Hashtag

What does a hashtag mean? 

A hashtag, preceded by the "#" symbol, is a word or phrase used to categorize and index content on social media. It helps users to easily identify and follow conversations around a topic they’re interested in. Hashtags are commonly used on platforms like X, Instagram and TikTok to add to ongoing discussions or initiate conversations on a topic, event or an interest. 

For example, if you post a picture of your cat on Instagram and add #CatLovers, it helps cat enthusiasts find your post and join in on the conversation. 

Key benefits of using hashtags: 

• It helps in making the posts accessible to a larger audience searching for specific topics. 
• It helps in categorizing posts, making it easier for users to find related content. 
• Hashtags can bring people of similar minds together and help them create a community for like-minded people. 

The use of hashtags started on social media by Chris Messina in 2007 to categorize discussions on X. Since then, it has become an effective way of categorizing conversations on all leading social media platforms. 

Now that the hashtag meaning is clear, let’s see how to use hashtags. 

How to use hashtags on social media 

Using hashtags effectively involves certain best practices: 

• Use brand specific and trending hashtags. Also, make sure it is tied to the actual post to avoid spam. This way, it is easier to target a larger audience. 
• Avoid using long or complicated words in your hashtags. Also avoid overwhelming the posts with too many hashtags. This way it becomes easier to remember and use.  
• Do not include spaces in hashtags. For multi-word hashtags, connect the words, such as #ThrowbackFriday. 
• Look at current trends and topics to choose relevant hashtags. Watching what influencers and industry leaders are using could help.