Hashtag: Definition, How it Works, Examples and Benefits

hashtag is a post marker for certain related topics. Hashtags usually start with a hashtag (#) and are often used on social media platforms, such as TikTok, X, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Hashtags are basically useful for grouping content. However, the use of this hashtag turns out to have a more complex function, you know! In the business world, hashtags are not only used to mark posts but also to promote products, events and campaigns, all of which can increase brand awareness.

Through this article, we will explain what hashtags are, how they work, examples and their benefits for business. So that you don’t fail to understand, read the discussion until the end, OK!

What Are Hashtags?

Benefits of Hashtags

Hashtags are the use of the hashtag ‘#’ in front of certain words or phrases without using spaces. Its use aims to group and search for content based on certain topics. For example, if you write #Bandung Tourism, then you will see content about tourist attractions in Bandung.

Apart from its common use on social media, do you know how hashtags started?

Hashtags were first introduced in 2007 by Chris Messina, a web marketing specialist at Twitter (now the name has changed to X). He proposed using the ‘#’ sign to mark tweets for certain related topics so that users can more easily find the content they are interested in.

The initial idea was very simple, namely to create more organized conversations. As it develops, the use of hashtags is increasingly widespread on various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and other social platforms.

Now, hashtags are used for various purposes, including promotions, challenges, popularizing trends, sharing interests, and conveying political messages.

How Hashtags Work

After learning more about what hashtags are, below is how hashtags work on Twitter and Instagram.

a. How Twitter hashtags work

The first is the social media Twitter, surely you are also familiar with its use. On Twitter, hashtags will connect various user conversations into one collection.

When there are two users who are not connected to each other but use the same hashtag. Then your tweets will appear in the same group.

Hashtags that are popular or that are currently widely used by users will be trending on Twitter. Then, to search for hashtags on other topics, you can search via the search column.

After searching for hashtags, several search results appear on Twitter, including the following.

  • Top: is a collection of tweets with hashtags that have a lot of interaction. It can come from brands or influential people.
  • Latest: a group of tweets from users who tweet with that hashtag.
  • People: is a list of the top Twitter accounts to follow related to that hashtag.
  • Photos: a group of photos included when tweeting using the hashtag.
  • Videos: a group of videos that are included in tweets when using a hashtag.
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These are some of the hashtag search results on Twitter. So, the way hashtags work on Twitter is relatively easy. You only need to create a tweet and include the hashtag , after that your tweet will be included in the collection.

b. How Instagram hashtags work

Next is how hashtags work on Instagram. The way it works is still the same as on Twitter, namely connecting posts from various users in one group.

If there are two users using the same hashtag on their posts, then both posts will appear on the same hashtag group .

Just like Twitter, you can also search for Instagram hashtags via the search column. After that, several columns will appear as follows.

  • Related hashtag: a group of all hashtags related to your search.
  • Top post: a post that uses hashtags and has high engagement.
  • Most recent: a collection of all recent posts using the related hashtag.

After knowing how each hashtag works on both Twitter and Instagram. Next, what are the benefits of hashtags that can be obtained for both users and brands? Check out the following explanation!

Benefits of Hashtags

The use of hashtags is one of the keys to implementing digital marketingTherefore, find out what benefits you can get from hashtags in your business later. Here are some of them.

1. Increase social media engagement

When you make a post and use relevant hashtags, you are indirectly participating in discussions or conversations on social media.

That way, your post will be visible in the hashtag collection. From there, there is an opportunity for the brand to become better known to many people and can help increase likes, shares, comments and additional new followers.

2. Media to build a brand

If you want to build more brand awareness so that it is known to more users, creating a special hashtag is one effective way. When the hashtag appears, users can immediately guess that it is your brand.

3. Enliven the campaign

The next benefit of hashtags is as a medium to enliven a campaignWhen you create a brand campaign and then create a special hashtag, users who join the campaign will automatically join inFrom here, more users will have the opportunity to participate, so the campaign will run more successfully.

