Hashtags are more than just adding “#” to keywords. Marketers now take the time to create a hashtag strategy. This will result in a stronger and more successful social media campaign. How do you create a hashtag strategy? What are the rules for hashtags?
Keep reading if you are having trouble creating a hashtag for your upcoming events. Let us share six tips and best practices to help you get the most out of your hashtag. This will allow you to generate buzz about your event and keep your followers interested.
Why hashtag events are more successful
You’re likely to have experienced planning an event, whether it’s a family reunion, birthday party or full-fledged virtual conference. You need to promote large events and not just the logistics.
You can do this by embracing the event hashtag. You can’t just use any hashtag. It’s important to have a unique hashtag that you can use across all channels and platforms to promote your event’s why. To use Field of Dreams as a metaphor, people will find it if they are promoted.
How to create a Hashtag
Before we get into the details of creating and using the perfect hashtag for your event, let’s cover the basics of hashtags:
- A hashtag is any word (or unbroken word-grouping) that has a # sign before it. It can be used on social platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn.
- A hashtag connects your individual posts to all posts that contain the hashtag. This gives it more exposure and longevity and allows it to be connected to larger conversations.
- You can create a hashtag by simply thinking of one and then using it on your social media channels. It doesn’t need to be registered anywhere.
- You don’t have to be on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. All content related to your event should use the same hashtag. This creates a branded # hashtag that allows you to track activity across all social media platforms.
Hashtag Rules
How can you create the perfect hashtag for your next event? How can you use it to get more engagement, likes and clicks? These are six essential hashtag rules that you should follow:
- Be careful when choosing your hashtag name.
- Use your hashtag regularly.
- Your event hashtag should be used before, during, or after the event.
- Encourage and encourage hashtag use.
- Use hashtags to contextualize your message.
- Follow your hashtag closely.
Let’s take a closer look at these six hashtag rules.
1. Choose Your Hashtag Name Wisely
What is a good hashtag to use for your event? Make sure your hashtag is:
- Relevant. Your hashtag should relate to the event and be connected to your brand. You can use the hashtag to identify the event’s topic or an abbreviation (e.g. #Eventalways).
- Unique. Choose a hashtag that’s not currently in use. You can quickly search hashtags on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to see if the hashtag is being used for another purpose. A free tool such as RiteTag allows you to search hashtags and generate ideas. I repeat, don’t use one that could be easily confused with the other.
- Concise. It is common to shorten the name of an event and add the year (e.g. #LBF2022). This shorter hashtag is easier to remember and gives you more character space on platforms such as Twitter. Although hashtags can be used in any case, it is best to capitalize each word to make them more readable.
2. Promote Your Hashtag Consistently
Your event hashtag should be promoted and communicated consistently. It should be prominently displayed on signage, presentations, websites and social channels. Event-related emails, including your email signature. Include your event hashtag in any event-related social media post.
3. Use Your Event Hashtag Before, During, And After!
Your hashtag can be used to create buzz about the speakers, sponsors, keynotes and sessions long before the event starts. This will encourage people to register. The live event is the best time to use your hashtag. Live-tweeting, posting photos, reminding attendees, and even live-tweeting are all good options.
Use the hashtag after the event to continue topicsal conversations, alert attendees about recorded sessions, and continue conversations you started earlier.
4. Encourage And Incentivize Hashtag Use
A hashtag for an event can spark rich conversations between attendees and remote followers. It can be used to stimulate conversations and share valuable ideas about session topics and themes. Do not just tweet and leave. Keep talking. You can be a catalyst for discussion.
Don’t forget that success with hashtags is not just about your own feed. It’s important that others join the hashtag bandwagon. Encourage speakers, sponsors, attendees, and others to use the hashtag when sharing their thoughts.
Your hashtag-generated content is crucial to your success. So think about ways to encourage people to share their stories in words and pictures. You can reward them with contests, timely retweets, and thank you’s that shine the spotlight.
5. Use Hashtags in Context
Common practice is to add hashtags at the end of social messages. This makes sense for certain posts and conversations. You can also use hashtags in context. It is arguably more professional and efficient, requires fewer characters, can contain additional content and allows the hashtag to be part of the conversation.
6. Track Your Hashtag Closely
You can create a filter or feed within your chosen social media tool (Twitter. Hootsuite. HubSpot. etc.). Track your hashtag. This will enable you to closely monitor its activity and respond quickly to any other posts that contain your hashtag. Keep the conversation going!
It doesn’t matter how hard you try to encourage everyone to use the hashtag for your event. Someone will always add their own twist. Be on the lookout for people who might be incorrectly using the hashtag.
New York City hosts its fashion week twice a year. It was promoted using the hashtag #FW. Many people used the hashtag #NYFW instead. You can keep track of what’s happening on social media by monitoring all hashtags related to your event.
Parting Thoughts about Event Hashtags
A successful social media campaign is not complete without using a hashtag. It’s not difficult to get noticed on social media. Having a relevant and clearly branded hashtag will help you stand out. The hashtag functions as a virtual water cooler, allowing people to connect and share information. Every marketer knows that word of mouth is a valuable tool for any brand.