How to Add Hashtags to a Twitter Post

Using a hashtag on a Twitter post is one of the simplest ways to expand your reach and connect with a wider audience. But there's more to it than just adding a pound sign to a word, a smart hashtag strategy can transform who sees your content and how they engage with it. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add hashtags, the best practices that get real results, and the common mistakes you need to avoid.

So, What's the Point of Using Hashtags, Anyway?

Before getting into the "how," it's helpful to understand the "why." At its core, a hashtag turns any word or phrase into a clickable, searchable link. When a user clicks or searches for that hashtag, they see a feed of all public posts that include it. For creators, marketers, and brands, this is a powerful tool for a few key reasons:

• Increased Discoverability: When you use a hashtag like #ContentMarketing, your post doesn't just go to your followers. It becomes visible to anyone who is interested in content marketing and searching for that term, instantly putting your content in front of a relevant new audience.
• Joining Conversations: Hashtags are the virtual gathering places of X. Whether it’s a global event like #Olympics, a weekly industry chat like #SEMrushchat, or a trending cultural moment, hashtags allow you to participate in real-time discussions, share your perspective, and engage with users who are already tuned into the topic.
• Categorizing Content: Think of hashtags as a filing system for your social media content. If you run a podcast, using a consistent tag like #YourPodcastName allows you to create an easily searchable archive of all related posts for your listeners.
• Building Brand Campaigns: Branded hashtags are a classic way to build buzz and track user-generated content. A unique tag like Coca-Cola's famous #ShareACoke encourages participation and lets brands collect and showcase customer content all in one place.

The Mechanics: A Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a Hashtag

Adding a hashtag is straightforward, but getting the format right is essential for it to work. If it's not formatted correctly, it won't become a clickable link, and you'll miss out on all the benefits.

Step 1: Write Your Tweet

Open the X app or website and compose your message in the text box. This includes your text, any images, videos, links, or polls you want to share.

Step 2: Add the ‘#’ Symbol

Decide where you want to place your hashtag. It can be within the sentence itself for emphasis (e.g., "We're launching a new video series about #SEO for beginners!") or at the end of your post for clarity.

Step 3: Type Your Keyword or Phrase (No Spaces!)

Immediately after the ‘#’ symbol, type your keyword or phrase. This is the most important part: do not use spaces, punctuation, or special characters. Spaces will break the hashtag, and punctuation will end it.

• Correct: #SocialMediaTips
• Incorrect: #Social Media Tips (Only "#Social" would be a hashtag)
• Incorrect: #SocialMediaTips! (The exclamation point would not be part of the clickable link)

As you start typing, X will suggest existing hashtags. This is a great way to see how popular a tag is and to make sure you’re using the same one as everyone else.

An Example in Action:

Let's say you're a coffee shop posting about your new fall latte. Your post could look something like this:

“ Sweater weather is officially here! 🍂 Stop by and warm up with our new Spiced Maple Latte. It’s the perfect way to kick off the fall season. #SpicedLatte #FallVibes #LocalCoffee”

Each of those hashtags is now a gateway for users interested in those specific topics to find your post.

Beyond the Basics: Best Practices for an Effective Hashtag Strategy

Simply adding hashtags isn’t enough, using them strategically is what separates posts that get ignored from posts that drive engagement. Here’s how to choose the right ones.

1. Less Is More: Stick to 1-3 Relevant Hashtags

Unlike other platforms where more hashtags can sometimes mean more reach, X is all about conversation and brevity. A post crowded with a dozen hashtags looks spammy and is hard to read. It signals to users that you're shouting for attention rather than adding value. A study by Buddy Media found that tweets with hashtags get twice the engagement, but engagement actually starts to drop off when you use more than two.

The takeaway: Choose 1 to 3 highly relevant and specific hashtags per post for the best results.

2. Do Your Research: Don't Just Guess

The most effective hashtags are a blend of popular, niche, and branded terms. Don't just pick the first word that comes to mind. Take a few minutes to research.

• Broad/Popular Hashtags: These are high-volume tags like #Marketing or #Tech. They have a massive audience but are also incredibly competitive, meaning your post can get buried quickly. Use one for broad reach, but don’t rely solely on them.
• Niche/Community Hashtags: These are more specific, like #SaaSMarketing or #ShopifyDev. The audience is smaller, but they are far more targeted and engaged. This is often where you'll find your ideal audience and build real connections.
• Branded Hashtags: A hashtag unique to your business, like #PostbaseTips or an event like #PostbaseConf2024. It’s perfect for organizing your content and encouraging users to talk about you.
• Trending Hashtags: Check X’s “Trends for you” section to see what’s currently popular. If a trend is relevant to your brand, joining the conversation can give you a significant visibility boost. But be careful - only participate if you have something authentic to add.

3. Check the Context Before You Post

Before using any hashtag, especially a trending one, click on it and see how other people are using it. A seemingly innocent hashtag could be associated with a sensitive news story, a negative event, or a community you don't want your brand involved with. A quick two-minute search can save you from a major branding misstep.

4. Capitalize for Readability and Accessibility

While hashtags aren't case-sensitive (#SocialMedia and #socialmedia lead to the same feed), using capital letters for each word is a must-do for readability. This practice, often called CamelCase, makes the tag easier for everyone to read.

More importantly, it is crucial for accessibility. Screen reader software used by visually impaired individuals can read #DigitalMarketingTips as "Digital Marketing Tips," but it might pronounce #digitalmarketingtips as a single unintelligible word. Making your content accessible is not just good practice, it's smart and inclusive marketing.

Common Hashtag Mistakes You Need to Avoid

Learning what not to do is just as important as learning the best practices. Here are some of the most frequent errors that can hurt your visibility and brand reputation.

Mistake #1: Being Too Vague

Using a tag like #Business or #Today is too general. While it might get a few fleeting impressions, you're not reaching a targeted audience. Be specific. Instead of #Business, try #SmallBusinessTips. Instead of #Writing, try #AmWritingMystery.

Mistake #2: Hijacking an Irrelevant Trend

It's tempting to jump on the #1 trending topic to get eyeballs on your content, but if your post has nothing to do with the trend, you’ll just annoy people. Users see this as spammy and opportunistic, which can damage their trust in your brand. Your content should always provide value to the conversation you're joining.

Mistake #3: Using Really, Really Long Hashtags

X is about being concise. No one wants to read or type out #MyFavoriteGuideToCreatingContentForSocialMedia. It's difficult to read and looks messy. Keep your hashtags relatively short, memorable, and easy to spell.

Mistake #4: The Dreaded #Wall #of #Hashtags

We touched on this before, but it bears repeating. There's nothing that screams "amateur marketer" faster than a post that looks like this:

Check out our new blog post! #blog #marketing #newpost #content #read #socialmedia #business #growth #tips #strategy

This looks desperate and adds zero value. It dilutes your message and makes it harder for users to see what you're actually trying to say. One to three strong hashtags will always outperform ten weak ones.

Final Thoughts

Hashtags are more than just an afterthought, they are a fundamental part of making your content discoverable and engaging on X. By focusing on relevance, simplicity, and a little bit of research, you can move beyond just adding tags and start using them as a strategic tool to connect with the right audience and grow your brand one post at a time.

Keeping a content schedule consistent while also planning targeted hashtags for a mix of platforms can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why we built Postbase with a visual content calendar that lets you see your entire strategy in one place. By planning everything out in advance, from your core message to your hashtags, you can ensure every piece of content is perfectly tailored for each channel, helping you get your time back and focus on creating things your audience will love.