Facebook Hashtags: A Complete Guide to Boost Engagement
What Are Facebook Hashtags?
Although hashtags became popular on Twitter, Facebook introduced them in 2013 to help users discover content and join global conversations. I’ll be honest, I definitely cringed when I first saw someone use hashtags on Facebook, but I was wrong. Over the years, they’ve become a key part of strategic marketing on Facebook and all other platforms.
Why Facebook Hashtags Matter
Hashtags categorize your posts with all others on the same topics, making them more discoverable to people searching for those topics. Adding hashtags gets more eyes on your content by boosting its visibility beyond your followers.
When used effectively, hashtags can spark interactions, foster community discussions, and even go viral.
Do Facebook Hashtags Work?
Of course, they do! We’ve seen hashtags used successfully across Facebook for years now. There are great examples in the TV industry, where the name of the show is often used as the main hashtag which helps drive conversation with fans. See the example from the popular show “The Masked Singer” below.
So, choosing relevant and trending keywords is crucial.
Common Misconceptions About Facebook Hashtags
“Hashtags Don’t Work on Facebook”
Many believe hashtags are ineffective on Facebook, but when used strategically, they can significantly boost engagement. Check out our best practices below for tips on how to use hashtags correctly.
“More Hashtags Mean More Reach”
Quality over quantity! A few targeted hashtags often perform better than a flood of irrelevant ones. The days of hashtag spamming are definitely over. To use the example of “The Masked Singer” again, notice how they only use hashtags for the name of the show and one other relevant detail, “#BuffaloMasks”.
Pros of Using Facebook Hashtags
- Improved Post Visibility: When you use hashtags, your content becomes part of a larger conversation. This increases the likelihood of it being seen by users searching for or following that hashtag.
- Better Audience Targeting: Hashtags help you target specific audiences. For instance, using niche-specific hashtags ensures your content reaches users genuinely interested in your topic.
- Community Building Through Hashtags: Hashtags can bring like-minded individuals together. Whether it’s a campaign-specific hashtag or one that resonates with your brand, it fosters a sense of community.
Best Practices for Using Facebook Hashtags
1. Choose hashtags that align with your brand, product or services
Yes, this sounds obvious, but it’s not easy, as there are no “right hashtags” that work for every brand. Always opt for hashtags that align with your content. Use a mix of broad and niche-specific hashtags to maximize reach and relevance.
2. Keep hashtags short and sweet
Short and memorable hashtags work best. Avoid long, complicated phrases and stick to simple, concise terms. Hashtags shouldn’t consist of any more than 3-4 words unless it’s an already well-known one.
3. Think carefully about where you put them
The best way to use hashtags on Facebook is to integrate them naturally in posts or captions. Placing them separately, after the caption looks clumsy and unnatural. For extra hashtags that don’t fit in with the rest of the post, add them in the first comment to keep your post looking clean. This is a great option for non-brand-specific hashtags like…
4. Seasonal hashtags: Combine them with your brand-specific ones
When planning your hashtags, don’t forget about seasonal favorites like #Thanksgiving or #Halloween. While it’s true more users will use these hashtags, making them more competitive, using them also means more potential eyes for your content.
Mistakes to Avoid with Facebook Hashtags
Overloading Posts with Hashtags
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the days of hashtag spamming are over. While hashtags are helpful, too many can make your post look spammy. Stick to 1–3 relevant hashtags for the best results.
Using Irrelevant or Misleading Hashtags
Hashtags unrelated to your content can confuse your audience and hurt your credibility. Facebook users usually expect relevant content from brands, unlike TikTok, where brands often jump on whatever’s trending, so stay genuine and purposeful.
Examples of Effective Facebook Hashtag Use
Brand Campaigns with Hashtags
Companies like Coca-Cola have successfully used campaign-specific hashtags such as #ShareACoke combined with seasonal hashtags like #ValentinesDay. This has helped align the brand with these holidays and special occasions and helped them create yearly repeatable campaigns.
Community Engagement Examples
Nonprofits often use hashtags like #GivingTuesday to unite supporters and amplify their cause. These hashtags encourage community participation.
Analyzing Facebook Hashtag Performance with Metricool
As with any strategy, getting your hashtags right is all about trial and error. Thankfully Metricool makes this process easier, allowing you to monitor metrics like reach, impressions, and engagement rates of your posts. You can use these insights to evaluate how well your hashtags are performing and adapt your strategy.
Track your Facebook hashtags
Monitor your metrics with Metricool
Adjusting Facebook Hashtag Strategies for Better Results
If a hashtag isn’t performing as expected, experiment with new ones or tweak your content to align better with trending topics. Combine up to 3 of the elements below, in different orders, to come up with hashtag formulas.
- Brand: Your/your client’s brand
- Product: The product or service your post is highlighting
- Offer: Relevant and timely special offers or discounts
- Season/Holiday: e.g “#BlackFriday” or “#JanuarySales”
- Brand slogan: e.g #ShareACoke
- Trend/Challenge: e.g “#RandomActOfKindnessChallenge”
Advanced Strategies for Facebook Hashtags
Include your strategic Hashtags in Facebook Ads: Including hashtags in your paid ad campaigns can expand reach and make your ads more discoverable.
Cross-Platform Hashtag Synergy
Use consistent hashtags across platforms like Instagram and Twitter to maintain brand consistency and maximize reach.
FAQs
How many hashtags should I use on Facebook?
It’s best to use 1–3 highly relevant hashtags for optimal engagement without overwhelming your audience.
Can I use the same hashtags on every post?
While consistency is good, tailoring hashtags to each post’s content increases relevance and effectiveness.
How can I track the success of my hashtags?
Use Metricool to measure reach, engagement, and impressions.
Do hashtags work in Facebook comments?
Yes, hashtags in comments are clickable and can contribute to post discoverability, but they are most effective when used in the main caption.
