#NCWine – Our Consistent Brand

Hashtags are all over social media. They’re even in every day conversation. They’re used to identity messages/posts of the same type. But why is that important? How are they “made”? We’re going to explore that bit and help you learn why you need to use them in EVERY social media post.

As we’ve already stated, hashtags are primarily used to make searching for social media posts easier. You can find like posts more quickly. You can find others to follow more quickly. Others can find you more easily. You can join a conversation. Hashtags are often used for “chatting” online. This is particularly true on Twitter. Follow a hashtag, and you can follow a conversation.

Hashtags are also used to denote trending topics on social media. Social media users are often drawn to trending topics. It generates excitement and interest. Plus, it’s free! They are great marketing tools!

So, how do you build a good hashtag? You should start with something that is short and meaningful. This is especially critical on Twitter since there’s a character limit. The hashtag should be easy to read. Its meaning should be easy to discern.

How does all of this apply to North Carolina wine? It’s all about promotion and online presence. It’s about working together and creating a consistent identity for North Carolina wine. It’s all about #NCWine!

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Please use hashtags in ALL of your social media posts.
• Please use hashtag #NCWine in ALL of your posts!
  • We need a clear, concise standard.
  • We need a hashtag that aligns with the standard for other wine regions. No ‘s’ on the end PLEASE!
  • We need a consistent brand.
• If you’re in an AVA, please use a standard for each AVA. We don’t recommend adding AVA to the end. It’s more characters that really aren’t needed. We suggest the following:
  • #YadkinValley
  • #HawRiverValley
  • #SwanCreek
  • #UpperHiwassee
  • #AppHighCountry
• Create a short and concise hashtag for your brand.
  • Use it with every post on every social media outlet.
  • Encourage its use in your tasting room, etc.
• Other hashtags to consider:
  • #GotToBeNC – Consistent brand for products from NC.
  • #drinklocal – The local movement is big right now. Capitalize on that!
• Other things to consider:
  • If it’s a holiday or special event, find a way to post using that hashtag (e.g. #NationalWineDay, #WineWednesday etc.).
  • #wine, #winetasting #winedinner are other good hashtags to use if they apply.
  • On Twitter, use them anywhere in your post. On Facebook and Instagram, use them (typically) at the end of your post.
  • Phrases or sentences should not be turned into hashtags. They’re often difficult to read.
  • Case doesn’t matter, but sometimes capitalizing letters can make the hashtag easier to read.

To summarize, please use hashtags in EVERY social media post. And ALWAYS leave room for the #NCWine hashtag.

If you need more advice on hashtags, send us a note. We’re happy to discuss!

Cheers!