How to Add Hashtags to Facebook Posts

Using hashtags on Facebook can feel like a bit of a guess, but they're a powerful tool for boosting your post's visibility and connecting with the right audience. When used correctly, these simple keyword markers can expand your reach far beyond your current followers. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add hashtags, which ones to choose, and the simple strategies that turn them into a serious advantage for your brand or business.

So, Why Bother with Facebook Hashtags?

For a long time, hashtags on Facebook were seen as an afterthought - a feature that technically worked but didn't have the same impact as on platforms like Instagram or Twitter. That has changed completely. Today, Facebook's algorithm actively uses hashtags to categorize content and recommend it to users who have shown interest in those topics. Think of them as signposts that tell Facebook - and its users - what your post is all about.

Here’s what strategically using hashtags can do for you:

• Improve Discoverability: When a user clicks on or searches for a hashtag, they are shown a feed of public posts that use that tag. By adding relevant hashtags, your content can appear in these feeds, putting you in front of a new audience that might not be following you yet.
• Increase Reach and Engagement: Because your posts are being seen by more people interested in your topic, you're more likely to see a lift in likes, comments, and shares. It’s a direct line to a pre-qualified audience.
• Create Brand Campaigns: You can create a unique, branded hashtag for a specific campaign, product launch, or event. It makes it easy for you to track contributions and for your audience to follow along with the campaign's story (e.g., #YourBrandLaunch2024).
• Join Broader Conversations: Using trending or community-focused hashtags allows you to participate in larger discussions happening on the platform. It shows that your brand is current and engaged with what’s happening in your industry or community.

How to Add Hashtags to Your Facebook Content: The Step-by-Step

Adding hashtags is technically simple, but doing it effectively across different post formats requires a bit of finesse. Here’s a breakdown for every type of content.

For a New Facebook Post

This is the most common way you'll be using hashtags. The process is straightforward and integrated directly into the post creation flow.

1. Click on the "What's on your mind?" box at the top of your News Feed, Page, or Group.
2. Write out the text for your caption, and if you're including them, add your photos or videos.
3. To add a hashtag, simply type the pound symbol (#) followed by your chosen keyword with no spaces or punctuation (e.g., #SocialMediaTips).
4. As you type, Facebook will suggest popular hashtags. You can click on one of these suggestions or finish typing your own original tag.
5. Place your hashtags either within your sentence for a conversational feel (e.g., "Our new line of #homedecor is perfect for a spring refresh!") or grouped at the end of your post text.
6. Once you're happy with your post and hashtags, click "Post."

For an Existing Post

Forgot to add hashtags or want to update an older post? No problem. It's easy to go back and edit.

1. Navigate to the post you want to edit on your profile or Page.
2. Click the three horizontal dots (...) in the top-right corner of the post.
3. Select "Edit post" from the dropdown menu.
4. The post composer will open, allowing you to edit the caption. Add or change your hashtags just as you would for a new post.
5. Click "Save" to apply the changes. The post will now be discoverable through the new hashtags you've added.

For Facebook Stories and Reels

Hashtags are just as important for short-form video and ephemeral content like Stories. The process is a little different but equally vital for discovery.

For Facebook Stories:

• Start creating your Story by adding a photo or video.
• Tap the "Text" (Aa) icon. Type your hashtag, starting with the # symbol. The hashtag will become a clickable link in your Story.
• Alternatively, you can tap the "Sticker" icon at the top of the screen and select the #HASHTAG sticker. Type your keyword into the sticker, and it will be styled neatly on your Story. Using the sticker can make it stand out a bit more.

For Facebook Reels:

• In the final creation step for your Reel, you'll see a field titled "Describe your reel..." This is your caption.
• Add your caption along with the relevant hashtags right in this box. For Reels, this is where discoverability is maximized. Treat the hashtags here the same way you would for a regular post.

