Facebook hashtags finally rolled off the assembly line and onto our computer screens.  With them come new opportunities to use social media marketing to build your business.

By understanding a few simple points about using hashtags on Facebook you’ll be ready to get your business involved.

What are Facebook hashtags?

Hashtags are words used to organize similar ideas, events or topics.  They begin with a ‘#’ and are often found at the end of a post.

When you see a hashtag on Facebook, click on it and you’ll see a list of other posts containing the same hashtag, in chronological order.   You can also use the search bar at the top of the screen to search for hashtags.

For example, let’s say your business was hosting a 4^th of July barbeque.  You post about it on Facebook including the hashtag ‘#4thofJuly’ at the end of the post.   If you click on the hashtag, all other accessible posts with the same one will appear.

How do Facebook hashtags benefit my business?

Since your post is now ‘hashtagged’ with #4thofJuly, every time someone anywhere on Facebook clicks on a #4thofJuly hashtag, your post will appear.

It’s important to keep in mind that your posts must be public in order to realize the full benefit.  Hashtags don’t override existing privacy settings.  The results are shown in chronological order, so the most recently tagged #4thofJuly posts will show at the top.

Why should I use Facebook hashtags for my business?

The real benefit of using Facebook hashtags is to the opportunity to interact with people who are talking about things relevant to your business.   If your business sells barbecue grills you could use the 4^th of July example above as an opportunity to engage with people who could potentially become customers.

Share your favorite barbecue tips and put a #BBQtip hashtag on it.  If you do that just before July 4^th, chances are someone on Facebook is going to be searching for barbecue tips.  If your content is compelling they’re likely to check out what you have to say about barbecuing for the holiday.

By providing useful content you’re adding value to the Facebook community.  People who land on your page are likely to reward your efforts with a ‘Like’.  Now you’ve taken advantage of an opportunity to reach someone who is precisely your target customer, all because of Facebook hashtags.

It’s common to feel overwhelmed when new changes are implemented in social media.  Don’t let that stun you into inaction.  Begin with one hashtag, experiment and find your comfort level until you see what works best.

If you’re still not sure where to start, get in touch with us.  Our social media experts would be happy to talk with you about how social media using Facebook hashtags can benefit your business.