One often overlooked tool in the Facebook marketing toolkit is the hashtag. While hashtags are more commonly associated with platforms like Instagram and Twitter, they also play a valuable role in your Facebook strategy. When used effectively, hashtags help increase your reach, engage your audience, and even provide insights to validate your startup idea.
In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into hashtags on Facebook. We’ll cover what they are, why they matter for your startup, and most importantly, how to use them strategically to achieve your marketing goals.
What are Hashtags and Why Use Them on Facebook?
First, let’s cover the basics. Hashtags are words or phrases preceded by the “#” symbol, used to categorize and make content discoverable on social media platforms. While hashtags are more commonly associated with platforms like Instagram and Twitter, they can also be valuable on Facebook.
Here’s why you should consider using hashtags in your Facebook marketing strategy:
- Increased Visibility: When someone clicks on a hashtag or searches for it, they can see all the public posts that include that hashtag. By using relevant hashtags, you increase the chances of your content being discovered by people interested in your niche.
- Engaging with Trending Topics: Hashtags can help you join conversations around trending topics related to your industry. By adding your voice to these discussions, you can gain exposure for your startup and establish thought leadership.
- Creating Branded Hashtags: You can create hashtags unique to your startup and encourage your followers to use them when posting about your brand. This can help you track user-generated content and build a sense of community around your products or services.
Best Practices for Using Hashtags on Facebook
Now that you understand the potential benefits of hashtags, let’s look at some best practices for incorporating them into your Facebook strategy:
1. Research Relevant Hashtags
Before you start sprinkling hashtags into your posts, take some time to research which ones are most relevant to your startup and target audience. Look at what hashtags your competitors and industry influencers are using, and consider which ones are most likely to help you reach your goals.
2. Use a Mix of General and Specific Hashtags
It’s a good idea to use a combination of broad and niche hashtags. For example, if you’re a startup selling eco-friendly water bottles, you might use general hashtags like #sustainability and #ecofriendly, as well as more specific ones like #reusablewaterbottle and #saynotoplastic.
3. Create a Branded Hashtag
Develop a unique hashtag for your startup and include it in your profile, cover photo, and posts. Encourage your followers to use it when sharing content related to your brand. For example, Airbnb uses the branded hashtag #BeAnAirbnbTraveler to curate user-generated content and build a sense of community.
4. Don’t Overdo It
While hashtags can be helpful, using too many in a single post can come across as spammy and detract from your message. Stick to a few relevant hashtags per post, and focus on creating quality content that resonates with your audience.
Using Hashtags to Validate Your Startup Idea
In addition to boosting your visibility and engagement, hashtags can also be a valuable tool for validating your startup idea on Facebook. Here’s how:
- Track Hashtag Performance: Use Facebook Insights to track the performance of hashtags you’re using. Pay attention to which ones are generating the most engagement and driving traffic to your website. This can give you a sense of what topics and angles resonate with your target audience.
- Engage with Hashtag Users: Monitor the hashtags related to your industry and engage with the people using them. Like and comment on their posts, and join in on relevant conversations. This can help you build relationships with potential customers and gain insights into their needs and pain points.
- Conduct Hashtag Campaigns: Run a Facebook campaign centered around a specific hashtag related to your startup idea. Encourage people to share their stories or feedback using the hashtag, and offer incentives for participation. This can help you gather valuable data on whether your idea resonates with your target market.
