• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Industries
Finn Squared

Finn Squared

Google / AdWords, Bing / Ads, and even Facebook...

  • About Us
    • LinkedIn: Katie
    • LinkedIn: Finn
    • Twitter: Katie
    • Finn: A Typical Day
  • Blog
    • Digital Marketing
    • SEO
    • PPC
  • Contact
    • Privacy / Use

A Unified Indiana Hashtag? What Do You Pick? (Indirect Open Letter to Amy Stark)

January 3, 2010 By Finn 28 Comments

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:

The problem with using #si for smaller indiana and indiana social media

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.

What do you guys think the Indiana Social Media Hashtag should be?

Somewhat Like It

Previous Website Post: Northwest Indiana’s Fight for Social Media Equality
Next Website Post: Twitter Marketing for Dummies 140-Character Book Review During a Stopover in St. Louis

Filed Under: social media

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amy Stark says

    January 3, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    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.

    Log in to Reply
    • Nat Finn says

      January 3, 2010 at 12:40 pm

      Props to @robbyslaughter, then.

      I guess we can test it

      Log in to Reply
  2. Amy Stark says

    January 3, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    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.

    Log in to Reply
    • Nat Finn says

      January 3, 2010 at 12:40 pm

      Props to @robbyslaughter, then.

      I guess we can test it

      Log in to Reply
  3. Finn says

    January 3, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    Props to @RobbySlaughter then.

    We could always make it a vote!

    Log in to Reply
  4. Finn says

    January 3, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    Props to @RobbySlaughter then.

    We could always make it a vote!

    Log in to Reply
  5. daltonsbriefs says

    January 3, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    What about #hoosiersm or #indianasm I know they use more letters, but might be easier for people to figure out.

    Log in to Reply
  6. daltonsbriefs says

    January 3, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    What about #hoosiersm or #indianasm I know they use more letters, but might be easier for people to figure out.

    Log in to Reply
  7. Amy Stark says

    January 4, 2010 at 12:22 pm

    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.

    Log in to Reply
  8. Amy Stark says

    January 4, 2010 at 12:22 pm

    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.

    Log in to Reply
  9. Robby Slaughter says

    January 4, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    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

    Log in to Reply
  10. Robby Slaughter says

    January 4, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    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

    Log in to Reply
  11. Bnpositive says

    January 4, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    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.

    Log in to Reply
  12. Bnpositive says

    January 4, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    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.

    Log in to Reply
  13. Bnpositive says

    January 4, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    And now for something completely non related, but your comment form fields and field labels are a little confusing.

    Log in to Reply
  14. Bnpositive says

    January 4, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    And now for something completely non related, but your comment form fields and field labels are a little confusing.

    Log in to Reply
  15. Amy Stark says

    January 4, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    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.

    Log in to Reply
  16. Amy Stark says

    January 4, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    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.

    Log in to Reply
  17. Robby Slaughter says

    January 4, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    Actually, it was originally #in_sm.

    http://twitter.com/robbyslaughter/statuses/7200920968

    I like that better. INdiana_SocialMedia.

    Log in to Reply
  18. Robby Slaughter says

    January 4, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    Actually, it was originally #in_sm.

    http://twitter.com/robbyslaughter/statuses/7200920968

    I like that better. INdiana_SocialMedia.

    Log in to Reply
  19. daltonsbriefs says

    January 4, 2010 at 5:18 pm

    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.

    Log in to Reply
  20. daltonsbriefs says

    January 4, 2010 at 5:18 pm

    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.

    Log in to Reply
  21. RG says

    January 4, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    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?

    Log in to Reply
  22. Dave Woodson says

    January 4, 2010 at 5:24 pm

    Damn Germans they will goose step over anything. I am for the #in_sm

    Log in to Reply
  23. Dave Woodson says

    January 4, 2010 at 5:24 pm

    Damn Germans they will goose step over anything. I am for the #in_sm

    Log in to Reply
  24. Amy Stark says

    January 7, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    @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.

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Footer

Relevant Newsletter

Where we dilute the minutia into something tasty.

We're told it's responsive, friendly, and even "delightful".
(Thanks, mama!)

Request a Quote

"Is it Free?"

That's really-really-really going to depend on your project.
Let's find out together:


Copyright © 2023 | Mailing:
Finn Squared, LLC. PO Box 294. Garibaldi, OR 97118
| Privacy Policy
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok