Hashtags have become a Twitter staple. They are used in everyday language. My middle schooler’s school newspaper’s name includes a hashtag. Jimmy Fallon had a hashtag conversation with Justin Timberlake.
They are used on television and in news stories….and as a baby name. They are so popular that tweets with hashtags get twice as much engagement as those without hashtags. Today, Adweek posted this fun article about well-known brands using the #FiveWordsToRuinADate trend…and here are some of my favorites:
I’m not a dog person. #FiveWordsToRuinADate — Petco (@Petco) January 13, 2015
“I never had a Walkman.” #FiveWordsToRuinADate — Sony (@Sony) January 13, 2015
I’m not a sports fan #FiveWordsToRuinADate — NBC Sports Network (@NBCSN) January 13, 2015
I even included my employer in on the fun:
“What is a credit union?” #FiveWordsToRuinADate — KS CreditUnion Assoc (@TheKCUA) January 13, 2015
These are examples of hashtags done right. Using a Twitter hashtag to your advantage can be a great way for brands to humanize their companies and add humor to their posts. For all those awesome, funny or snarky uses of hashtags, there are twice as many “hashtag gone wrong” stories. Make sure you know exactly what the hashtag means and don’t post something inappropriate or offensive. For a few Hashtag #Fails read Caution: Watch for falling tweets. Although written more than two years ago, it still has valuable advice. Here are some more recent Hashtag #Fails, as reported by the Washington Post. And for those brands wanting to start a Twitter hashtag campaign, be aware that a hashtag can easily become a bashtag.
One Kansas Girl 