If you are on socia media sites you see hashtags everywhere. Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest are three big players that allow hashtags. Pinterest works a little different but you can still use them.
A hashtag #(pound key, number key) is a way to start a conversation, join a conversation, and categorize posts by using keywords.
It's a great way for small businesses to connect locally, sell their products via the web nationally or globally, and follow certain topics. When I first started using Twitter I found out very quickly that I could get updated on anything I wanted very quickly. All I had to do was search #socialmedia and the popular posts would show up multiple times and I would look at those. #'s can also be used for webinars and events. I could just tell people during the webinar to discuss and ask questions in twitter using the hashtag #mattswebinar for example. Also for special events you can do the same.
Let's take a look at Carlsbad specifically. If you are a local business or just want to join a conversation in Carlsbad you can use #carlsbad in your Tweets. Again it works for Google+ as well. Whether someone just uploaded a picture and said #carlsbad in it or you are trying to network, have fun, tell people about a sale you're having, or just get more followers you can use it. There's no rule on it so you are free to use the #hashtags as you wish. It's said that you shouldn't do more than 2 hashtags per post. For example: "Looking to have coffee meetings if you are around #carlsbad or #encinitas let me know." Now anyone searching for those will see your post in each of the conversations.
Before you start posting and using hashtags frequently I recommend doing research on them. You want to find popular ones. If you are using hashtags that only get 1 other person a day using the same one.. you aren't going to get much out of it. #business is a popular one for example.
Let me know if you have any questions and here is the full blog post on my website with a video tutorial http://mattmassaro.com/using-hashtags
Tweet Me @mattmassaro
