X/Twitter Glossary
A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by # that makes your post discoverable in searches for that topic.
Hashtags group content around topics. When you include #marketing in a post, that post becomes findable by anyone searching for #marketing. Hashtags were invented on Twitter in 2007 and became central to the platform. However, their effectiveness has changed over time. Today, X's algorithm is sophisticated enough to categorize content by topic without hashtags. Hashtags are now most useful for specific use cases: joining organized conversations (#ChatGPT), events (#SuperBowl), or movements (#BlackLivesMatter).
Hashtags used to be essential for discovery. Today, they're less critical but still have uses. Over-hashtagging looks spammy and can hurt engagement. Under-using them might mean missing some search discoverability. The key is strategic use: relevant hashtags for genuine topical participation, not keyword stuffing. The algorithm now understands content context well enough that hashtags aren't required for discovery.
Poaster's Trending Topics shows you which hashtags are currently gaining traction in your niche.
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