Facebook Hashtags are Finally Clickable
There has been discussion on Twitter about how Facebook needs hashtags for months.
The good news Facebook just announced is that they are finally flipping the switch and Facebook #Hashtags are starting to work. ????
A small percentage of Facebook users had #Hashtags activated Wednesday, and Facebook will continue to roll out hashtags to more users in the coming weeks.
This new Facebook feature has been released at the same time that many of users got the new graph search as well.
If #Hashtags do not work for you yet don’t worry Facebook will be rolling this new feature out to everyone before long.
Not sure what hashtags are? They are a simple way to add topic tags to the content you post by adding a # symbol before a keyword.
Here’s what Facebook had to say in their official announcement.
Introducing Hashtags on Facebook
Starting today, hashtags will be clickable on Facebook. Similar to other services like Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, or Pinterest, hashtags on Facebook allow you to add context to a post or indicate that it is part of a larger discussion. When you click on a hashtag in Facebook, you’ll see a feed of what other people and Pages are saying about that event or topic.
The new features that these tags provide include the ability to:
- Search for a specific hashtag from your search bar. For example, #NBAFinals.
- Click on hashtags that originate on other services, such as Instagram.
- Compose posts directly from the hashtag feed and search results.
How Hashtags Work on Facebook
Hashtags are already popping up all over the timeline, graph search and within groups.
Clicking on a hashtag in your timeline brings up a stream of general hashtag content, with posts from people you are friends with or brand you follow weighed higher than more general results.
Within Facebook groups Hashtags bring up posts from people within that group using that hashtag first.
With the release of Graph Search earlier this year, and the increase of hashtag-focused social campaigns being presented across multiple social media sites, in print, and on TV make it is an easy choice for Facebook to follow suit and make this cross-platform communication a little easier.
Facebook Hashtag Etiquette
Now that hashtags work on Facebook make sure to use them right.
Keep in mind that #youshouldavoidsuperlonghashtags and stay away from excessive hashtagging. One or two hashtags per post is plenty.
What do you think? Is Facebook trying too hard to be like Twitter?
What do you think of Facebook hashtags? Let us know in the comments below!
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13 Responses to Facebook Hashtags are Finally Clickable
I think that the incorporation of hashtags on Facebook is a great idea. Hashtags have become one of the best features on Twitter and Instagram for expanding your audience beyond your own followers. I think it’s great that we now have the potential to reach out to a much wider range of people, who otherwise may have never discovered us.
I agree.
Well Im not up on hastags but what if I promote a company like NIKE.. Now if i use #NIKE for my hastag. Where does it send them to? NIKE site or facetbook page. Now if that happens then I lose my commission thru my affiliate link. Because then they are being directed right to NIKE.. Right?
Hey Bob, not really. Hashtags help group a set of messages together. So clicking or searching #NIKE will bring all the messages that use #NIKE in it. It will not hyperlink to a related affiliate or facebook page.
And seeing how hashtags were being used on Facebook before they became official there doesn’t make me happy at all. How many times have you seen the abuse of hashtags from people who think it’s cute. Probably too many.
Garin to answer your question, Facebook is trying to be like everybody–your one stop shop for all things social media. Every time something hot or new tool appears on the social media scene, Facebook copies it. Google+, Twitter, Foursquare, and if we can’t beat Instagram we’ll buy it.
True enough. Facebook does not want anyone coming near their social media crown. They even tried to buy Twitter four or five years for half a billion in stock but Twitter turned them down! Good thing they did too since Twitter is now worth several billion.
This is such a timely post because I’m in the middle of planning a video blog post on hashtags. I think this is a great move for Facebook and the Social Media world. It brings a set of “standards” when it comes to people posting the same content across multiple social media services.
Thanks Garin!
Cheers Brandon! Totally agree that this is a smart move for Facebook. Let me know when your Hashtag video drops!
Gets me excited! Especially for Facebook Company Pages ????
While I initially was not in favor of this, I think it will add value to Facebook as we all know how challenging it is to search for things on Facebook.
I think I’m ready for a test drive…
Thanks, Garin. Great stuff as always.
Thanks Garin
Great Information Garin