We have a very special guest here for Techie Tuesday!
Marcy Kennedy — blogger, storyteller and writing instructor (and one of my fave online pals) — is here to talk about how to make Twitter a happier place for you.
She’s got tricks to help you connect with the people you want to find online. People who share your interests and hobbies (aka tweeps who will be most interested in your book if you’re a writer).
I hope you show her some love, and ask her some really great questions down in the comments section!
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I’m very excited that Jenny invited me here because she and I share the same social media happy place—Twitter!
I hear a lot of people hating on Twitter and saying how it’s a waste of time. They claim they’re only able to connect to other writers not future readers, or that Twitter isn’t sending enough traffic to their blog to make it worth their time.
Both of those things might be true for them, but they’re true because they’re doing it wrong. There. I said it.
If Twitter isn’t yielding results, it’s probably user error and not a flaw with Twitter itself. Remember, Twitter is just a tool. You can’t complain that the screwdriver doesn’t work if you’re trying to use it like a hammer.
Today I wanted to show you how hashtags can help turn Twitter from a rickety old handsaw into a honking big chainsaw. (Okay, I promise no more tool metaphors.)
For anyone who doesn’t know, a hashtag is the # sign plus a keyword. #MyWANA is a hashtag. #amwriting is a hashtag. So is #epicfail.
When you put a hashtag at the end of your tweet, that tweet is now seen by everyone who’s watching that hashtag, not just the people who follow you. Using hashtags and creating a column in TweetDeck (or a stream in Hootsuite) to follow them can introduce you to a whole new group of people you’d never have met otherwise.
But here’s the catch. You can’t just slap a # sign in front of any old word and expect results. Not every hashtag is actively used and watched. You have to find ones that are. If you use abandoned hashtags, you might as well have not included a hashtag at all. (See what I mean about how people do it wrong and then complain when it doesn’t work?)
I don’t have room in one post to tell you all the tricks, so I’ll just share one of my secret weapons.
Hashtags.org gives you data that can help you find the places where people who might like your books hangout, when they’re most likely to be there, and a bunch of other great tidbits.
I used the hashtag #startrek for our example. (Yes, I’m a nerd like that.) This trend graph shows you when that hashtag is most frequently used. In just a quick glance, I can see that if I want to share a tweet about Star Trek and use that hashtag, the best time is going to be between 10 am and 11 am or after 8 pm at night.
Hashtag.org also does some of the leg work for you in actually listing the people who are using this hashtag most often. This gives you people you can immediately check out on Twitter and see if you might want to follow them and interact because you already share a common interest.
But here’s one of the best things. Hashtags.org provides suggestions for other similar hashtags that might work instead. You’re never going to be able to follow every possible hashtag, so by knowing the related hashtag, you can take a peek at them and then focus your attention on the one with the most people actively participating.
And if you’re pinching your pennies like me and don’t want to pay for an upgraded account to see those top-rated related hashtag, I found a free alternative.
Tagdef.com gives you related hashtags for free. They won’t rank them for you, but that’s okay because you’re going to look at them and pick the one that fits you best anyway. Or you could choose a few and alternate them.
As you can see in the image below, Tagdef also has a drop down menu, so if you start typing a hashtag, it gives you suggestions for how you might finish it. This is priceless if you’re blanking on ideas.
I hope this helps you use hashtags more effectively, and now I’m going to be a polite guest and hand Jenny’s blog back to her so as not to overstay my welcome. 🙂
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Listen up, my More Cowbell Posse! If that wasn’t exciting enough, we have just a wee bit more for you today:
If you sign up for the Bronze, Silver, or Gold levels of Marcy’s A Growing Tweeter’s Guide to Twitter class and enter the code Marcy20, you’ll receive 20% off! If you can’t take the class in December, registration is already open for the January session as well.
Also, Marcy forgot to mention she’s also teaching a 2-week class called Story in a Sentence: Creating Your Logline that starts December 1st.
I would take any class from Marcy. Cause she rocks!
Do you use Twitter? Do you like it? What do you like or dislike about it the most? Any questions you’d like to ask Marcy? Enquiring minds always want to know these things here at More Cowbell!
