social media roundup: tagging effectively
DESCRIPTION
This edition of the Social Media Roundup examines social media tagging. While tagging is a practice all social media practitioners should be quite familiar with, tagging is often an afterthought. Tagging can be incredibly valuable and can enhance the reach of your social media content. Tagging takes on various forms from platform to platform, but regardless of which platform you're working with, all social media managers should be aware of how to effectively tag your social media content.TRANSCRIPT
Social Media Roundup
Tagging effectively
Social Media Roundup
AgendaIt may seem like an afterthought, but tagging your social media content can greatly increase its reach and effectiveness. This week’s Social Media Roundup highlights the importance of tagging and shows how to use tags effectively across multiple platforms.
The value of tagging Facebook tagging Tagging in Twitter Photo and video sharing Tagging in blogs Tagging in Pinterest Tagging in CORE Tips for tagging
Social Media Roundup
The value of tagging Tagging is loosely defined as adding
keywords to a blog post, photo, social media post or video to help readers find related topics or media.
Every social media platform is different, so tagging takes on various forms depending on the media you’re working with.
In Facebook, tagging can lead users to a related Facebook Page. In Twitter, using hashtags can lead users to a larger conversation. In blogs, hyperlinks and tags within a post can help readers find related content on the web while tags in videos and photos can help users find similar media in online searches.
Example of tagging on Facebook
Example of tagging on Flickr
Social Media Roundup
The value of tagging Tagging looks different depending on the platform you’re working with, but
regardless of how tags look, they are vitally important to your social media success.
Effective tagging can definitely help users find related online content, but it does a lot more than that.
Tagging in blog posts can help with search engine optimization. Tagging in Facebook posts can help boost awareness of a partner Page while tagging on Twitter can help establish your organization as a thought leader in a specific conversation.
Links to WSJ Twitter Page Links to New York National Guard Twitter Page
Links to Tweets about Afghanistan
Social Media Roundup
Facebook tagging On Facebook, a tag links a person, page, or
place to something you post. Once you “like” an organization’s Page,
place an “@” before you start typing the name of the organization. While you’re typing, the organization will appear in a drop down menu. Select the organization and Facebook does the rest. Once you hit “post” Facebook will add the tag.
Tagging on Facebook not only allows you to increase awareness of other organizations, it increases traffic to your Page as well. When you tag an organization in a post, your post appears on that organization’s Facebook wall where you’ll have the opportunity to find new Facebook users interested in your content.
Social Media Roundup
Tagging on Twitter In Twitter, there are two ways to tag. Users can use a hashtag (#topic) and users
can also tag a person or organization (@twitteruser). If you expect your Tweets to be viewed by individuals outside of your followers, it’s
vital that you use hashtags in your Tweets. Using hashtags allows your organization to engage in a broader discussion. People
interested in a specific topic may follow a hashtag rather than your organization. Using a hashtag will help get you noticed by those not following your organization.
Much like Facebook, tagging an organization by placing an “@” symbol in front of their Twitter handle will help draw attention to their Twitter account. It also helps you develop relationships with other Twitter users.
Hashtag
Shortened URL Twitter handle
Social Media Roundup
Photo and video sharing In photo sharing sites like Flickr and
video sharing sites like YouTube, adding tags to content is important if you want people to find your content through online searches.
In the video to the right, terms like “aviation,” “Soldiers,” and “OH-58D Kiowas” were added as tags so when people search for those terms on YouTube, this video will appear in a search results.
The same tagging technique can be used in photo sharing sites.
If you want your photos and images to be found by new audiences, it’s important to tag your content effectively with relevant search terms.
Social Media Roundup
Tagging in blogs Tagging and hyperlinking in
your blog not only helps add context to your post, but it also improves your blog’s placement in online searches.
Tagging is how search engines find blogs, posts and news items that are pertinent to a specific search term, so if you’re tagging effectively, people will find your blog when they’re searching for a specific topic.
Tags
Hyperlink
Social Media Roundup
Tagging in Pinterest Organizations can also tag on Pinterest. @Mentions - With the new pin form, users can type @ and notify a friend about
a pin. #Tags - Users can also add #tags just like Twitter. Two word tags should be
written like this: #two_words.
Social Media Roundup
Tagging in CORE In CORE, which is a content management system for publishing content to
www.army.mil, tags are called "keywords.“ Keywords help people using search boxes find your package (using both
external search engines like Google, and internal searches on Army.mil), so use strong proper nouns and specific verbs. Consider using longer keyword "strings," or phrases, in between commas.
Some Office of the Chief of Public Affairs campaigns/feature sites (see examples at Army.mil/features) use particular keyword sets to automatically publish packages to their pages.
Social Media Roundup
Tips for tagging When tagging, it helps to ask yourself,
“What would I type in a search box if I were looking for specific content?”
Here are some tips for tagging photos, videos, blogs and stories in CORE. Make tags short and to the point Be consistent Use nouns Don’t use abbreviations, unless they’re
widely understood Tag proper nouns Tag concepts like “Army training” Tag locations (Afghanistan, Korea, etc.) Tag weather conditions (Snow, dust storm,
tornado) Geographic features (Mountain, river, etc.)
Social Media Roundup
Contact information
Have questions? Please feel free to reach out to us at the Online and Social Media Division
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF PUBLIC AFFAIRSPENTAGON
3/21/2012
Email:[email protected]
To review and download past editions of the Social Media Roundup, visit our Slideshare site at: http://www.slideshare.net/usarmysocialmedia. All Social Media Roundups are authorized to be distributed to a broader audience.