Posted February 3, 2014

Obtaining instant social information has become as easy as the click of a button. That button is the hashtag or #.

For example, yesterday, people from all over the world had their eyes fixed on Super Bowl XLVIII. Before, during and even after the event, there was no need to Google for up-to-date information.

Simply grab your phone, open your favourite Twitter or Instagram app and search #superbowl.

It has slowly but surely become an instant tool, not just for information about a certain topic; but current, social, conversational information about that topic. Even Facebook had to join the hashtag craze this past year.

Hashtags are here to stay.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of joining the Calgary Young Life crew for their Super Bowl Party at Bow Valley Christian Church. During the entire event, the crowd of teens were connecting through the hashtag #ylsuperbowl. There were also a few trivia prizes thrown in via hashtag responses.

At one point, I saw that a Young Life club in Boston started using the same hashtag and therefore, started appearing in the feed. During my youth group days, there was no way we were connecting to another youth group in Boston during an event!

That’s the power of the #hashtag.

I’m currently working on an hip-hop event within my full-time ministry gig. The event is titled “Hip-Hop On 64th” which will feature 2 local youth MCs, The Blue and Notebook. As well as live hip-hop, we hope to host break dance and beat-box competitions. It should be a good event; but only if we can generate some social buzz.

I hope to capture some of that buzz using the hashtag, #hiphopon64th. How have hashtags successfully promoted your church or ministry event? What were those hashtags and how did you use them?