Jenny
About Marcy (@MarcyKennedy on Twitter)
Marcy is a fantasy writer who believes there’s always hope—sometimes you just have to dig a little harder to find it. In a world that can be dark and brutal and unfair, hope is one of our most powerful weapons. She writes novels that encourage people to keep fighting, to let them know that no one is beyond redemption, and that, in the end, good always wins.
In addition to writing fiction, Marcy is a freelance writer and editor published across Canada and the U.S. She specializes in writing short non-fiction articles for magazines and newspapers and in editing for non-profits, small businesses, novelists, and non-fiction authors.
Marcy has won two Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Competitions, has won awards at the Canadian Church Press and Canadian Christian Writing Awards, and her co-written blog (with Lisa Hall-Wilson) was nominated three times at the 2011 Canadian Weblog Awards. Check out Marcy’s editing services here. You can also find her blogging about writing on Wednesdays/Thursdays and about the place where real life meets science fiction, fantasy, and myth on Mondays and Fridays Because Fantasy Is More Real Than You Think…
And this would be why I love both you and Marcy, Jenny! Two great places to find great places we need to be hanging out on Twitter. Score!
Thank you so much for this information, Marcy! I’m loving the #romance up there with the #startrek pie. Who knew? I certainly never would have put them together, but it makes sense. I’m bookmarking both of these sites right now.
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You’re very welcome 🙂 I’ve had quite a few forehead-slapping “why didn’t I think of that” moments while using these services. Since I found them, I’ve started keeping a file so that I only have to look up a new hashtag once, and then I have the info handy for the next time.
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Awwwww….we love you too, Tameri!
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I have been experimenting with hashtags so I appreciate the input! Thanks ladies!
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Glad to help!
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Wow, I didn’t know there was so much to Twitter. What cool support sites! Thanks, Marcy!
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You’re not alone. I think a lot of people underestimate or misunderstand Twitter. With Facebook, it’s easy to see how much you can do with it, but Twitter by nature has a minimalist look. There’s so much more there than meets the eye 🙂
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*sotto voice*
Take the class!!!
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I *heart* Twitter, and thought I was a ‘master user’ (not capped on purpose) but these are super tools, Marcy! Thanks so much for the heads up! Going there now . . .
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Twitter has really been trying to improve the user experience (like with the new custom headers that show up when you click on people’s names in TweetDeck), so it seems like there’s always something new to learn or some cool new tool to make things easier 🙂
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I love Twitter, but I don’t really like reading tweets with hashtags, so I haven’t been using them much. Guess I’ll suck it up and try them. Marcy is usually right about these things. 🙂
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Thank you for the compliment 😀 The good thing about hashtags is that it doesn’t matter where you put them in the tweet. You can add them at the end, after the link, and they’re just as effective without making the tweet hard to read.
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I love chatting it up with people. I find if we just make a personal connection before pushing our writing onto people, we are prone to get better results. While I still don’t think it is the easiest interface, I really like TweetDeck. I wish I knew how to better organize great reads for mash-ups, like @PiperBayard and @GeneLempp. Those two read a lot and really know how to spread the love. Great post Marcy!
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You’re so right–relationships and personal connections are key. Otherwise we’re going to be ignored no matter how many tricks we use.
I spend a lot of time in my class on the different goodies TweetDeck has for us. It looks complicated at first, but that’s because it has so much to offer 😉
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Renee, I think the mash-ups are about having your post open to copy into as you’re reading and browsing through your week. I’m less diligent but I have one going all month and when it gets full (15-20), I do a links post. 🙂
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Just when I thought I finally had a handle on Twitter – NEW TOOLS! I will definitely be checking out those sites, especially since I’ve been looking for a way to test out the hashtags I use for some time. Thanks much, Marcy and Jen 🙂
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You’re a WANA International AI, aren’t you? If so, you can audit the class as well. Just send an email to Chad.
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What Gene said. And renee too. Thanks, Marcy! #YouRock #UselessHashtagFromMe
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Hahaha 😀 Leanne, you’re awesome! Just sayin’.
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#Useless hashtags <– I'm a fan. 🙂
Thanks to you and Gene for the sweet comments.
