HASH NOT THE ILLEGAL KIND THE TAG KIND

OK the big trendy issue on Twitter is hashtags what are they? A hash tag is any word prefixed with the hash key #, so for example #twitter.

It is used to enable the user to locate words of interest via the search facility or simply because it flags up to other interested users. As an author there are some essential tags you will want to know about.

My list of useful tages are #thriller
#mystery
#romance
#promo
#free #kindle
#amazon
#ebooks
#followFriday
#FF
#followback
#freebie
#giveaway #goodreads
#thrillerthursday
#summerreads
#wordmongering

These are highly general. Experiment with what works for you and don't be afraid to invent your own they may catch on.

One way to see if a tag is popular is to plug it into the search facility and see how many references come up.

One good tip is to watch trending hashtags and see if they link to your interests, then use them. 

There is a sort of form of use, namely not to overuse hashtags in one post, frankly though I would say that currently hashtags are definitely a way to increase reach and currently I probably overuse them a bit.

Moreover, specilist hashtags can link you to a TRIBE and therefore put you in touch with people who may be interested in re tweeting you so, for example. I belong to World Literary Cafe and Writers unite and we have hashtags that flag us to other members, so forexample with @Writers_Unite I may hashtag #wupromo which tells other members I am promoting and they will likely retweetmme.

It is up to you to research your own helpful hashtags as they are highly individual.

Now I am not teaching my grandmother to suck eggs when I say that old mantra in order to get the most out of Twitter you need committed and many followers 1,000 minimum to even begin to make any impact. So if hashtags are not working for you it is probably because you have a. no followers, b. followers who are not interacting, c. are following far more people than you are followed by.

For example, one twitterer was following 400 peeps but only had about 50 followers that is entirely the wrong way round. Ideally you need your followers and following to be about even or even more ideally loads following you and far less that you are following.

So keep at it fogies and remember we are always here to help.

Our books can be bought on the icons at the side with the big hand or marked Hoxton Kirby. @DeclanMunro and Belle Marsh.