How Do Marketers Benefit from Facebook Hashtags?

After hashtags were first introduced on Twitter a few years ago, more social media networks have been incorporating the tool in their own platforms to increase interaction among users and improve searches. There is an ongoing debate among social media marketers regarding the true efficacy of hashtags on Facebook for campaigns. Some say that the benefits are only minimal while others always include at least one hashtag for every action in the hope of attracting the right customers.

The Perks

1. Improving communication Primarily, hashtags on Facebook are intended to group people with the same interests together. Marketers do not have to randomly look for potential clients by targeting entire groups then having only a few respond to advertisements. With hashtags, the right people are drawn to conversations, thus saving time and energy. Marketers can directly communicate with key individuals without having to check their background and interests. 2. Improving content discovery Facebook users can easily find the right information by using hashtags. Hashtags generally categorize topics so users simply need to type in the right keywords to be led to the proper discussion. Online communities can easily discover rich and useful information that will ultimately encourage them try certain products or invest in the business making the hashtag. Check out this Facebook hashtags on hit TV series #WalkingDead. 3. Linking advantages Since hashtags basically started on Twitter, more of these are used by Twitter users on the platform. Once Facebook is linked to Twitter, there will be a combination of tweets and updates coming from users on both platforms. Facebook can capitalize on the fact that it has twice as many users compared to Twitter. Interaction and user engagement can increase significantly because of these. 4. Announcement benefits Facebook users can make use of hashtags in the same manner as Twitter users do, such as announcing upcoming events, introducing new products and spreading brand awareness. Marketers can begin the hype weeks in advance by starting a hashtag campaign on a future activity. This will ensure more participants on the expected date. Marketers can also be aware of potential problems and other concerns before the actual date by staying in touch with key clients and communicating with them through the hashtags.

Tips for Marketers

1. Research Check for existing hashtags that may be similar to the one you?re planning to make. Determine the popularity of existing hashtags by using social analytics tools. Also use keywords that will easily be found or recalled by users. Be specific when making the hashtag and include the right numbers, capitalization or words to draw more participants. Use no more than three words preferably then include a short caption on what it?s all about. You can also include a call to action to spark interest. 2. Participate Monitor the hashtag and keep discussions within topic. Spend time answering queries and communicate with people to know their specific requests. Also provide fresh and unique content regularly. Share photos and other visual content to keep conversations fun and interesting. Always evaluate results after each hashtag campaign. Find out how target clients responded to each one via hashtag analytics tools.