I just completed setting up a Twitter account with custom background for one of my clients, and in preparing his Twitter to-do list, I realized I’d never blogged about Twitter #hashtags – an often overlooked Twitter function.

What Are Twitter #Hashtags?

To quote our friends over at Mashable, "Hashtags are essentially a simple way to catalog and connect tweets about a specific topic. They make it easier for users to find additional tweets on a particular subject, while filtering out the incidental tweets that may just coincidentally contain the same keyword." (click the thumbnail for real-time results of the hashtag search #patrickswayze)

Because Twitter users search hashtags for content from people they don’t follow, using hashtags gives you another way to reach out to more people, as well as communicating your message to your current followers. Just be sure, though, that your hashtags are relevant t your topic, your site, or your business. Some spammers use popular hashtags (think: #MichaelJackson) just to get to the top of search results.  Don’t do it.

Hashtags are an excellent (and effective) way to tracking conversations in topics of interest. For example, if you’re doing a survey of popular questions or posts about your industry, use Twitter Search to monitor topics and conversations.

An Effective Use of Your Own Hashtag

Create a hashtag for your business or your personal brand. This allows you to search for your hashtag to see what’s being said about you AND gives you the opportunity to spread your brand.  For example, if you sell DVDs, you could tweet something like t

his:

"What artist is most overrated? Tweet using #jacksdvds for a chance at winning your choice of a free DVD."

Twitter Desktop Client for Tracking Hashtags

I personally use TweetDeck – - a desktop software that allows me to run several columns, including columns that I’ve set up to track certain hashtags. I strongly recommend TweetDeck. (By the way, it’s free)

Just one question.

How would you explain Twitter to an 87-year-old who has never used a computer? (Comments welcome!)

I couldn’t start 2009 without writing about Twitter.

If you’ve been online more than 10 minutes, you’ve heard that Twitter is THE social networking tool of the century.  Hype?  Nope.

Twitter is a bonafide tool for relationship building and marketing, built within the confines of a seemingly impossible 140 characters. If you can’t say it short, you can’t say it.

In a Twitter-nutshell, Twitter allows you to “follow” the people you feel are worth reading, and people can follow you if they think your Tweets are worth following.

The smartest Twitter gurus Tweet a brilliantly balanced blend of humor, links to something of interest on their own site, a link to their newest blog post, or a link to something interesting they’ve read online.

Is Twitter a platform for blatantly pushing your services on your followers? Not unless you want to be thrown out of the virtual party

My Top 3 Twitter Services

1.  Although you can Tweet directly from your Twitter account, my favorite Tweeting platform is Tweetdeck. This Adobe Air desktop platform. Tweetdeck allows you to take all of your Twitter feeds and break them down into categories – making it a lot easier to read your favorite Tweeters.  It also creates a category for displaying direct messages and replies.

2.  I’m also in love with TwitterButtons. Sure, you can put Twitter’s default blue bird as a link on your own site, but why not jazz it up a little? You can see my Twitter button of choice up there in the right column. I know. . . there are so many great Twitter apps – why bump one of them in favor or TwitterButtons? Because I’m a sucker for a fun photo.

3.  And speaking of photos and photo sharing,  you have to use TwitPic. This free service lets you share photos on Twitter with your friends–with no signup required. You can also post pictures to TwitPic from your phone, TwitPic API, or through the site itself. Twitpic works great with Tweetdeck.

I’ll do follow-up posts on other Twitter apps – but wanted to get my Top 3 out on this beautiful first day of the New Year.