How to Tag a Video on Facebook

Tagging a video on Facebook is one of the most effective ways to boost its reach, catch the attention of specific people or brands, and encourage engagement. It's a simple action that can have a significant impact on your video's performance. This guide will walk you through exactly how and when to tag on Facebook, best practices for authentic engagement, and common mistakes you'll want to avoid.

Why Tagging Your Facebook Videos is a Must-Do Strategy

Before getting into the step-by-step, let's look at why tagging is so powerful. When you tag a person or a Page in your video's description or frame, you aren't just creating a blue link. You're triggering a series of actions within the Facebook ecosystem that work in your favor.

• Increased Reach and Visibility: When you tag someone, your video has a chance of appearing on their timeline. If you tag a business Page, it might show up for their followers. This instantly exposes your content to a new audience that might not follow you directly. This is a fundamental way to grow organically.
• Direct Notifications: Every person or Page you tag receives a notification. This is a digital tap on the shoulder saying, "Hey, we mentioned you!" This makes them aware of your content and significantly increases the odds they'll come to watch, comment, or share it.
• Building Community and Relationships: Tagging collaborators, customers who provided user-generated content, or partner brands is a fantastic way to give public credit and strengthen relationships. It acknowledges their contribution and makes them feel seen, fostering goodwill and a sense of community around your brand.
• Enhanced Social Proof: A video featuring and tagging happy customers, respected industry leaders, or complementary brands instantly gains credibility. It shows viewers that you're connected and engaged within your community or industry.

The Basics: How to Tag People or Pages in a Video Post

The most common and direct method of tagging is within the video's description (also known as the caption or status update) while you're creating the post. The process is simple and works similarly on desktop and mobile devices.

On a Desktop Computer:

1. Start by creating a new post on your Facebook Page or personal profile. Click "Photo/Video" and upload the video file from your computer.
2. While the video is processing, click into the text box that says "Say something about this video..."
3. To tag a person or a Page, type the "@" symbol. Immediately after the symbol, start typing the name of the person or Page you want to tag, with no space in between.
4. As you type, a dropdown menu will appear with suggestions matching what you've typed. These suggestions will include your friends and Pages you've liked or interacted with.
5. Click on the correct name from the list. The name will turn into a blue, clickable link in your post's text. You can confirm the tag was successful if you can no longer edit the text of the name itself.
6. Repeat the process for everyone you want to tag. Once you're finished writing your description and adding tags, click "Post."

On a Mobile Device (Facebook App):

1. Open the Facebook app and navigate to your Page or profile. Tap "What's on your mind?" (for profiles) or "Create a post" (for Pages).
2. Tap on "Photo/Video" and select the video you want to upload from your phone's gallery. Tap "Next."
3. In the "Say something about this..." field, create your video caption.
4. Just like on desktop, use the "@" symbol followed immediately by the name of the person or Page. A list of suggestions will pop up above your keyboard.
5. Tap the correct profile or Page from the list to add the tag.
6. Once you're satisfied with your caption and tags, tap "Post."

Tagging People Within the Video Frame

Similar to tagging people in photos, Facebook also allows you to tag individuals within the video itself. This feature lets you identify who is who as they appear on screen. It’s a great tool for personal videos like family events, but brands can also use it effectively for things like team introductions, event recaps, or panel discussions.

You can typically apply these tags after the video has been uploaded and posted.

1. Go to the posted video on your timeline.
2. Click on the video to open it in a larger view.
3. Look for the tag icon in the options menu (it usually looks like a price tag). Click on "Tag Video."
4. Pause the video where the person you want to tag is clearly visible. A box will appear on the video frame.
5. Click inside the box or drag it over the person’s face. Start typing their name, and a dropdown menu will appear.
6. Select the correct person. A tag will be associated with that specific moment in the video. Click "Done Tagging" when you're finished.

The tagged person will get a notification, and viewers can hover over the frame to see who is tagged in that part of the video.

