Hashtags and Handles, Hacks for Destinations

"We have a hashtag".  Do you know what it does for you, what it's supposed to do for you?  Creating a hashtag in a web world flooded with them might seem like you're trendy.  But, just "creating" hashtags is the crux of the problem.  Too many exist to make it a low barrier of entry anymore.  New hashtags can work, but they need incentive to pull them from obscurity to disruptive trending.  That takes $$ and a whole lot of risks most  government agencies can't afford.

Here's what you can do now:

Hack #1:  Cultivate your tags.  If you are doing thorough SEO work, and I trust you are (*peering over my glasses at you*), you'll understand that hashtags are like keywords, associated with a world of content; posts, pics, vids.  Consider researching and cataloging interest-based hashtags that already have sustainable trending, the more specific to your attributes, the better.  Once properly cultivated, you can match  with your content by Best Practice count, ie:  2 tags for Twitter and 11 for Instagram.  Use these tags for all social media and blog content, where the more tags, the better.

Hack #2:  Cultivate your handles.  If you don't already have a list of all your stakeholders social handles (the @someone tag), then do that quickly!  Tagging each other in your regular communication tremendously builds each other up.  Past your local businesses, are you tagging media?  Think about it, we send out self-serving Press Releases on the reg, but are you taking to them in your Social Media Strategy?  Start with the media you would normally buy, how do they participate in SM, what do their followers engage in?  Diagram a profile on each media outlet and cultivate the handles to tag in appropriate posts.  Got a unique fishing event?  Tag @fieldnstream in Twitter and FB.  Do this process thoroughly in regional, national and niche media.  Don't forget special interest bloggers!  Now, when your strategy matches, you tag the right media and cheated the promoted media monkey with thousands of new views for your juicy bit.

I hope these two hacks help you in sophisticating your Social Media strategy. It's a #jungle out there, but with a little organization and research, the playing field is level for any size destination.