Hey guys –
Amy Stark – innovator of the #indiana Twitter trend movement of December 10, 2009 and the founder of the Indiana Social Media Summit – just talked to a few of us on the prospect of developing one unifying Twitter HashTag for Indiana social media movements.
I’m a fan. The topic needs further discussion and, once again, Amy’s picked up the reigns.
It’s not that state hasn’t been using them. And when I say “the state,” I mean “Indianapolis.” Not that the boys in Indy are being exclusive so much as they outreached hadn’t reached the rest of the state when they started.
Right now, they use #si for social media / SmallerIndiana things, #Indy for all things Indianapolis, & #indiana for things referring to the state.
The trick to hashtags is to try and pick things that won’t get a lot of crosstalk.
1) Take #si for example. Not only is there a famous magazine that uses those initials – Sports Illustrated – but there’s a Romantic Language who’s a fan of those two letters. Take a look:
Kinda the same problem Chevy had when they introduced the Nova to Mexico in the 70’s and 80’s. Same thing: NO GO!
Once again, in quick defense of the Indy boys, Twitter wasn’t as popular in Spanish speaking countries when they started using it.
I’ve asked them about it, but the topic doesn’t get much traction.
2) #indy is cool, but that’s pretty Indianapolis-centric and Amy’s looking for something about Indiana Social Media. I’d just as soon leave this one alone and let it fulfill its primary purpose.
3) #indiana gets traffic but is pretty broad. Plus every time Indiana Jones, Indiana Pacers, or anything Indiana University comes out – or Indiana State, Southern Indiana, the traffic dilutes
4) Now they used #in_sm for the Indiana Social Media Summit and that’s cool. It’s targeted, understood, and gets traffic. Some might bark cross
Why use #in_sm when you could use #INsm . The latter is one less character, and when you only get 140 characters.
But then a search for #insm reveals why there’s an underscore.
Damn Germans 😛
So after frittering around the rabbit hole, I’m all a fan for #in_sm. I’ve tested it and can’t think of anything better.
I think it was @robbySlaughter who developed the #IN_SM I’m not an underscore fan either, but only highly intelligent people will be using it anyhow, right? I wonder if it will show up as a Linked In update? When I type #IN in a tweet it is sent to my LinkedIn status.
Props to @robbyslaughter, then.
I guess we can test it
I think it was @robbySlaughter who developed the #IN_SM I’m not an underscore fan either, but only highly intelligent people will be using it anyhow, right? I wonder if it will show up as a Linked In update? When I type #IN in a tweet it is sent to my LinkedIn status.
Props to @robbyslaughter, then.
I guess we can test it
Props to @RobbySlaughter then.
We could always make it a vote!
Props to @RobbySlaughter then.
We could always make it a vote!
What about #hoosiersm or #indianasm I know they use more letters, but might be easier for people to figure out.
What about #hoosiersm or #indianasm I know they use more letters, but might be easier for people to figure out.
I just posted on twitter that I’m leaning toward #IN_SM as a hashtag. It might add a hint of the unknown and prompt questions. It will also be easily adopted by geeks who enjoy using the underscore =) I don’t know if you noticed, but the SMackdown had a goodly amount of #Indiana geeks.
The Get #Indiana2Trend -12-03-09- day prompted lots of tweeters to ask me what was going on. Each time the question was asked it put the hashtag into the public timeline again, which gave it even more exposure. Plus it’s REALLY short and I like to keep my tweets to an easily RTable size.
I just posted on twitter that I’m leaning toward #IN_SM as a hashtag. It might add a hint of the unknown and prompt questions. It will also be easily adopted by geeks who enjoy using the underscore =) I don’t know if you noticed, but the SMackdown had a goodly amount of #Indiana geeks.
The Get #Indiana2Trend -12-03-09- day prompted lots of tweeters to ask me what was going on. Each time the question was asked it put the hashtag into the public timeline again, which gave it even more exposure. Plus it’s REALLY short and I like to keep my tweets to an easily RTable size.
I cannot tell a lie, it I was I who chopped down the cherry—er, selected #sm_in as the hashtag.
I picked the underscore because hyphens don’t seem to work. And because I wanted the IN for INDIANA to be different.
@robbyslaughter
I cannot tell a lie, it I was I who chopped down the cherry—er, selected #sm_in as the hashtag.
I picked the underscore because hyphens don’t seem to work. And because I wanted the IN for INDIANA to be different.
@robbyslaughter
I like #in_sm. It’s short and sweet and underscores are cool! Beside #INSOCMED just doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as well.
I like #in_sm. It’s short and sweet and underscores are cool! Beside #INSOCMED just doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as well.
And now for something completely non related, but your comment form fields and field labels are a little confusing.
And now for something completely non related, but your comment form fields and field labels are a little confusing.
Hey @robbyslaughter did you select #SM_IN or #IN_SM ? I personally like #IN_SM. I’ll ask you on twitter, too, in case you’re not following the conversation.
Hey @robbyslaughter did you select #SM_IN or #IN_SM ? I personally like #IN_SM. I’ll ask you on twitter, too, in case you’re not following the conversation.
Actually, it was originally #in_sm.
http://twitter.com/robbyslaughter/statuses/7200920968
I like that better. INdiana_SocialMedia.
Actually, it was originally #in_sm.
http://twitter.com/robbyslaughter/statuses/7200920968
I like that better. INdiana_SocialMedia.
I’m in for #IN_SM sorry for throwing more ideas out there and merely confusing an already great idea, Robby thanks for the idea.
Amy, as always for pushing it out there and demanding we collaborate!
Nate, would be nice if you’d come back from Florida, I’m getting sick of your whining about 50 degrees in Ft. Meyers. It’s darn cold here, and 6-12 inches on the ground depending on where in #nwindiana.
I’m in for #IN_SM sorry for throwing more ideas out there and merely confusing an already great idea, Robby thanks for the idea.
Amy, as always for pushing it out there and demanding we collaborate!
Nate, would be nice if you’d come back from Florida, I’m getting sick of your whining about 50 degrees in Ft. Meyers. It’s darn cold here, and 6-12 inches on the ground depending on where in #nwindiana.
Considering that most people who are looking to use or search for an Indiana Social Media hashtag for information will be in the loop of understanding the meaning of #in_sm. With that, I’d vote for it – if in fact I was eligible to vote for something like this and it was in fact up for a vote. Do I need to pay dues or something (feel like i’ve paid my dues already, maybe not in this particular forum).
Under-educated #sm person question – are hashtags case sensitive?
Damn Germans they will goose step over anything. I am for the #in_sm
Damn Germans they will goose step over anything. I am for the #in_sm
@rg it has been my experience that hashtag’s are not case sensitive. For branding purposes, however, consistency is very important.
@Dave – hey now, first you insult my hometown and now you’re picking on Germans? Strong = stark in German, btw.