Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

After treasuring my ignorance about hashtags for so long, I've decided that, as part of my advertising strategy, I'd better get up to speed. So I read up on them, and now understand what they are and how they work.
However, whenever I see them in posts I feel they look ugly. I'm a writer, and a hashtag ignores all the rules. They grind at me. But I still cannot ignore the fact that they might be a useful part of advertising.
Thus, my questions are, do you guys and girls find hashtags acceptable? Do you use them?
Thanks in advance.
Leon

Yes! Absolutely! When posting on Twitter, hashtags help more people other than your followers see your posts. I have gotten so much more exposure on Twitter by using certain hashtags. They really are a wonderful tool for adding followers and getting your message seen. About a month ago I had a total of 25 Twitter followers and between using hashtags such as #amwriting or #romance and the massive amount of time I have spent here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ I now have 265 Twitter followers. It really does help!

I'm also one who dislike hashtag, I'm also a writer who doesn't have a Twitter account, but from what you and Ember say I might get a Twitter account, but do they really help to sell books.

Yes, I find hashtags acceptable. I also found them a little odd at first, but now, after six months on Twitter, they don't jump at me anymore. And yes, I use them. Not always, but most of the time. Tweets are so short that I feel the context is easier to understand when the tweet contains a hashtag.

"I can't wait to get to spend my morning with a serial killer!" could be misunderstood without #amwriting :)

Hashtags are great for reaching a specific audience! #scifi #writerslife

I am a hashtag junkie, especially when I post on Instagram. Using them helps to filter your post into certain searches and categories where otherwise people wouldn't find you. What I like to do is check the currently trending hashtags on Twitter and, if what I want to say fits in with any of them, I use that one in my post.

I used to think they were ugly and ridiculous, too, but now I really enjoy using them, both in my posts and to search for things I'm interested in. :)

For example, today on Twitter, there is the hashtag #1lineWed, with the theme of Frame, Edge. So you would share a line from your manuscript that has one of those words, and use that hashtag. It's sort of like a game that authors participate in. It happens every week. The rule is that you you have to stick with the theme and don't post buy links in your post with that hashtag.

I think they're fun! I enjoy creating a ridiculous one every now and then and people respond to those too. :)

I'm surprised Riley hasn't been here to chime in on the hashtag discussion yet!

Yes, I use them in moderation. I try not to go over 3 hashtags per post because then it looks cluttered. I try to work hashtags into sentences so that way when someone's reading it feels more natural. But if I can't I'll put some at the end.

Most hashtags I've ever used have not resulted in new follows, and only a few likes and retweets. The biggest one I've seen retweets on is #scifi.

Hi Leon. I'm with you! It took me FOREVER to begin adding anything other than jokingly sarcastic tags because to me, they were incredibly cringeworthy. I will admit that I don't use a lot of author specific tags because they tend to only reach an audience of other authors.

If I'm running a promo, I'll tag it with whatever freebie or bargain tag is trending enough to come up when I begin typing. I'll also use specific tags, like Amazon's #amazongiveaway if I'm running one of those. Same for Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. And of course, I tag all of my group news and reviews with #SupportIndieAuthors and we have a tag for our sponsored events, though to be honest, that one is more so that all participants may find and retweet each other.

One thing you may not know though: the actual hashtag is unnecessary. If someone searches a specific word, it will come up without the tag.

I did reply...dang thing didn't take! Yes with the hashtags, on twitter and Instagram! Best way to get retweeted.

They are good for specific things like Twitter posts and anything Riley says. If Riley does not end a comment with a hashtag, I assume the comment is really from the anti-Riley.

*glares at the post above mine*

My husband started using hashtags ironically in his texts to me, but he incorporated them in such a clever way that they made me laugh. Hashtags can make for good writing, believe it or not, when used appropriately.

I didn't understand Hashtags at first... and then... magic happened.