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4. Show support for social issues

Furthermore, hashtags can also be a way to show support when there are social problems that exist outside the brand. By using hashtags, you are indirectly involved in the problem that is being discussed at that time.

5. Help the target audience find the brand

The final benefit is that it can help your target audience find your brand or posts. On social media Instagram or LinkedIn, you can follow a hashtag.

For example, you use the hashtag #scholarship in all your posts. So when there are audiences who follow the hashtag but don’t follow you, they can still see the post. This will give you the opportunity to increase your followers.

These are some of the benefits you can get from using hashtags. Next, to better understand, below are several examples of hashtags that you can find on social media.

Examples of Using Hashtags on Social Media

There are many examples of hashtags that you can find on various social media platforms. So, below we provide examples of hashtags that are popular on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

1. TikTok

Here are some examples of hashtags on TikTok:

  • #DanceChallenge – Hashtag for the popular dance challenge trend.
  • #LifeHacks – Hashtag to share everyday tricks and tips.
  • #PetChallenge – Hashtag for trending videos about pets.

2. Twitter

The following are some examples of hashtags on Twitter:

  • #BlackLivesMatter – Hashtag to share information and talk about racial and human rights issues.
  • #TBT (Throwback Thursday) – This hashtag is usually used on Thursdays to share throwback photos.
  • #WorldCup – Hashtag for discussion about football matches during the World Cup.

3. Instagram

The following are some examples of hashtags on Instagram:

  • #OOTD – This hashtag is an abbreviation for “Outfit of the Day” and is used to share content about daily clothing styles.
  • #Foodie – Hashtag for sharing photos of food and restaurants.
  • #TravelPhotography – Hashtag for sharing photos about travelling experiences and tourist destinations.

4. Facebook

The following are some examples of hashtags on Facebook:

  • #OnThisDay – Hashtag to share memories from the same day in the past.
  • #FitnessMotivation – Hashtag to share inspiration, motivation and achievements in fitness.

5. LinkedIn

Here are some examples of hashtags on LinkedIn:

  • #JobVacancy: Hashtag to share information about job vacancies.
  • #LeadershipTips: Hashtag to share tips and advice about leadership in the business environment.
  • #ProfessionalDevelopment: Hashtag to talk about professional development and education.
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How to Use Hashtags Effectively

Now that you know what an example of a hashtag looks like, the next step is how to use hashtags effectively so that they have a good impact on business promotion.

1. Analyze competitors and influencers

You can start by monitoring and then analyzing competitors and influencers who are relevant to your business. Next, note down what hashtags and keywords they often use. If you can, just look for a short hashtag, if it’s too long it won’t be effective.

2. Use relevant hashtags

After that, you will find many hashtags used by them, but make sure to only use relevant hashtags. Because this will make it easier for you to reach the target audience that suits your business niche. Apart from that, make sure not to use too many hashtags, only around 2-3.

3. Find out hashtags that were successful in previous posts

If you have sent a post with several hashtags, try analyzing the results on popular posts, and see which hashtags succeeded in reaching a large audience. After that, use the hashtag in the next post.

4. Put the hashtag on profile or bio

Next, place the hashtag on your Instagram profile or bio. So that if the audience visits your account, they can immediately click on the hashtag and find your post or any other relevant posts.

5. Post at the right time

Lastly, send posts at the right time, this aims to ensure the post can be seen by the audience. Usually, every social media has certain productive times for posting.

Ready to Use Hashtags for Business Promotion?

Hashtags are the use of the ‘#’ sign in front of certain words or phrases. Its use has become an important part of social media culture because it helps users group and search for topics of interest easily.

Apart from that, hashtags also provide many important benefits for businesses. Call it increasing brand awareness, enlivening campaigns, showing support for social issues, and helping audiences find the brands they are looking for.

Don’t forget to follow the tips above so that your hashtag use is more optimal. Come on, start adding hashtags to your posts to help promote your business!

To find out more information, you can read other informative articles on the WooRanked blog. We always provide the latest information and tips about digital marketing, social media and other related topics. Hopefully, it’s useful, OK!