According to Urban Dictionary, a hashtag whore is someone who puts a hashtag in front of almost every word in their Twitter post. Their mission: getting as much attention as possible. Know what? It doesn’t work, people! This is THE ultimate “spray-and-pray” for marketing.
Your tweets and social media posts should be treated like pieces in a chess game. Each has a strategic purpose and reason for being used. Ask yourself this question: would you rather have a post that could be seen by several or several thousand, or a post that strategically targets people looking for the type of product or service you offer?
Tip #1: Make A Strategy. Most business owners I talk to may know who their target market is, but not how to reach them. Part of your marketing plan has to include a communications strategy, and that has to include both printed and online methods. Part of this plan has to include the content they want to find that will solve their problem. AND, this part has to include what hashtags they are using to find your content.
Tip #2: Research Delivery. Discover how others in your target market’s industry like to be communicated with, how they want (and expect) to receive it. Email? Presentation folder? LinkedIn post? Outside a social media platform, a hashtag can be used to help brand the business name, product or service, or a special event or cause. Find out also which mediums you cannot use a hashtag.
Tip #3: Research The Tag. Most hashtags I see used look like they were just thrown together with no thought behind them. As I research these tags on Hashtags.org (my favorite haunt!), I usually find a “flatline” for these tags – no one is using them or talking about them. Give some thought to what you’re tagging; research through sites like Hashtags.org to confirm their usefulness and conversations.
Tip #4: Check The Trends. Don’t post a trending hashtag (or respond to one) without first checking to see why it’s trending. Twitter shows you the latest trends in conversation and hashtags on the left side of your feed. Click on the tag you want to use and see what everyone’s saying about it. You will be saving yourself both time and possible embarrassment.
Tip #5: Search Using Google and Twitter. You can search more than conversations, especially through Twitter. You can search images, videos, live conversations, and best of all — what Twitter accounts are using that particular tag! Think there could be a few people to follow? Oh, yeah.
Tip #6: Don’t Hijack A Tag. You finally found a hashtag you feel is relevant to your business but someone else is using it. Check how it’s being used before you decide to make a post with it. Trying to capitalize on a trending tag that has nothing to do with you will ensure the Twitterverse never lets you hear the end of it. On the positive, catching the wave of a trending hashtag that does apply to your business or industry will get you tons of eyeballs. Make sure you check it out first.
Tip #7: #Don’t #Tag #Every #Word (or almost every). I see this practice often on Pinterest, most notably those with accounts at Etsy. While you might think this makes you appear smarter than the rest of us, it backfires huge by demonstrating you didn’t practice the above information.
Keep an eye on your hashtags, and keep the ROE from removing your ROI.
What’s the best hashtag use you’ve seen in any media platform? What’s the worst? Share below in the comments, and please, folks, keep it civil and clean.
Be strategic. Be visible. Be found.
