Should businesses be using hashtags on Facebook? The answer is now a definite “yes.”
In an era of declining organic reach and in the face of a pandemic, Facebook has been working hard to support small businesses. The latest…is by prompting you to add hashtags to your posts!
Before we dive into how to use hashtags on Facebook, we just want to make sure we’re on the same page.
What is a hashtag?
First things first, organic reach refers to how many people you can reach for free on Facebook by posting to your Page. As the amount of content being shared on Facebook continues to grow, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get content in front of eyeballs. This is where Hashtags come in!
Hashtags are words, titles, or phrases followed by the hash or pound sign ‘#’. They got their start on Twitter but are used on many other social media channels and websites to enhance the visibility of the content. Hashtags turn topics and phrases into clickable links in your posts on your personal timeline or Page. This helps people find posts about topics they’re interested in. We’ve suggested hashtags to our clients for many years on Twitter, Instagram, and more but now we’re suggesting they start using strategic hashtags in their public Facebook posts.
Why are hashtags so darn important?
Each day, Facebook handles billions of searches. So, categorizing to effectively deliver the right content to the right people makes total sense.
Hashtags connect your content with other people talking about the same thing or looking for information about something. So, if you write an article about using hashtags on Facebook and use the #FacebookTips hashtag, more people will find your content. They might even leave a comment, like or follow your page!
Plus, hashtags can help create and continue the conversation around specific campaigns or posts your followers might be interested in.
For example, Canadian actor and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds runs a clever hashtag campaign #AnAmericaOriginal. It is a shining example of Facebook hashtags in action.
Aviation Gin’s branded hashtag #AnAmericanOriginal is used in practically every post the brand puts on Facebook, which shines a light on unique citizens of America and for collaborations. It’s a great way to get the word out about what they do, where people can find their product and allows others to connect with their brand.
What’s the best way to use hashtags on Facebook?
It’s almost as easy as adding ‘#’ to your target keywords. Here are just a few tips to keep in mind:
- Fight the temptation to go overboard using hashtags and stick to 3-5 on Facebook.
- Keep it relevant and specific to your industry.
- Create brand hashtags that are short and easy to remember,such as our #makestuiffhappen or include the ones you are currently using on twitter or Instagram.
- Place the hashtag at the end of your caption so it doesn’t distract from what you have to say.
Test to see what works!
If there’s even a teeny tiny chance to increase your organic reach on Facebook for FREE, we say go for it! You might consider going back through some of your top-performing Facebook posts and adding hashtags. Here’s some local inspiration, that have seen strong results by using hashtags on Facebook to reach beyond their fans!
Thank you Chris Messina for the insanely awesome invention of the Hashtag. We couldn’t imagine where we’d be without it.
Why not give it a go to boost your brand’s social media engagement through likes, shares, comments, and new followers!
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