How to use #hashtags effectively on #Twitter
Hashtags are all over the place on Twitter. When they are used correctly, they can help make your tweets easier to find in searches and help boost your visibility. This article from Search Engine Land mentions a few reasons why hashtags should be part of your social media strategy, of which this is probably the most important:
“Hashtags not only allow for an easy way for others and those involved to keep track of the conversation, but they also allow more exposure for the hashtag itself””by being included in a user’s tweet, his or her followers will see the hashtag and this may cause them to start participating in the conversation.”
Hashtags have the potential to help your tweets (and therefore your brand) get a lot of attention, but you have to be very careful. It’s important for businesses to remember that they can’t just hop onboard with a trending hashtag without careful consideration. If you aren’t careful, you could end up looking insensitive and unprofessional.
A recent example of this is the now infamous Entenmann’s blunder. The company’s Twitter account posted a tweet featuring the hashtag #notguilty, about indulging in treats. What they failed to realize is that the very same #notguilty hashtag was being used by Twitter users to discuss the controversial Casey Anthony verdict. Oops. As you can imagine, what followed was days of apologies and bad press. While it may have been an honest mistake, it certainly did some damage.
Hashtags should definitely be part of your Twitter strategy and can really help you get noticed, especially if you are creating your own. If you’re looking to jump onboard with an existing hashtag, just remember to research and carefully consider if it is actually relevant to your brand.
Have hashtags worked for you, or have you had an experience where they have backfired on you? Please share your experiences with us in the comments.
