First things first, what are hashtags? Simply put, they are keywords or phrases used in Tweets to do the following: describe the content of the tweet and generate attention, buzz, and/or a following in their own respective conversations/tweets. Hashtags are important because they allow your tweet to be seen by not only your followers, but by other accounts that search for your hashtag or topic via the platform.
In a social media marketing context, hashtags are essential to engaging and gaining followers. A great example of this is on BET’s @106andpark show. The show boasts an impressive 4.5 million followers that respond eagerly to their live show hashtags. This method gains such a positive response because it’s fun and allows followers to be creative. Interested in more tips? Below is a list of Dos and Don’ts when using Twitter hashtags in your marketing efforts:
DO…
- Use hashtags for big events or conferences. What better way to have a large group of people connect? Make sure to advertise via different media outlets (posters, emails, texts) so everyone’s aware.
- Make your hashtag the most obvious word or phrase. The easier it is for your audience to find or interact with you, the more response you’ll get.
- Be careful when participating in news-related hashtags. It’s a great way to gain exposure since there are many participants, however, if not done tastefully (i.e. play on words for serious events concerning death, etc.) it can be a PR nightmare. Don’t follow in the footsteps of Kenneth Cole and Entenmann’s.
- Respond to tweets using your hashtag. Retweet and reply – it will engage and encourage users to continue to promote your cause.
DON’T…
- #Hashtag #every #word #in #your #tweet. In fact, it’s best to keep your hashtag limit to two or less. Overuse can annoy your followers and in turn, limit the response you get.
- Use a hashtag that has another meaning. This is especially important when using an acronym for an event. Make sure to research your hashtag before deciding to use it.
- Use overly long hashtags. Twitter’s unofficial motto could be “less is more”. With only 140 characters to get your point across, you want to make it easy for your followers to engage and also leave room for their thoughts when tweeting and retweeting.
- Use words that are difficult to spell. If it’s easy to misspell your hashtag, typing errors could mistakenly bury it. Simplicity is key.
Hashtags are a great way to connect with your followers and take your social outreach even further. Remember these simple rules when utilizing hashtags in your Twitter marketing strategy to use them to their full potential.
What’s your favorite hashtag? Share with us below!
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