A hashtag makes it easy to find and connect with others all around the world based on a specific search term, so their use is gaining in popularity on most forms of social media. Even though they can easily go viral and generate a lot of traffic for your nonprofit, care must be taken before adopting someone else’s trending hashtag.

After all, once you link your charity to a specific hashtag and put it “out there,” you no longer have control of either the meaning or the reach of the message. Keep the following tips in mind when creating and using hashtags to help you get the results that you want.

Words Have Meaning – Research First

Regardless of the language or dialect, many words can have several meanings, some of which could be offensive or inflammatory. So be careful to do your homework first and research all of the different meanings that others might attach to a specific set of words before you use them in your hashtag campaign.

Keep it Short, Direct and on Target

One of the many reasons why hashtags are so powerful is that they can sum up the thoughts, opinions and emotions of a group in just one to three short words.  When crafting a hashtag for your nonprofit, avoid using too many words and characters and try to narrow the focus to one specific idea. While the meaning of short clichés is often easily understood, you may wish to avoid using them as they are more apt to spread widely and eventually take on meanings that are completely unrelated to your organisation’s values and mission.

Take the Time to Double Check Consistency with Brand Image

It’s certainly a good idea to use versions of themes that you are already using in your campaigns and other communications, especially if your nonprofit already has a popular and well known slogan. Regardless of which words that you choose for your hashtag, be careful to use words with meanings that reflect well on your organisation and are consistent with your brand. Using words to create short and unique phrases can help you to avoid terms that might come to take on negative double meanings once they are shared.

Hashtags have the power to start conversations and raise awareness about your nonprofit’s mission and goals with people all over the world. When used correctly, hashtags create unity among individuals from vastly different backgrounds and promote positive and proactive change.  Taking some time to research your terms while crafting your hashtag will help you to avoid potential pitfalls that might damage your nonprofit’s reputation and results.