Using a Hashtag/Pound sign/Number sign (#) in your
post or Tweet will help make your comments searchable on several social media
sites in much the same way using Meta-tags in a web-site’s HTML code makes them
pop up for internet search engines. Hashtags are used extensively on Twitter,
Instagram, Google-plus, Pinterest, Tumbler and Facebook to join in specific
conversations, help promote a post, or even just to add humor to a Tweet. domains
When you post anything for promotional purposes, you should always utilize tags
and/or hashtags (some web-site domains and blogging sites allow you to enter
search terms when posting).
Choose key words in
your message. Put the # symbol in
front of a single or group of words (NO spaces) and this will create a searchable
link that will both add it to a theme if clicked on directly or will bring it
up when others search that term. The tagged word can either be a part of the
message or added at the end (an example Tweet: Do you believe in #Karma? ~or~ Do
you believe in Karma? #karma). Anyone searching the word Karma on Twitter will
find this message in the results.
Hashtags do not recognize spaces, punctuation marks, special
characters, or graphics. Remember to write your hashtag without any spaces –
this means the # symbol immediately precedes the word or phrase, multiple words
are written as one (Use capitals to delineate different words if desired),
hashtags are not case-sensitive, you can use numbers in the hashtag WITHOUT
spaces (for example: #1984GeorgeOrwell).
Also, hashtag searches do not cross between social media sites – the hashtag
you used on Twitter will not show up on Facebook, etc. Depending on the social
media site, a search of specific hashtags may include only those people that
follow you or you follow.
A few hashtag etiquette rules to remember, don’t overuse –
two to three tags per post should be maximum; use only hashtags that are
relevant to your post; and make sure your post is formatted so it is still easy
to read. Most sites that use hashtags require the # symbol to precede the search
term, however there are a few that will automatically and invisibly add it to
the phrase during a search. Some sites, like Twitter, provide a list of current
trending topics and hashtags so you can utilize exact, relevant terms to
make your posts come up in searches; #Hashtags.org .( https://www.hashtags.org/)
also has listings of trending hashtags across social media.
Hashtags are a convenient tool to use when promoting your
work. If your story subject relates to a trending topic; for example, there is
a sensational #murder trial in the news and your latest book involves murder,
then include the hashtag in a Tweet about your book (ie: Within the Law, a story about #murder, justice and love). You can
also create your own hashtag, such as a book’s title, and encourage your team
and followers to use the hashtag to help build the buzz (ie: Do you believe in Karma? Check out
#KarmaVisited). Hashtags can also be used to add commentary or humor to a
post (ie: Final Sin was nominated for a
Pushcart Prize #awesomeness)
Go to your social media sites and see how others are using
hashtags. Take the time to click through and/or search words or phrases and
check out the results for yourself.
Writing Exercise: Using a hard-copy or online (current
or recent) newspaper, find any news item that appears relevant to a recent book
release or current WIP. Re-write the article as if your characters were
involved in the event.
Writing Prompt: Describe your writing space using
only one-word terms; use as many terms as possible.
Challenge Assignment: Find a list of trending
hashtags on one or more of the social media sites you use. 1) write TEN (potential)Tweets
(140 characters or less) using one to three hashtags that are relevant to your
latest book or current WIP and incorporate at least one trending hashtag in
each Tweet. 2) Do the same for TEN (potential) Facebook posts (one to three
sentences each). 3) Go to either Pinterest or Instagram and make a list of
individual hashtags for at least ten pictures. [It is your choice to use these
hashtags or not in actual posts, but practice, practice, practice]