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Thank you so much for these tips, Marcy. Timing is important in Twitter and hashtag.org offers the perfect tool to make the most of your Tweets. And it’s great to know varied hashtags to reach new people. And to find new interesting people to talk to.
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Timing is key, especially if you’re like most of us and can’t be on Twitter all day long. Knowing the best time to be online and active can make a big difference in how many people we meet and how many people share our tweets.
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Reetta, I’m looking forward to Marcy’s lesson on how to rock Twitter in 10 minutes a day. 🙂
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Now this is some awesome. I can’t wait to explore this new tool. You guys are the best. Thanks!!
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I hope you had fun 🙂 I’m a bit of a nerd and love this stuff 🙂
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Thanks– but a question. (I rarely seek out/follow hashtags, so maybe I’m not the right audience). What’s your recommendation on using multiple hashtags? I see tweets that are more hashtags than contents, and they’re an immediate turnoff.
Terry
Terry’s Place
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Great question! You should never use more than two hashtags (three max.) per tweet, and it’s better to put them at the very end rather than in the tweet content itself. People who use more than three hashtags per tweet are actually violating Twitter’s code of conduct. (One of the ways they define “spam” is by the number of hashtags used and the misuse of hashtags.)
Taking my Star Trek example above, since I know 10 am and 8 pm are peak times, I’d probably try to be on Twitter at those times and send out my tweet two separate times using different hashtags. That way I cover more ground without being hashtag heavy in my tweets.
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I always thought it was THREE. I’m so glad Terry asked that question!! I’ll cut it down to two. 🙂
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I love getting a tool I can use! This is great. Thanks, Marcy. Off to check out those sites.
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You’re welcome. I’m all about practical application 🙂
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Awesome post! Thanks for the info, Marcy! I didn’t know about hashtags.org. I also didn’t know you shouldn’t have more than 3 hashtags. Not that I ever go over that, because that would take up too much space! But still, good to know.
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When I first started on Twitter, I didn’t know either. I cringe thinking about some of the stupid things I did. Steep, steep learning curve in the beginning 🙂
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Excellent post! I was wondering if people putting # in front of a long list of words or very specific emotions/actions/ etc were actual hashtags (especially on FB) I’ve typed # in the tweetdeck’s search engine, looking for others to connect with that might share my interests, but its not been very productive. This is a great information, I will have to check it out. Thanks Marcy & Jenny.
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You brought up something really important–never, ever, ever use hashtags on Facebook. My co-writer is a Facebook guru (she did a guest post for Jenny as well not too long ago), and her head explodes when she sees people using hashtags on Facebook. Keep hashtags for use on Twitter or Google+.
Very specific emotions or actions might be okay, depending on the hashtag, but usually those are added when people want to emphasize their point. They’re not actually useful as a hashtag per say because very few people have a column where they watch the #hate hashtag (for example). A hashtag that people aren’t watching is basically wasted space in your tweet.
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Yep, I used to be guilty of cross-posting and Lisa broke me of it. 🙂
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LOVE this post!!! I’m going to be using hashtag.org and the free tracking. And I’ll probably do #Startrek too cuz that’s just how I roll. Hehehehe 😀
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Hashtags.org is like a geek mecca. I’ve found so many hashtags I never would have thought of using.
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A hashtag smorgasbord!!!!! 😀
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Wheeeeeee!
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Great tips, Marcy! Thanks ladies 🙂
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You’re welcome. I’m so glad Jenny invited me by to talk to you all 🙂
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It was so funny at 10;50 because I thought In ten minutes I’m going to have to think of something to write with a #nature hashtag lol.
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Me too, Marcy, me too. 🙂
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Great information. Now I just have to find the time to actually use it!
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Ah, the time management issue. Think of it this way. If you spend just 5-10 minutes a week researching one hashtag, you’ll have a really strong pool to work with within just 6 weeks. Each hashtag you dig in to will yield many more great options.
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Actually it was such a good idea that I went ahead and put it on the next few posts I had written. Now I just have to make it a habit.
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What more can I say other than I LOVE YOU. This is great–I did not know about these sites!