Strategic Tagging: Do's and Don'ts for Maximum Impact

Knowing how to tag is only half the story. Knowing who and when to tag is what separates spam from smart social media strategy. Abusing the tagging feature can make your brand look desperate and even get your content reported. Here’s how to do it right.

The Golden Rules of Tagging (The "Do's")

• DO Tag People Who Are in the Video: This is the most obvious and authentic reason to tag. If you're interviewing someone, showcasing a team member, or featuring an event attendee, tag them.
• DO Tag Collaborators and Partners: Did you work with another brand, an influencer, or a non-profit on this video project? Tag them! This is a great way to cross-promote and share audiences.
• DO Tag the Location: Don't forget to use the "Check In" feature to add a geotag to your post. This tags the restaurant, event space, park, or city you're in, making your video discoverable to people searching for that location. It’s especially important for local businesses.
• DO Tag a Customer (with Permission): If your video features user-generated content (UGC) or a customer testimonial, tagging them is a great way to give them a shout-out. Always ask for permission before posting and tagging them publicly, especially on a business page.
• DO Tag Original Creators or Inspirations: If your video is a response to another creator’s trend or directly inspired by someone else’s work, it’s good etiquette to tag them to give proper credit.

Common Tagging Mistakes to Avoid (The "Don'ts")

• DON'T Tag Irrelevant Accounts for Attention: Do not tag celebrities, large media outlets, or massive accounts that have absolutely nothing to do with your video just to try and get noticed. This is the definition of spam. It's annoying to the tagged account and makes your brand look unprofessional to your audience.
• DON'T Hide Tags: Some try to make text super small or the same color as the background to hide tags. This is a bad practice that Facebook's algorithm can detect, and it creates a poor user experience. Tagging should be open and relevant.
• DON'T Engage in "Tag Swapping" Rings: Avoid groups where people agree to mass-tag each other on everything to game the algorithm. It generates low-quality, inauthentic engagement and the algorithm is smart enough to identify this artificial behavior, which can hurt your Page's long-term health.
• DON'T Over-Tag: A caption with twenty tags looks messy and desperate. Limit your tags to only the most relevant people and pages. Quality over quantity is always the right approach here. A handful of meaningful tags are far more powerful than dozens of random ones.

Advanced Tagging Techniques for Brands and Marketers

Once you've mastered the basics, you can use more advanced features designed specifically for businesses and content creators on Facebook.

Using the Branded Content Tool

If your video is part of a paid partnership or sponsorship with another brand or influencer, you should use Facebook's official Branded Content tool. This is more formal than a simple "@" tag.

When you create the post, look for the handshake icon and select "Tag Business Partner." When you tag your partner this way, the post will display a "Paid Partnership" label. This isn't just about transparency, it also gives your business partner the ability to see the video's performance analytics and boost the post with their own ad spend. It’s the professional standard for collaborative content.

Tagging to Encourage a Share

A smart way to leverage tagging is to coordinate with the person or brand you plan to feature. Before publishing your video, send them a quick message: "Hey, we've produced a great video featuring your work/product/insights and we're planning to post it tomorrow. We will be sure to tag you! Would be great if you could share it with your audience." This gives them a heads-up and makes them much more likely to share the video with their own followers, dramatically expanding your potential reach.

Final Thoughts

Tagging on Facebook is much more than just a technical function, it's a strategic tool for communication, community building, and amplification. By moving beyond random tags and adopting a thoughtful approach - tagging only relevant individuals and pages, giving credit where it's due, and leveraging partnerships - you can transform a simple video post into a powerful networking and visibility opportunity.

Nailing your content strategy and encouraging engagement is the best way to grow, but managing the conversations after your video takes off can be overwhelming. As a team that’s lived through the chaos of jumping between apps, we designed a better way. With Postbase, we bring your comments and DMs from all your platforms into one streamlined inbox. That way, when your smart tagging strategy leads to a wave of new comments, you can stay on top of every conversation and keep the engagement going without getting lost.