For some time now, everywhere you look Facebook marketing has taken over. From commercials, to websites and even on products in the store. Facebook pages have become the way to reach audiences online.

Have you noticed an increase in the use of hashtags? Boy, I have!

Now, you see the number symbol (#) with a custom phrase or word taking the place of Facebook page urls. The other social media giant, Twitter is home to the hashtag that is making it’s way into homes worldwide.

Recently I’ve been seeing promotions on many of my favorite television shows to follow discussions or post opinion using a custom phrase or word. For example, I like to watch the A&E show, Duck Dynasty. It is a show about a “redneck” family from Monroe, La. that built an empire on making duck calls. In the promotional commercials leading up to the new season they are implementing a lot of catchy hashtag phrases to follow on Twitter.

The Advocate is also using this new marketing method to promote news at #advocate360, sports at #360sports and video at #360video. So if you go on twitter and search one of these hashtags, it will filter all the posts made that included that tag. It’s kind of like a keyword search, but with a twist. We here at the Advocate always look to try something new and this makes it easy to find a specific topic that was posted via Twitter.

So, if you don’t have a Twitter account yet, go create one! Just like Facebook they are a great outlet to update your status (what you are doing). Not to mention, you can follow me @clintonjrandall and of course the Advocate for all your latest news @advocate360. Also, check out my columns each month using the hashtag #techtalk.

Clinton Randall is the Webmaster of advocate360.org and can be reached by email at clintonrandall@civitasmedia.com. You can find him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/clintonrandall or follow him on Twitter @clintonjrandall. His column, Tech Talk, discusses all aspects of the technology world. Viewpoints expressed in this column are solely those of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.