A Crash Course in Hashtags

Content hashtags 

Content hashtags are common hashtags that are related to your post content.

Content hashtags improve the SEO of your posts. They get your updates seen by consumers who are searching for, or using, the hashtag words.

Here are a few categories of common hashtags, for example:

·         product hashtags

·         lifestyle hashtags

·         event hashtags

·         location hashtags

Product hashtags

People search for common product tags. They use them too. When you create posts about the client’s products, think like them- use hashtags that connect both the product and their market.  

Example:

If the client owns a coffee shop, post images of their lattes using the #latte hashtag. Here’s the #Latte feed on Instagram:

You could also use common tags like #caffeinefix or #latteart.

Lifestyle hashtags

People want to connect with people who have common lifestyles. To market to the client’s audience, think about their demographics’ lifestyle and hobbies. Then seek out well used hashtags to include in a few of your updates.

Example:

Discount Tackle Online uses common hashtags like #trout and #flyfishing on Google+. The post shows up in both hashtags streams, which gets their update seen by people who follow the fish related tags, or even search for them on the site.

Event Hashtags

Event-based hashtags can be good to include in a content update. An event could be anything from a local community fair, to a well-known global celebration, to a live product launch or a live webinar the client is hosting online.

Example:

Here’s how Williams Sonoma tells their Facebook Fans about a local charity event they’re attending. They use the event hashtag of #FeastPDX to support the cause, and promote it with partners through social sites:

Location hashtags

If the client is a locally based business, they need to connect with their local customers. Use specific geo-targeted hashtags to get your business known in your city.

For example, if the client is a local shop owner, use the hashtag of their. Those updates will be seen by their local customers.

Example:

Large companies use location based hashtags too. BP Alaska uses this tactic on Twitter. They use #Fairbanks to connect with the locals in Fairbanks, Alaska:

Tips for how you can use common hashtags:

·         Find common hashtags by check out what tags are being used by your followers, your competition and your product partners.

·         Engage with people using related common hashtags - whether it’s a retweet on Twitter, a Like on Facebook, a comment on Instagram, and so on.

·         Don’t ‘spam’ your posts with tons of common (or any) hashtags - this makes you look ‘salesy’ and does not instill trust with your consumer.

Taken from: http://blog.wishpond.com/post/62253333766/3-key-hashtag-strategies-how-to-market-your-business

Some additional thoughts on Hashtags:

Keep it simple and consistent. 

When crafting hashtags for your own tweets, it's important to keep a couple rules of thumb in mind. First, keep your tags simple and direct. In a tweet about your latest blog post, which explains your company's use of finance apps, don't create a long, complex hashtag. Pair the tweet with hashtags like #apps and #SmallBiz, versus #SmallBusinessAppsandTools. Overly complicated hashtags like these are neither search-friendly nor commonly used, so your tweet will get buried quickly.

Secondly, don't weigh your tweets down with excessive hashtags. Not only will including too many hashtags make your tweet difficult to read, it can make you seem desperate for attention. Twitter recommends using no more than 2 hashtags per tweet in order to most effectively relay your thoughts. If your intention is to be thorough, a thoughtful, precise selection of 1-2 hashtags per tweet works. If you must use multiple hashtags in a single tweet, separate them by at least several words.

Write First, Tag Second Twitter is defined as a micro-blogging platform. Keep this technical definition in mind as you strive to produce original, innovative content. Tweets which a written as a vehicle for industry-related hashtags have little value for follower engagement. Write your tweet first and add hashtags second in order to ensure each of the 140 characters packs the maximum punch. If you are wondering how to use hashtags, remember to enhance the tweet, not define it.

Know the In-Crowd Carefully examine the popularity of a hashtag by searching for it on Twitter or HootSuite before launching a tweet. If you are hoping to inspire engagement among your fans or initiate sincere dialogue, a popular saying can act as an invitation to outsiders. While popular hashtags serve a distinct purpose, original hashtags are often the best bet for engagement in a closed group. If you are curating content or hoping to gain attention by discussing a hot topic, check out trending hashtags to ensure you receive the most mileage possible. Popularity is a critical part of how to use hashtags.

Be Sensitive While using trending hashtags about current events to bring attention to your brand can be tempting,avoid insensitive hijacking of serious dialogue. You should never take advantage of tragic current events to gain new followers. Joining the conversation is almost always acceptable, but self-interested hijacking is not how to use hashtags.

Think Like A Dromedary Hashtags are difficult to read, so be sure and use CamelCase. Capitalizing the first letter of each separate word is how to use hashtags for maximum readability. If you are discussing #inboundmarketing, try adding some capitol letters to achieve a more readable #InboundMarketing hashtag.

Taken from: http://www.inboundmarketingagents.com/inbound-marketing-agents-blog/bid/176549/Twitter-Tips-A-Beginner-s-Guide-to-Hashtag-Etiquette