For investors, social media is a powerful tool. It keeps them abreast of the global financial markets by providing access to the latest breaking news, educational resources and thought-provoking content. One of the best ways to invest your time on social media is to search for hashtags, which can help you quickly identify messages, users and resources pertaining to a certain topic.
Twitter is probably the most popular platform for hashtags, especially those pertaining to finance. If you’re a financial professional, trader or just interested in the markets, this is one of the platforms you can use to identify relevant topics to broaden your knowledge.
I’ve gone through the Twittersphere and identified some of the top financial hashtags. Search for these keywords if you’re ever in the mood for financial content. Who knows, you might even meet some like-minded people or come across a great financial writer who really speaks to you.
#NYSE, #NASDAQ
These hashtags are useful if you’re looking for market news related to a particular exchange, including information on a particular company. Investors looking for a quick summary of financial activity or corporate earnings will find these hashtags particularly helpful.
#Stocks
There’s nothing like a #stocks hashtag if you’re craving something finance-related without knowing exactly what you’re looking for. This hashtag will no doubt give you a massive list of investing information on specific companies and markets. If you’re looking for an alternative to Bitcoin (Alternativen zu Bitcoin), a tip on upcoming stocks, or long threads discussing the many aspects of investing then there’s no limit to where this hashtag can lead you.
#USD
Currency traders will love this one. The US dollar (USD for short) is the world’s most actively traded currency. As of April 2013, it was on one side of 87% of all trades. If you search for the USD, you’re more likely to get relevant real-time information about the biggest news items in the forex market. Before you click Enter, you will also see other USD-related news below your main search item, which gives you a good idea of other trending items in the global forex market.
#WarrenBuffett
Nothing says finance better than the Oracle of Omaha. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Warren Buffett is considered the most successful investor of all-time. According to the latest Forbes 400 list, he’s the second richest person in the world, behind only Bill Gates. If you’re ever on Twitter and need inspiration, search for Mr. Buffett. He’s trending all the time. You may also want to follow his Twitter handle @WarrenBuffett, which had more than 1.1 million followers as of January 2016.
#IPO
In the world of finance, initial public offerings (IPOs) are a really big deal. If you recall, global online ecommerce company Alibaba Holdings Group (NYSE: BABA) successfully launched the world’s biggest IPO on September 18, 2014, raising a whopping $21.8 billion. A few days later, underwriters sold more shares, bringing the total IPO to $25 billion. As you can imagine, the Twittersphere blew up for days.
#Apple, #Tesla, #Facebook
Certain stocks are more closely followed than others. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPLY) Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) are just a few of the stocks that are trending often. For a complete list of which stocks are trending on social media, visit the top page of stocktwits.com.
#economy
This is a great hashtag for learning more about the economic and fundamental factors impacting the world of finance. The markets are especially sensitive to economic news these days. Traders and other financial professionals who like to be informed about current events will find this hashtag especially useful.
#personalfinance
Is buying a home always better than renting? Are you saving enough for retirement? Should you buy stocks or bonds? Search for #personalfinance or related hashtags like #financialadvice to get the answers. Honestly, there are so many great resources on Twitter that it should be the very first place you look when seeking advice about personal finance.
#401k, #retirement
Hashtags about retirement fall under the broader umbrella of personal finance, but we separated them to demonstrate the importance of saving for retirement. Even if you live outside the United States, searching #401k can provide you with a wealth of information about how to prepare for your golden years. You can also read articles from around the web pertaining to this very topic.
#Millennial
We’ve already established that Twitter is great for baby boomers and others looking to save for retirement. It’s even better for Millennials who grew up with social media. If you’re looking for a specific type of investment advice geared toward a younger demographic or are just interested in learning about the opportunities and challenges faced by Millennials, this is a hashtag you should use often.
#debt
Rising personal debt levels is one of the biggest challenges facing society. This hashtag provides trending news pertaining to government budgets, household debt relative to income, student debt and many other topics. You’ll also see a bunch of sponsored ads from financial institutions, tax services and other companies looking to help consumers manage their debt burden.
Others
There are many other hashtags in the world of finance that get a lot of attention around certain events and news releases. Take for example the #WEF16 hashtag that followed the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting at the start of 2016. Several major media outlets covering the events used #WEF16 to inform readers about the meetings, including highlights, recaps and discussion points. Other common hashtags that occur around key events and news releases are #Fed (US Federal Reserve), #GDP (national report on gross domestic product), #Draghi (European Central Bank President Mario Draghi) and many others.
When used correctly, social media is an incredibly powerful tool for gathering information. Using the right financial hashtags can ensure you get the right information when you need it, especially timely news events and economic data releases.
If you plan on trading the financial markets, also plan on being active on social media. Think of your social media handle and financial hashtags as a way to gain insights about the market and meet new people who share your views and passions. Just make sure to steer clear of Kim Kardashian and Miley Ray Cyrus. After all, some things just aren’t meant for investors!
Did you find my article helpful? Please share and feel free to tweet me @Charli_Says . Interested in social media for financial organisations? Check out “How To be Great At Social Media For Financial Services” or contact me