How to Best Capitalize on

Using Hashtags

If you use Twitter, which most marketers do, the letters that

preceed the # sign in a tweet are known as hastags. These hashtags

are used to increase Twitter results, and here are a few tips on how to

maximize their use.

First, interestingly enough, Twitter didn’t actually invent hastags,

rather, a user did, more pointedly, Chris Messina. He envisioned a way for different people to follow other

users with similar interests. The identifying marker was the letters

after the # sign.

They can be used to group tweets into a category or to add originality to a tweet. The latter is why most

individuals use hashtags.

For example, a person looking to follow the happenings of Japan Earthquakes that took place last year could get up to the minute

information long after traditional media outlets moved on to other

stories. With a simple Japan earthquake hashtag, as much info

as possible was easy to get.

Of course, research is best in the decision to use hastags. You need to

make sure that if it’s a marketing campaign, you’re not using a

hashtag that is already going for another event or that may have

nothing to do with your product or service. This could end up being

either wildly inappropriate or downright embarrassing, or

perhaps both.

Here are 5 tips you need to consider

when using hashtags on Twitter.

Use hashtags to monitor public opinions during a conference or

seminars. You, as an organizer, can gauge how attendees are enjoying or not enjoying themselves. It also can allow people to easily submit

questions or comments on the event as well.

Getting Event Feedback

Thanks to research from Klout, a typical tweet has a 5 hour window

where it can be its most effective at creating word of mouth results for a

product or service. By using a hashtag, studies have shown this can significantly increase the life

span of your tweets.

Reaching Out to Potential Customers

It’s easy to be long winded, but well thought out hashtags should say all

they need to in as little as one to possibly two words at the most. In some situations, you’ll need a long

hash tag to establish a category. However, in most cases, the shorter,

the better.

Brevity is Key

Your hash tag will be your calling card. People looking for your posts

will often find you via a hashtag. So, once you start using it, always use it. In addition, don’t choose your

company or brand name for a hashtag.

Be Consistent

If the people want to follow your company’s tweets, they can find them on your company’s Twitter

account. Adding this as a hashtag is just unnecessary repeated

information.

Lastly, don’t forget how to use the basics of marketing as it relates to

hashtags. Yes, you’ll want to do research to find a hashtag that isn’t already in use, and you’ll certainly

want to try out your hashtag marketing ideas out before rolling

them out to the general public.

A Strong Marketing Basics Foundation

And there is little doubt you’ll want a contingency plan in the event your

hashtag campaign doesn’t go according to plan. But, most

importantly is to understand who hashtags are for.

Hashtags are used by regular people, not primarily by advertising

or marketing types. By understanding this, sticking with the

tips mentioned above, and a little creativity, you and your business could benefit greatly from using

hastags in twitter postings.