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Aww, now I’m blushing. So glad I could help one of the Bookshelf Muses 🙂
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*waving hi to Angela!!!*
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Two of my favorite people in one place!
Any tips on hashtags to help find teens who like to read? Thought I’d ask…. #YA #Teen #YALit I use all of those…
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The good news for you (and for all YA writers) is that there’s a growing trend in teens using Twitter. Over Thanksgiving, my husband’s cousin was constantly checking Twitter and exclaiming “I have to tweet that!” The bad news is that since this is a change that’s happening, the teen communities are still in flux. Your best bet would be to brainstorm some topics that teens who would also be interested in your book might be chatting about. The more teens who come to Twitter, the more likely they are to find those established communities and take them over.
There’s also a free PDF called “151 Hash Tags for YA Authors.” Because I’m not a YA author, I haven’t checked out the hashtags he suggests to see if they’re active, but the PDF might at least give you a good place to start.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/57595896/151-Hash-Tags-for-YA-Authors-by-Rusty-Fischer
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Marcy, that link looks AWESOME! You are so sweet to find that for Tiff. 🙂
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It’s not the tool, but how you use it. (I mean that in the most non-gutterish way.) Thanks, Marcy, for great tips. I await the day I can justify having my own hashtag. #sherryisaac. Hmm. Has a bit of a ring to it, don’t ya think?
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It does have a ring to it 🙂 Even if I became as famous as Stephen King, no one would use a #marcykennedy hashtag. Too many characters 😛
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I may as well share it here. My Tweety Bird suffers from lack of attention. When Kristen Lamb wrote an article stating we should hang around to chat if we posted a comment, my brain did an ERK! She’s right, of course.
If I simply bop out there to tell followers I read an awesome blog post, then disappear, it’s comparable to sticking my head into a party, nabbing a tasty treat and then leaving. So, I’ve let Twitter sit on the sidelines while I finish my WIP.
If I can’t communicate properly and make the best use of it, I thought I should leave it caged. Jenny knows when I’m catching up on Tweets. She gets responses to tweets sent 10 or even 30 days prior. I could, I should download the Twitter feed to my iPhone.
*slinking away to ponder how to manage Twitter time*
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If you’ll forgive the shameless plug, it sounds like my course would be a great fit for you. Part of what I focus on is how we can fit Twitter into our schedules while still being authentic. There are a lot of little tricks and ways to keep on top of things. One of my lessons is even on how to rock Twitter in 5-10 minutes a day 😀
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Well, you KNOW I’m going to be auditing this course!!
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AUDITING?
ERK!How exciting.LikeLike
Noted. Forgiven. On my list. I will take your course. Woo-hoo! Can’t wait to let Tweety Bird fly.
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I could barely finish reading the entire post, I’m so excited to check out these two new sites! Thanks, Marcy and Jenny – I am not new to Twitter, but I’m still a bit of an imbecile with it! 🙂 I’m quite anxious to try out these tips!
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Technology is a constant learning process, so you can feel good that because you keep learning, you’re that much farther ahead of those who stop 🙂
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Marcy, in all seriousness, that is something I have learned from my dad. He stays youthful and healthy because he is constantly teaching himself new things. Technology is his specialty (he recently started his own computer consulting company in the LA area) and he keeps me pretty up to date on all things tech-y. But, I do have him beat on the social networking side of things! 🙂
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Imbecile is such a strong word, Dawn!! Not optimizing sounds soooo much better. 🙂
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LOL, Jenny! I just call it like I see it! 🙂 Seriously, I’m really working on this hashtag thing – I’m even trying to utilize my mad skills on Instagram! (Much to the great chagrin of my hipster children.)
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Both of those sites are new to me thanks for the insight!
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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Thanks so much, Jenny and Marcy. I’m going to check out these links!
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Sweet Lynn…have fun!
p.s. Baby Girl picked up The Curse of the Double Digits off my book pile and walked around the house with it! Just thought I’d let you know. 🙂
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Great tips, thank you so much! This would be why I love More Cowbell! 🙂
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Isn’t Jenny’s blog awesome 🙂 I’m thrilled to be a part of it!
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*blushing* THANK YOU, ladies…you’re making my day.
