Facebook Practices

*All information provided on this page is originally created and published on Facebook, by Facebook.

Facebook Hashtags (#)

Hashtags turn topics and phrases into clickable links in posts on your profile or Page. When people click a hashtag or search for a hashtag, they'll see a results that contain the hashtag so they can learn more about topics that interest them.

To make a hashtag, write # (the number sign) along with a topic or phrase written as one word and add it to your post (ex: I’m loving where I live! #SanFrancisco).

When to Use Hashtags

Creating your own hashtag

Start a conversation or invite your audience to participate.

Ivete Sangalo, one of Brazil’s biggest pop stars, used a personalized Facebook and Instagram hashtag to engage her fans by creating art out of their selfies. Fans were asked to post selfies with the hashtag so their pictures could be displayed at her trio elétrico (a stage truck) during Carnival.

Joining and driving conversations happening about you

Be part of the conversations happening about you on Facebook by responding to posts.

Amplifying your campaigns

If you are already using hashtags in campaigns through other channels, you can amplify these campaigns by including hashtags in your Facebook posts.

Using hashtags to source questions and answers

TV stations are using hashtags on Facebook to source fan comments to read and discuss on air

The Discovery Channel's 'Street Outlaws' uses on-air Facebook polling to allow fans to ask and answer questions featured throughout the episode with hashtags.

Join conversations already happening within the community

Watch what the community is naturally doing and join in on the conversation yourself

#ThrowbackThursday or #tbt are popular hashtags naturally occurring in the community where users post old or nostalgic photos.

Best Practices

Popular hashtags can be effective!

Sometimes, the most popular hashtag are the ones that make it easiest to reach fan. For example, you may feel tempted to differentiate a topic or promote the topic like: #NBAFinalsOnABC but fans may be using the simpler version of the hashtag, #NBAFinals

Keep it simple

Several different hashtags for a single topic can sometimes be confusing for fans. Keep it simple and use one or a few hashtags that fans can understand and remember

Avoid punctuation

Hashtags will not pick up any punctuation on any platform. For example #Let’sGoHeat should be written #LetsGoHeat so the entire hashtag is clickable

Avoid spaces

Hashtags will not pick up any spaces on any platform. For example #Lets Go Heat will not make the entire phrase clickable

Use hashtags to identify a topic of conversation

For example, “The Heat are playing great! #NBAFinals”

Incorporate hashtags into your sentences

For example, “Who gets your vote for #NBAFinals MVP?”

Connect other platforms to your Facebook Pages

Any hashtags that you use on other platforms that are connected to your Facebook Page will be automatically clickable and searchable on Facebook.

Facebook Tagging (@)

1.Type the person's name with a capitalized first letter.

2.Select a name from the list that appears.

To mention a Page or group in a post or comment:

1.Type "@" and then the Page's or group's name.

2.Select a name from the list that appears.

Keep in mind that depending on a Page’s settings, you may not be able to mention it.

When you mention a person, Page or group in a post or comment, a link is created. The audience for the link that’s created depends on the privacy settings of the person, Page or group you mention. For example, if you mention a secret group, only that group's members can see the link. The person, Page or group you mention may get a notification, and the post or comment may appear on their timeline.