Eli Rose Social Media specializes in helping small businesses optimize their online presence. They offer everything from search engine optimization to easy to understand training to ongoing social media management. Every Tuesday, they offer insights to the readers of Little Indiana on how to use the internet and social media to build their online brand. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Little IndianaSo, now that you love Twitter because you know how to chat, let’s talk about how to use hashtags. Hashtags are one of the elements that can make Twitter seem intimidating but really, they are really helpful search tools. Knowing how to use them properly can optimize your business for Twitter, help you find relevant people to follow and make Twitter even MORE fun.

Twitter let’s you to search based on hashtags. When I first joined Twitter, I thought there was a list of all possible hashtags out there. This is not true: you can make any hashtag you’d like. #ThisCouldBeAHashtag.

There is a way to properly use hashtags though. Picking a hashtag too broad and you may get lost in the crowd. However, if your hashtag is too specific or complex, it may be unlikely that anyone ever finds you.

How to Use Hashtags on Twitter

Keep these four things in mind when choosing the right hashtag.

  1. Don’t always be Generic If you’re trying to promote your new line of goods, tagging your tweet #Goods or #ConsumerGoods isn’t really that helpful. You need to get specific. If you sell nail polish, you might consider hashtags like #manicure #cosmetics or #nailpolish instead.
  2. Be Memorable Let’s say your company were named Eli Rose Social Media and you had an event at Inlumi Café and Bakery, one might consider the hashtag ERSMInlumi to track the social media impact of the event. It combines the names of both businesses without using many characters. Still, no one is going to remember that hashtag and it is prime for people to make typos. Hashtags need to be easy to remember.
  3. Your Business Name is Not a Hashtag When explaining hashtags to my husband, he quickly began to tag all his tweets CTD, reflecting his business name and Twitter account Crush the Dow. This is unnecessary as the tweets already come from you. People know the tweets are coming from Crush the Dow. Make sure your hashtags are not redundant as it removes all benefit they have.
  4. Use Short Hashtags Occasionally you’ll see a hashtag that goes on for nearly 140 characters. For social media promotion, these hashtags don’t work. They can be confusing to read, they are not search friendly, they take up a ton of valuable characters in your tweet. Plus, they can really frustrate your users.

Stand Out on Twitter

Hashtags are a great way to differentiate yourself in the marketplace and find like minded people. Just be sure they’re working in your favor.

Interested in learning more? Head on over to Eli Rose Social Media or follow them on them on Facebook or Twitter.

Just don’t forget to tell them that Little Indiana sent you.

Targeted. Relevant. Affordable! Little Indiana advertising.