Attending social media networking groups is a lot of fun. I attend about 7 per month at the moment. Well, some are social media and some are more techy than social or media. Anyway. I have noticed a lot of the same questions come up from folks who are relatively new or who are excited to learn more. So I thought it might be helpful to answer some of those as they come up. This is the first one.

Twitter hashtag

A hashtag on Twitter is the pound sign or “#” key. So you might write, or ‘tweet’ #SEOMOZ if you wanted to make sure someone who follow SEOMOZ information might be able to find your. Something like

‘Gosh #SEOMOZ is so helpful for improving my #SEO know-how’

or

An example of a twitter hashtag "#" on twitter

Writing with Twitter hashtag

So when you are tweeting (writing something on twitter) you use the twitter hashtag to help other people search/find your tweet regarding the particular subject.

Reading with Twitter hashtag

When you are reading tweets it helps you know what the tweet is about if your attention span is so short or time so pressed that you cannot read all 140 characters you can skim the hashtags  like #SEO or #hubspot.

Researching with Twitter hastag

You can also use the twitter hashtag for researching a person, event or subject by searching using the word with the hashtag in front of it.

Further reading on twitter hashtags and how to use twitter hashtags

How are you  using the twitter hashtag?

LinkedIN is a professional online networking tool. Euphamistically referred to as the Facebook for the 22+ crowd. Linked in allows you to post a resume, search for a job, find people looking for jobs, review recommendations of people you know and trust who have hired someone you might be thinking of hiring. LinkedIN can be a outstanding business resource.

Depending on your needs, if you feel the need to journal your life, it might be better to simply buy and use a paper diary. Be sure to get the kind with a good lock too.

If you want to tell someone you had a great cup of coffee at Starbucks, Blackdog, Scooters or The Moose and Squirrel, in the hopes that someone else might like to find a place that makes the perfect 16oz cafe mocha with soy, no whip, then you might want to blog about it. Or maybe send a tweet. I know my wife would like it if there was a twitter network for the Johnson County Starbucks drive through lines as to where the slow lines are and where the “A” crew is located that day. Really. She would.

My friends, Jeff and Serena, turned me onto BlackDog Cafe in Lenexa. Jeff likes the coffee there and the music too. I like the coffee there. My wife and I went with our daughter Kate. We did not get to really listen to the music. So don’t just say, Wow – Great cup of Coffee – Say I had a great time at BlackDog Cafe and enjoyed my Soy No Whip Mocha.

I may have to start a Facebook Group for the Johnson County Kansas Starbucks Drive Through Line Alliance of  Twitters.

You can use Facebook in a variety of ways

• post photos
• make jokes
• search for friends you lost touch with (remember when your hard drive crashed and you lost your electronic address book?)
• connect with people with similar interests.
• Share videos
• find and join political causes
• bring awareness to a cause
• talk about a product or service you love or hate
• get an education from folks who like to share their ideas and experience

Facebook is an online interactive networking site where people can connect with friends both new and old. You can discuss what is going on in your life, what is going on in their life, share photos and or videos, make jokes and generally have a good time.

You can check out facebook at www.facebook.com