I needed a character trait for one of my main characters as she was fun, but lacking something to make her #ReallyUnique. I turned her catch phrases into hashtags and she #OwnedIt! Now I love them, and make up absurd ones just for fun.

On Social Media they are invaluable for helping keep track of things, especially on Twitter, which isn't a website that makes it easy to find old posts!

#ILoveHashtags. They're great. They tell me what I want to know quickly. On Twitter I can do the whole post with them but do add regular text because it's nice too! :)

As an elderly Luddite I have just one question.

WTF is a hashtag?

It's the number sign # with a word right next to it no spaces it helps with marketing #amwriting

Alex wrote: "I borrowed your comment (I hope that's okay) with the #amwriting hashtag and got an immediate retweet, so yay"

LOL, of course it's okay. Yay for the retweet!

What annoys me about them is they count as characters on Twitter. And the longer the hashtag the more it annoys me.

Which means (sorry, Christina) #SupportIndieAuthors reduces your message down to 120 characters. Add a URL and you're down to 97 because all URLs count as 23 characters (even if it's actually less than 23 characters).

Adding just those two things you've just lost 31% of your space for an actual message.

Micah wrote: "What annoys me about them is they count as characters on Twitter. And the longer the hashtag the more it annoys me.

Which means (sorry, Christina) #SupportIndieAuthors reduces your message down to..."

But you were retweeted to a ton of other people. Oh, and instagram has no limits that I'm aware of, so hashtag away imo.

Micah wrote: "Which means (sorry, Christina) #SupportIndieAuthors reduces your message down to 120 characters. Add a URL and you're down to 97 because all URLs count as 23 characters (even if it's actually less than 23 characters)."

No need to apologize to me. Personally, I like the challenge. Often, there are a few folks who get into absurd Twitter conversations and end up dragging others in as well. Each name adds to the 140 character limit, so we usually end up communicating in ten characters or less.

Christina wrote: "Micah wrote: "Which means (sorry, Christina) #SupportIndieAuthors reduces your message down to 120 characters. Add a URL and you're down to 97 because all URLs count as 23 characters (even if it's ..."

I can confirm that this is a problem.

(a little story) - An author's son gave him feedback on the author's book: "Yeah, it's good Dad, just put the good stuff closer together." :)
So . . . I think hashtags require putting if not the 'good stuff' closer together, at least the most relevant stuff.
Also as mentioned, they are a good way for people to find related matter. The other thing you can do, on Twitter anyway, is see what names/phrases are trending and using the same name/phrase pulls related stuff (Hamilton recently, and all sorts of political stuff). Hashtags are more consistent though.

Christina wrote: "... Personally, I like the challenge ..."

He, he.

My problem is that I generally write the tweet then go ... "Hmm, I should hashtag that ..." And then find out I have to cut 40% of the post and it ends up not making any sense. So I delete the hashtags, post it and grumble with discontent.

M.L. Roberts wrote: " I think hashtags require putting if not the 'good stuff' closer together, at least the most relevant stuff ..."

Yeah, see, that's the issue. You really have to write a tweet backwards: enter the hashtags you want, add any URL you need, THEN go back and carefully backfill the tweet with "the most relevant stuff."

Bass ackward.

Having never written a tweet in my fairly long life...

Micah wrote: "M.L. Roberts wrote: " I think hashtags require putting if not the 'good stuff' closer together, at least the most relevant stuff ..."

Yeah, see, that's the issue. You really have to write a tweet ..."

Oh no, it's great - now trending something-something "Grill" lol check Vanity Fair. Don't even need a hashtag. lol

It definitely helps with visibility. They can look messy, but limiting the number you use per post (say a maximum of three) is a good idea. I often only use one per post, especially on Twitter where space is at a premium. They aren't as popular on Facebook, but I have heard authors say people have found them by looking at certain hashtags.

