LaunchPad - INW

Spokane Regional Networking, Social Media, Professional and Business Development

#Hashtags

Good morning, everybody.

Since I started my job at the Journal of Business earlier this year, I've been using my Twitter account to tweet Inland Northwest business news as it comes across my desk. I also will include, from time to time, reader feedback that people may find interesting.

I'm comfortable with this approach, but I'd like some input on hashtags. Early on, I experimented with tagging #spokane and #spokanebusiness, as well as #spokane and #business separately. I've tried hashtagging the name of the business in question as well. In the end, I'm not sure I've found a hashtag strategy that is especially effective. Any advice?

Thanks,

Linn

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David McCauley on May 18, 2011 at 10:00am

Linn-

There are a lot of 'experts' out there, but I suggest you follow Guy Kawasaki (@GuyKawasaki) for a few days, and just do some research on his tweeting. 89000 tweets and 351,000 followers definetly makes him an expert at the tweet game.

Do some searching on his hash taging and you will find what you are looking for.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Dudley on May 18, 2011 at 12:21pm

Linn -

I often have the same issues. I tweet for Greater Spokane Incorporated, and often us #Spokane and #business separately. Sometimes, depending on the subject, I use other hash tags such as #cleantechnology, #economicdevelopment, #WALeg (Washington Legislature) and others. I always have to keep in mind the length and my audience, though, and who I want to see the tweet.

We also use #GMGS for our Good Morning Greater Spokane programs. It's been useful so people who aren't at the program can follow along. Again, it all depends on the subject.

Might also consider using a hash tag for the industry the company is in.

Hope this helps!

Permalink Reply by Josh Wade on May 18, 2011 at 1:30pm

Not that I am an expert, and I agree with David's suggestion to look to those that do it well for advice, but #hashtags are simply a way to aggregate similar information so people can easily get to it.

Some people use hashtags in silly ways like in this tweet "I just stubbed my toe on the corner of the couch #omgifeelstupid" The chances of others using this same hashtag as an aggregator are slim but they are fun and clever.

Hashtags are also useful to track events, as Kevin mentioned. Whenever we do a virtual wine tasting we make sure that participants are tweeting using something like #wamerlot. This allows everyone to see all the tweets regardless of if you are following people or not. One event even spawned the continual use of a hashtag even one year later, #wawine. I, and several others, set up permanent search streams for #wawine so we can stay informed of the happenings around the Washington wine industry.

For you, Linn, I think the best practice would be to tag terms like #spokane or specific industry. This allows you to get your message out to a broader audience who is monitoring those conversations and would potentially retweet your message.

One caution, just don't let your #tweets #end #up #looking #like #this - that gets a little #annoying :) #justsaying

Thanks for opening this great discussion.

Josh

@nectarwine on Twitter

Nectar Tasting Room

Permalink Reply by Linn Parish on May 18, 2011 at 1:48pm

#thanksjosh

#whenyourerightyoureright

No, seriously, thanks for the advice, everybody. I hadn't thought about tagging by industry. That's a great idea. And a simple #spokane at the end would reach people who don't think of themselves as business readers, but who might benefit from the information.

Kevin, we could collude to make #spokanebusiness a legit hashtag. Let's concoct a plan.

Permalink Reply by Josh Wade on May 18, 2011 at 2:25pm

#omg, you just used the word collude, you are really a #nerdjournalist aren't you?

Permalink Reply by Ryan Arnold on May 18, 2011 at 3:25pm

I'd be up for colluding and concocting .....I think #spokanebusiness would be useful as a hashtag separate from #spokane. As someone mentioned, you don't want to get too specific or it's a pointless aggregate tool, and on the other side, casting too wide a net is equally unhelpful.

I guess the best thing I can offer right now is to start using it, and see if we can't together create a ripple and hope it turns into a wave.

Ryan

@RyanSArnold

Permalink Reply by Doyle Wheeler on May 23, 2011 at 2:00pm