In the world of social media, something as simple as a hash tag can become the subject of endless discussion. Twitter’s hash tag for example, has been used, abused and downright mistreated by avid tweeters on the platform.

Twitter Hashtags copy Twitter Hashtagging Best Practices

Courtesy of engagemetweets.com

In some cases these hash tag dissidents are asked politely to stop, or they are banned from the platform. But mostly, people who misuse them go unchecked, which spoils the conversation for everyone. That’s why it’s important to know what you are, and aren’t doing on Twitter.

You may be irritating thousands of people, because you don’t know how to use the hash tag properly. If that’s the case, then you need to check out the hash tag best practices. It’s good for business, you know.


1. Only Use Hashtagging As Directed

Twitter tells us to use hash tags to help categorize topics or subjects that we are talking about – so if someone wants to find some information on say…’bugs,’ you’d use the #bugs hash tag in your tweet, to help them find it. Simple enough, so why then has the hash tag become a silent monster on tweet decks everywhere?


2. Try Not To Stuff Too Many Hash Tags Into Your Tweet

A tweet with three words and a string of hash tags, isn’t a tweet at all. We understand your need to help people find your tweet so that they can connect, comment or re-tweet what you’ve said – but lets be honest, that isn’t going to happen unless the actual tweet is good. Try to limit your hash tags to 3 or 4, so that your tweet still holds some relevance in the world.


3. Going Off The Topic of Conversation

When you use a hash tag that bares almost no relevance to the tweet you’ve just published, you are contributing to Twitters ever-mounting page clutter, or tweets that make no sense. It’s like having a friend ask you a question, and instead of answering it politely, you go completely off topic and start speaking about that fishing trip you went on last year. It’s selfish, it’s irritating and it’s not going to win you any fans.


4. The Corporate Sabotage Hash Tag

As long as there is a way to ruin another company’s list, then competitors are going to try and do it. The hash tag has been the tool of many a corporate saboteur, assisting in the blatant degradation of a list that was once informative and interesting.

By adding a lot of negative rubbish, or plain nonsense to a competitors list – many businesses feel that their lists will do better. This is a huge no-no on Twitter! If you can’t create the best list without stooping to such levels, then you’ll never have the best list. Period.

If you can stick to the original and intended use of hash tags in your tweets, then you’ll be just fine. Anything else, and you’re abusing the hash tag system. All you’re doing then is complicating your profile, and reducing the quality of your own tweets.

Can you think of another Twitter hash tag best practice?
List it below!