Editor's Note: This post was originally published on March 15, 2015. It has been updated for relevance and richness of content on June 18, 2019.
Social media is always changing, making it hard to keep up with all of the different marketing trends. One social media tool that is here to stay is hashtags. Hashtags found their fame on Twitter and have spread to the rest of the social media platforms, making them an important tracking and patient awareness or growth tool. However, most optometry practice use hashtags incorrectly. below
Our friends at The Optical Vision Site wrote this piece on Hashtags for Eyecare Professionals that we would like to share with you today. Find out if you're fully utilizing the power of hashtags below.
Using Hashtags in Social Media for Eyecare
The use of hashtags has grown now that many people receive major news updates from platforms like Twitter. Eyecare professionals can take advantage of hashtags in many ways via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. You may even have been engaged in a contest or promotion using hashtags. Hashtags have become like a ‘coupon coding’ to track results and to get referrals.
Yes, #hashtags can be #overused #annoying and #unreadable, but they are a good first step to getting your practice on the map, especially if it's new. There are many popular hashtags that eyecare professionals can use via their social media, besides #Eyecare, #optical, #eyedoctor, #eyeglasses, #sunnies, #sunglasses, #sunwear, #contactlens, #optometrist, #optician, #eyehealth, etc.
#GiveBack Tuesday
This is an opportunity to promote either charity events you are involved in or products you carry that have a fundraising component to them. For example:
- Clearvision - Breast cancer
- Eyes of Faith - Purpose driven company
- Fashion Optical - Bamboo eyewear and made in the USA
- Hilco - Breast cancer
- McGee – Vera Bradley - Breast cancer and more
- Modo - One for one, recycled materials, and plant trees
- Modern - One for one with their readers
- Proof - Eco and give back
- Toms - One for one programs
- WileyX - Breast cancer and vets give back.
- #OptometryGivingSite, #InFANTSee, #Visionwalk, #Onesight
Vintage and History HashTags
People are loving anything nostalgic, historic, and retro. This is an opportunity to post old pictures of the office, vintage pictures of your neighborhood, historic trivia, eyecare of years past, old posters of some of the products you sell, or historic equipment. The options are endless here and they are great shareable opportunities.
Some hashtags are: #ThrowbackThursday, #TakeMeBackTuesday, #WayBackWednesday, or #FlashbackFriday
Here are eyewear and equipment vendor histories from:
Day of the week hashtags can be fun.
#MondayBlues #ManicMonday, #MusicMonday, #ManicureMonday, #ManCrushMonday.
Monday blues could be a joke post. There are tons of ‘Eye Songs’ on YouTube that you can use. Custom manicures are always trending and posting eye-related nail art is topical. And finally, #ManCrushMonday could just be the office's favorite celebrity.
#TransformationTuesday. This could be, with patient permission, your eyewear or contact lens before and after pictures of patients posted on Tuesday. This could really serve as a great testimonial for your practice.
#HumpDay, #WellnessWednesday, #WednesdayWisdom. Hump Day could function as a promotion or trunk show. Wellness Wednesday can be tips or recipe sharing to promote eye health.
#ThirstyThursday, #Thursdate, #ThursdayFunDay, #ThankfulThursday. Thirsty Thursday can be a sharing of your practice's favorite drink, especially one that's from a local brewery or cocktail bar. Thursdate is where your patients engage by telling you their favorite date stories.
#FridayNight, #FridayReads, #FridayFunday, and #FollowFriday
Friday is when most corporate twitters let their hair down. You can post photos of your team and their pets getting ready for the weekend. You can also ask your patients about their plans to promote engagement.
Should Saturday and Sunday be a day of rest? If not check out #SaturdaySwag and #SaturdayShenanigans, #SundayFunday or Never on #SelfieSunday
Read our guide to running your practice for more marketing and social media tips.
