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What is a Hashtag?

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Definition​

A hashtag is a kind of 'tag' or 'label' used on social media. Like classification stickers attached when categorizing books in a library, it's a marker that classifies your posts or photos into specific topics on the internet. It's created by attaching words without spaces after the # symbol (sharp or hash). For example, #restaurant, #travel, #daily, etc.

Think of a supermarket. Items are divided by type like fruit section, vegetable section, meat section, making them easy to find. Hashtags work the same way. They're tools that categorize countless social media posts by topic, helping people with the same interests easily find each other's posts. If you post a restaurant photo with #restaurant, people interested in restaurants can discover your photo through search.

The biggest feature of hashtags is 'searchability'. Millions of posts go up every moment on the internet. For your post not to disappear in this vast ocean and to be discovered by interested people, you need appropriate hashtags. Like a lighthouse guiding ships on a dark night, hashtags send signals to people looking for your content.

Characteristics​

  • Search tool: Searching for a specific topic or keyword shows all posts with that hashtag at once. It's like viewing only products with 'sale' stickers at a store.

  • No spaces allowed: Hashtags must be written without spaces. #restaurantrecommendation works, but writing #restaurant recommendation only recognizes 'restaurant' as the hashtag. For English, capitalizing each word helps readability (e.g., #BestRestaurant).

  • No limit on quantity: You can attach multiple hashtags to one post. However, recommended quantities differ by social media platform. Instagram handles 20-30 fine, but Twitter suits 1-2.

  • Clickable: Clicking a hashtag shows other posts using the same hashtag. This is like links to related entries in an encyclopedia.

  • Popularity display: Hashtags used by many people are displayed as 'trending hashtags' or 'popular hashtags'. This reveals topics people are talking about most right now.

How to Use​

Let's look step-by-step at how to use hashtags effectively.

Step 1: Identify the topic First, think about the core topic of the post you're uploading. For food photos, core topics are 'restaurant', 'food', dish types (e.g., pasta, pizza). For travel photos, it would be location names, 'travel', 'scenery', etc.

Step 2: Create a related hashtag list Think of related words centered on the core topic. For cafe photos, there are various related words like #cafe, #cafestagram, #cafetour, #coffee, #dessert, #aestheticcafe. Making a list in a notepad saves you from worrying each time.

Step 3: Mix popular and specific hashtags Using only hashtags too many people use (e.g., #daily) buries your post quickly. Use more specific hashtags together (e.g., #seoulcafe, #seongsudongcafe). It's like casting both large and small nets simultaneously.

Step 4: Use appropriate quantities Recommended quantities differ by social media. Instagram suits 10-30, Facebook 1-3, Twitter 1-2. Too many can look like spam, so be careful.

Step 5: Decide placement position Hashtags can be inserted mid-text or gathered at the text's end. For Instagram, hashtags in comments work identically. Place them where they don't harm text readability.

Step 6: Update regularly Trends keep changing. Hashtags popular months ago may be unused now. Regularly search popular hashtags to update your list.

Examples​

Instagram restaurant post "Seongsu-dong pasta restaurant I visited today! The cream pasta was really smooth and delicious." Hashtags: #restaurant #seongsudongrestaurant #pastarestaurant #italian #seoulrestaurant #datespot #foodstagram #eatstagram #lunchmenu #pasta #creampasta #seongsu #niceatmosphere #restaurantrecommendation #seoultravel

Twitter news-related post "New environmental policy announced. Says they'll focus on expanding renewable energy." Hashtags: #environment #policynews

YouTube video description "Photoshop basics tutorial for beginners, Episode 1. I'll teach you step-by-step from installation to basic tool usage." Hashtags: #photoshop #photoshoptutorial #design #graphicdesign #photoshopbasics #beginnertutorial #designintro #adobe #creator #designer

TikTok dance video "Tried the trending challenge!" Hashtags: #challenge #dance #tiktokchallenge #dancecover #dancestagram #trend #viral

Advantages and Disadvantages​

Advantages​

  • Increased exposure: Using appropriate hashtags exposes your posts even to non-followers. Like putting up a billboard, more people can discover your content.

  • Interest connection: People using the same hashtags can find each other. For example, through the #veganrecipe hashtag, people interested in vegan cooking naturally connect.

  • Trend awareness: Viewing popular hashtags shows what people are interested in now. It acts like a window for reading the times.

  • Post organization: Useful when finding your posts later too. For example, creating and using a hashtag like #2024summertravel lets you view only summer travel-related posts together.

  • Marketing effect: For people running businesses or building personal brands, it becomes a free marketing tool. You can reach many people at low cost.

Disadvantages​

  • Intensified competition: Popular hashtags get thousands of posts every second, quickly burying your post. Hashtags like #daily are used by so many people they're barely effective.

  • Spam feeling: Using too many hashtags makes it look like spam or ads, potentially repelling people. Especially when hashtags are longer than text, it's uncomfortable to read.

  • Inappropriate exposure: Using wrong hashtags exposes you to wrong people or connects to unintended topics. You must know hashtag meanings accurately before using them.

  • Time consumption: Finding and entering appropriate hashtags each time takes time. Especially carefully selecting multiple hashtags requires more time than expected.

  • Platform differences: Hashtag culture and effectiveness differ by social media. Essential on Instagram but less important on Facebook. You must learn each platform's characteristics.

FAQ​

Q: How many hashtags should I use? A: It differs by social media. Instagram suits about 10-30, Twitter 1-2, Facebook 1-3. Too many look like spam, so adjust appropriately. I recommend starting with about 10 and adjusting based on responses.

Q: Can't I use spaces in hashtags? A: No, using spaces only recognizes the first word as a hashtag. Writing #restaurant recommendation only makes 'restaurant' a hashtag while 'recommendation' becomes regular text. You must write it as #restaurantrecommendation. For English, capitalizing each word like #BestRestaurant makes it easier to read.

Q: Shouldn't I just use popular hashtags? A: Using only popular hashtags buries your post quickly. For example, hashtags like #daily get hundreds of posts per second, pushing your post to the hundreds within seconds. It's better to mix a few popular hashtags with specific ones (e.g., #gangnamrestaurant, #italianpasta).

Q: Should I put hashtags in the text or in comments? A: For Instagram, both have the same effect. Putting them in text makes them immediately visible; putting them in comments keeps the text clean. Choose based on not harming text readability. Most other social media platforms recommend putting them in text.

Q: Which is better, English or Korean hashtags? A: It depends on your target audience. If you want to be seen by Koreans, Korean hashtags are effective; if you want global exposure, use English hashtags. Mixing both is also a good strategy. Example: #cafe #cafe #seoulcafe #seoulcafe

Q: Can I create hashtags? A: Yes, anyone can create new hashtags. Just write the desired word after #. You can also create unique hashtags for brands or events. For example, you can create and use personal hashtags like #0523wedding using your wedding date.

Q: How are hashtag rankings determined? A: When you search hashtags, posts appear in recent order and popular order. Popular order prioritizes posts with many reactions like likes, comments, and saves. Simply attaching many hashtags doesn't guarantee top exposure—post quality matters too.