Promote with Twitter Hashtags

Twitter is a popular micro-blogging tool that can be used conversationally or to follow trending topics, often represented through hashtags (#). Hashtags aggregate similar tweets on one page, so users can search for tweets about a particular trend, discount, news event, etc. and easily see what others are saying. Twitter is a deft promotional tool for businesses, marketers and public relations firms. It is free and can be used in combination with other forms of promotion to encourage the public to buy, use coupons or attend events. This article will tell you how to promote with Twitter hashtags.

Steps

1. Sign up or log in to your Twitter account. Enter your account information and click "Sign up for Twitter." You will want to provide an attractive description of your event or business and upload a picture or icon.
2. Appoint someone to start using the Twitter account for your business or event. Consistency is essential on Twitter because it is constantly being updated. Make sure the person understands how to navigate and communicate via Twitter.
   • Users type the "@" symbol to directly message other users. This can be useful if someone has commented on a post. It is usually used to create and continue conversations between users and to pass on links.
   • Users type the "#," or hash symbol to follow trending topics on the site. For example, "#london" would be called a "hashtag" and it would be used in a tweet to talk about something going on in London, England. You can click on a hashtag to find out all of the tweets that discuss this topic.
3. Start following people on Twitter. Most people choose to get updates about who follows them on Twitter. Each person who you follow may in turn choose to follow you and receive your updates.
4. Use the hashtag with the words "#deal," "#voucher" "#coupon," or "#bargain," to post sales on products or tickets. Many people use these words daily to look up deals and save money. Other sites aggregate all the tweets that include those hashtags in the post.
   • Popular aggregation sites include CheapTweet, DealUniversity and Dealyzer.
5. Pay attention to trending topics on Twitter, which are linked by popular hashtags. Use a trending topic whenever it applies to your event or business. It will show up to people who are searching using that hashtag, and it will help you to gain followers and promotion for your business.
   • Try to avoid using political or news-related hashtags that have nothing to do with your business to increase sales. Although this is not outlawed, it is seen as a somewhat corrupt approach to Twitter hashtag marketing. For example, Kenneth Cole used the hashtag "#Cairo," during the Cairo riots in 2011 to promote its spring line of clothing, which resulted in both increased sales and bad press.
6. Create your own hashtag before a new promotion or event. The term should be short and easy to remember, such as "#DylanLive," to promote a series of concerts by Bob Dylan. Create your term months or weeks in advance so that you can include it on all of your promotional materials.
   • Begin using your new hashtag on Twitter, while you include it in press releases, on tickets, or on websites. Encourage other employees to announce it on stage. Ask promotional partners to use it on all of their marketing materials.
   • Continue using the hashtag in daily tweets. You can also respond to people, using the "@" symbol, who use your hashtag to give positive updates on your event or promotion.
   • If done properly and consistently, a hashtag promotion can effectively employ other people as promoters of your work. Their followers will see the hashtag and may choose to follow you or the promotion as it unfolds.
7. Create a contest or raffle that encourages users to post Tweets with a specific hashtag. Promote the competition in your store, and ask users to follow your company's Twitter handle as a precondition for participating. You'll get more followers, increase interest in your cupcakes, and create a trending Twitter hashtag.
   • For example, let's say you own a bakery called Cupcakes Delight. You can ask your customers to tweet the best picture of them enjoying a cupcake in a unique location with the hashtag #TravelingwithCupcakeDelight. The best picture/caption combination will receive a year's worth of free cupcakes.

Tips

• Twitter relies on users self-labeling their tweets with relevant hashtags, so don't forget to include them when you are making a post! Twitter does not automatically comb users' public tweets to place organize tweets under hashtags.

Things You'll Need

• Twitter account
• Dedicated promoter
• Promotional materials

Related Articles

• Use Twitter As a Promotional Tool
• Use Promoted Tweets
• Get More Followers on Twitter
• Use Twitter if You're an Author

Sources and Citations

• http://www.sitepronews.com/2010/09/20/promote-your-business-with-twitter-hashtags/
• http://publicityhound.net/how-to-use-twitter-hashtags-for-promotion-publicity/
• http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2011/02/21/the-power-of-hashtag-5-use-cases/
• http://www.contentious.com/2008/11/20/how-to-start-a-twitter-event-hashtag/

See also

• Set up Twitter in iOS
• Keep Your Followers on Twitter
• Create a Twitter Resume
• Change Your Email on Twitter on a PC or Mac
• Change Your Email on Twitter on iPhone or iPad
• Add Your Birthday on Twitter on iPhone or iPad
• Access Drafts on Twitter on Android
• Access Drafts on Twitter on iPhone or iPad
• Add Your Birthday on Twitter on Android
• Add a Phone Number on Twitter on iPhone or iPad

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What links here

• Get More Followers on Twitter
• Be a Twitter Celebrity