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LOVE you guys!!!
So first of all, I’ve been one of those people just dropping hashtag bombs all over the place having no idea if they even go anywhere or just into outer space never to be heard or seen from again. I had no idea there was a WEBSITE where one could check not only what hashtags to use but WHEN to send out the tweet. I mean…BRILLIANT!!
Wow…that’s all I can say…I am definitely going to make much better use and am off to bookmark the sites as resources.
Thanks soooo much Marcy and Jenny!!!
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Ahhhh, but I adore your “hashtag bombs.” 🙂
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Heading over to hashtag.org now. Thanks.
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Very helpful post, Marcy and Jenny. I write psychological suspense and blog about mental health issues (my brand). It just recently dawned on me that I should be using the #psychology and #mentalhealth hashtags. One of those head-desk moments!
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I think we’ve all had those moments 🙂 I hope knowing about these two sites will help us all have them a little less often.
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I love this post and your advice, Marcy! I will definitely be checking out the sites you shared and think they’re the most brilliant tool ever! It makes sense to watch what the most popular hashtags are for your genre. And best yet, it connects you to people you may have fun chatting with.
I love being on Twitter during The Walking Dead because every episode they feature a new hashtag and all the fans come tweet together. I love it! My favorite has been #OneLeggedHerschel. Awesome!
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with this post, I can now RULE THE WORLD! Thanks so much for posting this, I only just started using twitter, facebook and wordpress for my writing career/thingy so your post arrived just in time! Thanks so much!
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You’re so funny, Tanya! I don’t think I’d want to rule the world (too much work) but I’d love to be one of the royal princesses, dancing on the sidelines. 🙂
Thanks again for the reblog!
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Reblogged this on Tanya's Blog and commented:
With this post, I can RULE THE WORLD! Or at least that part of it that uses twitter.
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Some times I think Twitter is like a giant Asphergers conversation and others, I have lovely little conversations with people I wouldn’t otherwise connect with. As with any tool, knowing how to use it properly gives better results. *shouts to empty room* ‘Who took my unfriending mallet?’
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Excellent advice, Marcy! I used Twitter a lot and actually like it! Tweetdeck keeps things organized in such a way that even a technodork like me can use it effectively. Thanks SO much for the advice about just using two hashtags. I thought it was the more, the merrier. I’ll change my ways immediately! Jenny, you host the best parties!
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That’s only because the groovy guests like you are here! 🙂
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great info ladies…thanks
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EXCELLENT!!!!!!! Post. Thanks so much, ladies. This info I plan to make serious use of! Love the #websites!
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Thanks for pointing out these excellent tools! I just searched a handful of hashtags I’ve used or at least know about, and I’m surprised (and yet, not) to find a few flat-lining… Wow. Thanks again!
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I love this! Thank you, Marcy and Jenny. I need all the help I can get on Twitter. I stare at all the comments and often run away. LOL. I need to find people speaking my language.
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Marcy, thank you for sharing those tips! I’ve got to see if I can take your Twitter class. I’m still mind-blown by your Story in a Sentence class–I highly recommend it to anyone out there!
Jenny, thanks for having Marcy over! I’m always learning from you both. 🙂
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Marcy and Jenny, let me start by saying…… DAMN
That is some fan-reakin-tastic information! I can’t wait to jump on Twitter and do it.
Twitter has helped give me SOOO much more exposure than I would have had.
Plus with friends like these, how can you go wrong?
Jenny – thanks for another great post idea.
Marcy – the information was priceless. *big hugs*
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Saved this one to my desktop. You’re just full of information I need to hear this week, Marcy. Thank you! I’m a non-Twitter lover…for the reason most other people give. So maybe I can change that and turn into a tweeting fool now. Well, probably not. But I might like it better now. 🙂
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Marcy Kennedy puts out a newsletter that is one of the only ones I read every time it shows up. Interesting stuff and she offers lots of valuable stuff. This article shows you what I mean. Kudos to Marcy.
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Okay, I know I found this late, but this is AWESOME! Thanks so much. I’ve never heard of this tool. I’ve a little Twitter-challenged, but I’m definitely going to look at this. Thanks!
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