Use hashtag created for event

(e.g., #SHRM13)

Is your tweet

related to a

specific event?

Use most popular appropriate

hashtag(s)

Is your tweet

related to a topic

with a unique*

hashtag(s) used

by others?

Yes

Yes

No

I Don’t Know

* A unique hashtag is a specific combination of

letters/numbers that identifies a specific topic or

theme for organizing tweets, such as #socialmedia,

#socmed, #smm, #digitalera, and #shrm.

Did you find an

appropriate

unique

hashtag(s) to use

in your search?

Search for most appropriate hashtag using

• A glossary site like tagdef.com

• A hashtag tracking site like hashtags.org

• Industry/profession specific directories

• Twitter’s own search (#Discover) function

No

Add the hashtag(s) to your tweetYes

Is your goal to Is your goal to

drive people to a

focused Twitter

stream for a

non-unique*

hashtag?

*A non-unique hashtag is a common term that

people often add a hashtag to, such as #jobs,

#business, and #education. Can also include

organization and brand names like #linkedin,

#kindle, and #lexus.

Add the hashtag(s) to your tweet

Yes

No

Do you want to

add some

commentary* to

your tweet?

*As described in this New Yorker piece, hashtags can

be used to add commentary and disclaimers to a

tweet, such as #fail, #justsayin, and #kidding.

Add the hashtag(s) to the end of

your tweet

Yes

Do not add any hashtags to your tweet

No

No

Go to http://wp.me/p3mqzo-154 to access the blog post that provides related tips

To Hash or Not to Hash? A Decision Making Guide

© 2012, 2013: Courtney Shelton Hunt, All Rights Reserved