What has Susan Boyle got to do with a post about hashtags? It’s a tale of caution. But let’s go back to the beginning to understand how and why hashtags were invented. And, since we’re thinking about songwriters, here’s a tune about the history of hashtags.

OK, so now you understand how and why hashtags were invented, be prepared to adapt as the platforms evolve. Case in point: Twitter’s wall of shame, which nominated Susan Boyle’s hashtag, #susanalbumparty, number one. Let your eyes get blurry and rearrange the words, and you will see how important it is to do this before you post (or to use a hyphen or two).