Hashtags can be clever and fun. #sunsoutgunsout #what do you mean these selfies are over the top — #zesty. But we’re here to teach you how to harness them, organize your brand image on social media and push your best photos, tweets, and posts out to new audiences in the Durango area and beyond.
So what are they? Hashtags themselves are those little crosshatched symbols you see everywhere. Once upon a time we knew them as as the pound sign. In social media, they help organize posts by theme and keyword. The hashtag tells the program to pay attention to the word or phrase that follows. The social media platform then looks at that following word or phrase and categorizes the post with everything else marked with that same tag.
If you want to see cute dogs, just search #puppies and you’ll get tens of thousands of pictures from all over the globe. Everyone with a puppy picture simply includes the hashtag with their post and social media drops their post into the puppy “bucket”.
Additionally, new hashtags come into being all the time–anyone can create a new hashtag and start posting to it. If you haven’t created your own hashtag for your business, it’s time to consider.
There are three category of hashtags: Brand, Trending, and Content. Each operates under the same principle mentioned above, but how you implement them may change based on the context.
Brand hashtags should be used to organize all content that you produce.
- #Brand Name (360Durango)
This is your biggest bucket and should capture most, if not all, of your posts. Use it on every relevant post. - #Campaign name (doDurango)
This is a secondary bucket, pertaining to a specific campaign you’re running. It should be used on any post relevant to your campaign, alongside the brand name hashtag. (#doDurango #360Durango)
Trending hashtags, which most social media platforms will show you from the home page, help organize topics that a lot of people are posting on.
If you have a product or service that fits into a trending hashtag, it can help you promote with relevancy.
Content hashtags are the everyday hashtags that help distinguish post specifics. Think about these ones as labeling the post with the what, when and where.
Product #red sun dress
Event #san juan brew fest
Location #perrins peak
Lifestyle #camping
Durango has some relevant hashtags that can help you reach a bigger audience.
- DATO runs #visitdurango – Touristy adventure photos, especially of the areas around Durango. May get reposted by DATO — free advertising
- We run #dodurango – Durango lifestyle, culture, and adventure. May get reposted by us — free advertising
- #durango is a popular location-based hashtag that organizes content in our area
- #COTRAIL
- #Animas
Using hashtags helps organize your social media posts while stimulating a discussion about your brand and customers can continue that conversation without your continued input. Take ownership of your own hashtags, and tap into the powerful ones in our area– it’s free advertising with minimal effort!
https://mashable.com/2013/10/08/what-is-hashtag/#c15YEKCWVPq3
https://blog.wishpond.com/post/62253333766/3-key-hashtag-strategies-how-to-market-your-business