How to Find Effective Facebook Hashtags (And Not Just Any Hashtags)

Just adding any old hashtag won't cut it. The goal is to find tags that are both relevant to your content and actively followed by your target audience. Throwing #love or #happy on a business post won't do much. You need to be strategic.

1. Use the Facebook Search Bar

The simplest research tool is built right into Facebook. Type a hashtag idea (e.g., #ContentMarketing) into the search bar. The results will show you a feed of posts using that tag. Pay attention to:

• Volume: Is this a widely used tag with tons of recent posts, or is it a quiet corner of Facebook?
• Relevance: Are the top posts using this tag similar to the content you create? If so, you're in the right place. If not, it might not be the right tag for your audience.

2. Analyze Your Competitors

Take a look at other pages and brands in your niche, especially those who get great engagement. What hashtags are they using on their top-performing posts? Don't just copy and paste their list, instead, use it as inspiration. Notice which tags are specific to your industry (e.g., #LocalBakery) versus broader interest tags (e.g., #BakingFromScratch).

3. Master the Hashtag Mix

The best strategy isn't to use just one "type" of hashtag. It's to use a healthy mix of different kinds. Think of it like a pyramid.

• Broad Hashtags (The Base): These are very popular tags with millions of posts (e.g., #Marketing, #Food, #Fitness). They can give you a small chance at huge reach, but your content may also get buried quickly. Use one or two max.
• Niche Community Tags (The Middle): These are more specific tags that describe your industry or core topic (e.g., #SocialMediaForSmallBusiness, #VeganRecipeShare, #HomeWorkoutIdeas). This is your sweet spot. People following these tags are highly interested in your subject matter.
• Branded or Campaign Tags (The Peak): These are unique to your business (e.g., #MyBrand_Official or your company slogan). Use these on every post to build brand recognition and create a filterable feed of just your content.

Facebook Hashtag Best Practices: Do's and Don'ts

Now that you know how and what to post, let’s wrap it up with some essential ground rules to make sure your efforts pay off.

DO: Keep It Concise and Relevant

Unlike Instagram, where 20-30 hashtags can be effective, Facebook best practices call for a more minimalist approach. Aim for 2 to 5 highly relevant hashtags per post. This keeps your caption looking clean and professional while signaling to the algorithm exactly what your content is about. Quality over quantity is the name of the game.

DON'T: Use Huge Blocks of Hashtags

A giant paragraph of 30 hashtags at the bottom of your Facebook post can look unprofessional and even spammy to users. It’s a visual cue that turns people off and doesn’t align with platform norms. Stick to your curated list of a few powerful tags.

DO: Check the Hashtag First

Before you use a hashtag, search for it on Facebook. Make sure the content associated with it is what you expect. Sometimes, a seemingly innocent hashtag has been co-opted for content you definitely do not want your brand associated with. A quick 30-second search can save you a world of embarrassment.

DON'T: Use Spaces or Punctuation

This is a fundamental rule but one that's easy to forget. Hashtags cannot contain spaces, periods, commas, or most special characters. A hashtag like #summer sale will only link the word "#summer." If you want to use multiple words, capitalize each for readability, like #SummerSale2024.

DO: Set Your Posts to 'Public'

Hashtags only work for discoverability if your post is public. If you add a hashtag to a post that's only visible to your friends, it will only link to the hashtag feed - but no one from the outside will be able to discover your post in that feed. For Pages this is the default, but it's an important note for personal profiles being used for business.

Final Thoughts

Adding hashtags to your Facebook posts is a simple but highly effective way to expand your organic reach, categorize your content, and attract an audience genuinely interested in what you have to say. By moving beyond just guessing and applying a thoughtful strategy for choosing relevant, community-focused tags, you can make your voice heard above the noise.

Once we nail down our hashtag strategy for an upcoming campaign or content series, our team plans and schedules everything in Postbase. This allows us to see our entire content calendar at-a-glance and ensures we're deploying the right branded, campaign, and niche hashtags consistently across all our posts without having to think about it every single day.