Twitter Hashtag Habits - Good and Bad
I have neglected my Twitter account for way too long. I imagine many others have ignored theirs as well.
I recently found an old article I published in my newsletter years ago. I have dusted it off and updated it in the form of a list.
Good Twitter Hashtag Habits
- Make your hashtags easy to spell and remember.
- Add only 2 hashtags to your tweets. Remember the children's story, Goldilocks? One is too few and more than 2 is too many. But 2 is just right as statistics show us.
- Research your hashtags. See what's trending.
- Retweet similar tweets. Sharing can be mutually beneficial and get your hashtags known.
- Be real about your hashtags. Hashtags should relate to your tweet and subject.
Bad Twitter Hashtag Habits
- Do not over-capitalize unless it is an acronym or brand. Capital first letters, e.g. #BeckhamBall.
- Stringing many words together into a hashtag. It becomes undiscoverable.
- Your website/business brand or slogan may not be a good hashtag.
- Expecting people to use your hashtags. Boring does not work.
Hope these tips help with your Twitter efforts.
Recent Comments
38
I have to admit. I am one of those who have not been active with my Twitter account.
Thanks to your tips, I might just go back and try to rekindle that relationship : )
Wishing you the best in all you do
Lee Ann
Hey Glen,
I started using Twitter a lot more a couple of months ago (around July) and got my followers over 2000 just recently. I find it's a great way to drive traffic to my website...
I have a question: you say in your good habits not to put more than 2 hashtags. I usually put some info about the tweet and use up the rest of the 280 characters with hashtags...
Am I doing it wrong? Sometimes I can have 4 or 5 hashtags attached to the tweet...
There have been studies done about the number of hashtags. According to Social Media Examiner, "Tweets that use more than two hashtags have a 17% drop in engagement. You don’t want that to happen." I have been a subscriber of SME for years and years.
Well, I am grateful I found your blog! Thank you so much for the valuable information, I will keep it at 2 for every tweet from now on!🙂
Thanks I don't research what is trending before selecting my hashtags. I don't think I am alone in being lazy!!
Glenys, you are probably right in not being alone in researching trends. I have to get better at it as well.
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Hi,
I have to admit I don't use my twitter much. I should!
Thank you for letting us know when to Capitalize.
I often wondered about it but never got round to researching it.
Now I don't have to.
Great post thank you.
Debs :)
One thing I noticed checking people who are influencers or well known in the online world is they don't use hashtags at all. I checked the following:
Neil Patel
Derek Halpern
Brian Dean - when he added hashtags, he added 2
Pat Flynn
Brian Clark
Tim Ferriss