---
title: "On Twitter Do You Know Your Hashtags From Your Mentions?"
url: "https://indigotree.co.uk/insights/on-twitter-do-you-know-your-hashtags-from-your-mentions/"
markdown_url: "https://indigotree.co.uk/insights/on-twitter-do-you-know-your-hashtags-from-your-mentions.md"
date_published: "2014-06-10T06:51:23+01:00"
date_modified: "2023-09-22T12:05:30+01:00"
author: "Louise Towler"
featured_image: "https://indigotree.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/hashtags.png"
featured_image_alt: "Twitter logo with the word #hashtags"
categories:
  - "Digital Marketing"
tags:
  - "Hashtag"
  - "Social Networking"
  - "Twitter"
description: "Twitter hashtags # hashtag is like a category, so when you use #hashtag in a tweet it becomes a link to all tweets that also use the same #hashtag in a steam. So why use a hashtag? Well if lots of…"
---

# On Twitter Do You Know Your Hashtags From Your Mentions?

## Twitter hashtags

\# hashtag is like a category, so when you use #hashtag in a tweet it becomes a link to all tweets that also use the same #hashtag in a steam.

### So why use a hashtag?

Well if lots of people use the same hashtag when talking about something their tweets will appear in the same stream. In that way, Twitter hashtags help conversations and if a particular word is used a lot as a hashtag it may even become a trending topic.

### Top tips for twitter hashtags

1. Before using a new twitter hashtag check if it is a new one? Use the twitter or hootsuite search tool and make sure other people using this hashtag are talking about a the same topic as you
2. Careful of spelling, spaces are not included and make sure you leave a space between the hashtag and any punctuation such as commas
3. Keep it short, so any hashtags on the end do not make the tweet too long to retweet

## Twitter mentions

**@** is used to identify another twitter user in a tweet, for example @ltconsulting . When the username has @ added at the beginning it becomes a link to that users twitter profile.

If someone uses your twitter username in a tweet this is a *mention*, and depending on your notification settings you can be sent a text / email when this happens.

### So why mention other twitter users?

- You can direct attention to a specific person/user, and are a good way to give another person recognition and recommend others to follow them
- Can be a great ways to get noticed by another Twitter user, everyone likes to see who is talking about us!
- Are used to start discussions and are an easy way to continue a back and forth conversation

## Other useful Twitter terms

**DM – Direct Message**, if you send a DM only you and the recipient can view the message so they are private.

**RT – Retweet**, when you forward another persons tweet to all your twitter followers.