business question and add the hashtag #wpmuse after your Tweet.
When I announce a TwitterChat that means I will be online specifically searching Twitter for instances of my hashtag, #wpmuse. This allows me to not have to read all the Tweets about WordPress looking for questions from folks who need some help. Instead the software I use, TweetDeck, is set to look for my hashtag and bring any Tweets using it to my attention so I can answer your questions.
You can create your own hashtag to use as I am with #wpmuse. But first you need to search Twitter and other hashtag tracking services to ensure that the tag you want to use for your specific activities is not already in use.
Here are some additional hashtag resources for your reading pleasure:
- Twitter Fan Wiki: Hashtags
- Wiki:Tag (metadata) Hashtags
- The Twitter Hash Tag: What Is It and How Do You Use It?
- HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Twitter #Hashtags
Now that you have an idea of what hashtags are and how to use them, create your own!
You can be notified when I announce a TwitterChat either by becoming a Fan on Facebook or following me on Twitter @wpmsue where I announce these events in advance.
See you on Twitter!
At your service,
Judith
Tags: hastags, social media, twitter, WordPress
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