Before social media a hashtag or the octothorp was only a symbol on a phone button we never used. Those days are long gone.
Today hashtags are part of our daily vocabulary. The Oxford English Dictionary even added it in June 2014.
The hashtag was first brought to Twitter in 2007 by Chris Messina. Before this the hash or pound symbol, had been used in other ways on the web. For example on IRC chat to indicate channel names. Since then its usage has spread much wider.
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hashtag
ˈhaʃtaɡ/
noun
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1. a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#), used on social media sites such as Twitter to
identify messages on a specific topic. |
Or by Wikipedia’s definition – “… a type of label or metadata tag, used on social network and micro blogging services which makes it easier for users to find messages with a specific theme or content.”
Marketing platform Offerpop sums up the history of the hashtag in an easy infographic.
When using a # in front of words or phrases, they will automatically be tagged and searchable for users of the social network – a fast and easy way to accumulate everything related to one topic. Hashtags can be added anywhere – in the middle of a sentence, at the start or beginning. They are particularly useful on a social network like Instagram if you are looking for specific photos of an event or travel images of, for example #paris or #worldcup2014.
Their main function should be to provide meta data, context or extra information for a tweet, photo or post. By adding a hashtag you will ensure you tweet will be seen. But make sure it adds value to what you have to say.
Unfortunately hashtags can easily be misused. Spammers send tweets with popular hashtags even if the tweet has nothing to do with them in order to gain exposure. When hashtags are misused – for example added to gain followers or not adding to the relevant conversation, the users account can be filtered and even suspended.
Two #s are considered acceptable per post or tweet, while three are seen as the limit. Anything more will only annoy your followers. In 2013 Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake performed a parody on the sometimes ridiculous usage of hashtags.
Since 2010 hashtags have even been used by some television channels for promotion by adding a “branded” # before, during and after an episodes broadcast. These will typically appear at the bottom of the screen.
They are used by social media experts and major companies to gain followers and increase brand recognition. For more information on how to use hashtags optimally, read Rebecca Hiscott’s article on Mashable.
Popular websites supporting hashtags:
[SOURCES: www.wikipedia.org]
Voor sosiale media was `n hutsteken of octothorp die simbool op `n telefoonknopppie wat jy nooit gebruik het nie. Daardie dae is lankal verby.
Hutstekens (hashtags) is vandag deel van ons woordeskat en is selfs in Junie 2014 opgeneem in die Oxford English Dictionary.
Die hutsteken is vir die eerste keer in Twitter bekend gestel deur Chris Messina.Voorheen is die hutsteken of pond-simbool op verskeie ander maniere op die web gebruik – byvoorbeeld om kanale op IRC (Internet Relay Chat) aan te dui. Sedertdien word dit veel wyer op sosiale netwerke gebruik.
|
hashtag
ˈhaʃtaɡ/
noun
|
|
1. a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#), used on social media sites such as Twitter to
identify messages on a specific topic. |
Wikipedia definieer dit as `n tipe merker of metadata etiket wat gebruik word op sosiale netwerke of mikro-blogdienste om dit vir gebruikers te vergemaklik om boodskappe oor `n spesifieke onderwerp of met sekere inhoud op te spoor.
Die bemarkingsplatform Offerpop som die geskiedenis van dié simbool goed op in `n eenvoudige diagram.
Wanneer jy `n # voor woorde of frases sit, sal hierdie items outomaties gemerk word en soekbaar wees vir gebruikers van die sosiale netwerk – `n vinnige en maklike manier om verwante inligting oor `n onderwerp te versamel. Die # kan enige plek in die inskrywing geplaas word – as deel van `n sin, aan die begin of einde. Dié metode is veral handig by `n sosiale netwerk soos Instagram as jy soek na fotos van `n spesifieke geleentheid of reisfotos, byvoorbeeld #paris of #worldcup2014.
Die teken se hooffunksie moet egter wees om metadata, konteks of ekstra inligting vir `n twiet, foto of bloginskrywing te verskaf. Deur `n hutsteken by te voeg, maak jy seker dat jou inskrywing oor `n spesifieke onderwerp gesien word. Maar maak seker dit voeg waarde by.
Hutstekens kan maklik misbruik word. Gemorspos-verspreiders stuur twiets met populêre hutstekens bloot om blootstelling te kry – selfs al het dit niks met die boodskap te doen nie. Indien hutstekens misbruik word – byvoorbeeld bloot gebruik word om ondersteuners te kry of niks relevant bydra tot die gesprek nie, kan `n rekening gefilter en selfs opgeskort word.
Twee hutstekens per inskrywing of twiet is aanvaarbaar, terwyl drie die limiet is. Enigiets meer en jy gaan net op jou lesers se senuwees werk. In 2013 het Jimmy Fallon en Justin Timberlake `n skets gedoen oor die soms belaglike gebruik van hutstekens.
Sedert 2010 is hutstekens ook gebruik deur televisiekanale vir bemarking. `n Relevante hutsteken word voor, gedurende of na `n episode van `n reeks uitgesaai en verskyn aan die onderkant van die skerm. Dit word gereeld deur sosiale media deskundiges en groot maatskappye ingespan om ondersteuners te kry en handelsmerke te bemark.
Vir inligting oor hoe om hutstekens meer effektief te gebruik, lees gerus Rebecca Hiscott se artikel op Mashable.
Populêre webwerwe wat hutstekens ondersteun:
Have you ever heard of Larry the bird? Yes, the Twitter bird has a name.