Yes, yes and yes. Hashtags are an absolute must if you wish to reach people within your audience or get the attention of someone within the topic your talking about. A few years back I had no clue what the heck they were kind of like when I first heard about WiFi(I'm not typing on my computer which is running off it). Now I use hashtags daily on Twitter as Twitter and Instagram are the most popular places to use them. As I stated above, a hashtag helps you reach people who are also using the hashtag and it posts your tweet to thousand upon thousands of users. I've also created my own hashtags for my books, blogs I run and I also run #RecommendationWednesday where I recommend five books every Wednesday within the genres I write, #BookTrailerTuseday where I showcase my book trailers and post articles about the importance of them and I recently started #NewsstandFriday where I post articles I subscribe to on Google Newstand to Twitter. So yes I not only use them but feel they are very important and you should take advantage of them and if your unsure or a beginner to them then just go on Twitter or Instagram and see how they work.

I'd also like to point out that when it comes to one single post there are things I've found and been told. On Twitter you should use up to two hashtags per tweet, anymore and you risk losing visibility. On Instagram which I don't use but know people who do, you can go nuts and make as many hashtags to one post as you'd like. Also of course you want to use the appropriate hashtag for a post you make, if it's something involving politics you use #politics if it's for horror you use #horror. These are generic examples and while it seems obvious to point out it needs to be said because you'd be surprised how many people abuse a hashtag and don't even use the right ones.

Hope that's helpful to some!

Thomas - good advice keep it to 3 tags !

India wrote: "Short links are a real help with reducing character count as well ..."

Not from what I've read, though that may have changed. What I read (and said above) is that ALL links count as 23 characters even if they are shorter than that. I've not tested it.

Cool, thanks for all the comments everybody. I'll start using hashtags and see where the road leads me.

Making use of hashtags in your social media posts increases the visibility and outreach of the posts.

I've posted replies here twice today and both comments are gone - mods, is there a glitch in my system or are my posts being deleted?

Arla wrote: "I've posted replies here twice today and both comments are gone - mods, is there a glitch in my system or are my posts being deleted?"

Posting about outside services is not allowed, which is your post was deleted. You are welcome to post your experience and opinions on the topic being discussed, but please keep all links to outside services out of your post. We have a folder in the showcase group for services. Thanks!

Christina wrote: "Arla wrote: "I've posted replies here twice today and both comments are gone - mods, is there a glitch in my system or are my posts being deleted?"

Posting about outside services is not allowed, w..."

Even though it was directly related to this thread?

Yes. Like I said, any services you want to promote can be done in the showcase group. We've recently made a few changes and that was one.

Can anyone say, hand on heart, that they have sold a book due to the use of a hashtag? I do now use them, but I find them ineffectual.

I don't have hard evidence, but once I posted a picture of my sushi dinner with the hashtag #Ilovesushi and I sold a book in Japan that day.

But actually I'm not trying to actively sell books through social media. I find Twitter a great way to connect with other authors and find motivation when writing isn't going well.

I've been hesitant of hashtags for a long time as well. I don't use Twitter too much, but I've been having success on Instagram the past month by refining my hashtags. But I agree, it can be tricky to find that balance so you're not feeling like a spammer.

I use hashtags all the time. I find them very useful on Twitter and couldn't imagine not using them.

Hi I stumbled across this and wanted to add my 2 cents worth. I use a lot of the writer's hashtag games on twitter. I have found that when I post lines from my work based on that week/days themes that people get an insight into my story. Those small snippets help to generate people's interest.

One day's hashtag game I cant not remember the exact theme but it had to do with Christmas, but it allowed me to share a scene from my book where the characters played a zombie game during the Christmas party. I used the #zombie at the end. I gained a few new followers based of it. While they know the story does not really involve zombies they have retweeted my promo links for my book after it published.

Since sales is a numbers game, I figure the more people who see my work, the more chances I have to make a sale. So I hashtag away.

The best tweets are the ones where you just insert a simple hashtag to go with your tweet and tons of people like it or RT it. It wasn't your intention but it feels good to know people acknowledge it.