#Hash It Out

Have you been wondering what the Twitter hashtag is about? Also called a pound sign or number sign, the hashtag, or #, has a very distinct purpose on Twitter. The # is placed in front of a word or group of words (no spaces) to identify it as a topic and organize it for tracking and trending. The word or phrase will become “clickable” and will allow Twitterers to follow what people are saying.

For example, I attended the PR News Summit in Manhattan a couple weeks back. Seminar organizers started the hashtag #prnsummit. Every time conference-goers tweeted, we put #prnsummit in the tweet. By simply clicking on #prnsummit, users can track what was being tweeted and retweeted at the conference.

Here are some fun, more global uses for the #:

· #MusicMonday (or #MM): Encourages Twitterers to tweet what they’re listening to on Mondays

· #TravelTuesday: Where ya headed?

· #FollowFriday (or #FF): Who do you follow with great tweets? (Tweet Example: Favorite social tweets! @mashable @scobleizer @paullyoung #FF)

Visit Web sites like whatthetrend.com or whatthehashtag.com to find out what people are talking about on Twitter. Sites like these track trending topics and define popular hashtags.

My personal favorite hashtag? Well, those that know me will not be surprised to know that I follow the AP Style Guide on Twitter (@APStyleBook). One day, I was stumped on a style point:

Not only did “@apstylebook” alert the high court of style that I was in need of a ruling, but “#apstyle” is a hashtag followed by other grammar geeks like me! In no time at all, PR types and English majors from across the land responded to my call for help. Fascinating.

Incidentally, Web site is two words and it is capitalized.

So, when you see #Providence, #FF, or #oneletteroffmovies (a favorite of @jon_favreau) give it a click and see what all the fuss is about.