How to use the hashtag

Use the hashtag but don’t abuse it, says Valerie Delforge. The # is such an important part of twitter and Instagram. They are clickable and show you all other content tagged with that hashtag. It allows people to find conversations about things they are interested in. If I wanted to see how a certain watch looked in person before I bought it online I could search for the brand or style with a hashtag. I’ll then access customer photos and brand photos which will hopefully give me more of a clue before I buy than the product images. The worst thing to see is an overuse of the hashtag! "Who loves this autumnal mani? #nails # beauty #manicure #girls #fingers #mani #beautiful #love #nailbar #london #cuticles #lucky #amazing #summer #yay"....... it becomes more of a joke than efficient. A max of four to six hashtags is enough and it doesn't need to be on every picture. Ensure that if you post a picture involving another brand then find their most commonly used #. You can do that by using the search engine. Using a local area hashtag is perfect for finding locals too. #nottinghillcarnival for example. Look at what is popular like #tbt (throw back thursday) or #mcm (man crush monday) Create your own hashtag! For example we have been using regularly #delforgeandco. Make sure it isn't being used by another brand because you don't want to send your customers there. Add your hashtag to your social media captions and use it across the salon. Know your # from your @: by doing @delforgeandco you are sending us a direct message.   Valerie Delforge, CEO and Founder of Delforge + Co, is a judge, coach, mentor and global business advisor - visit www.delforge.co to learn more about the programmes and the Business Academy Image: Shutterstock