But first, what are hashtags? And, as a B2B Marketer, why do I care?

Not familiar with hashtags? Well, you should be. They can be a valuable tool for your B2B social media efforts. In short, a hashtag, #this thing you see all over your Twitter feed, is a searchable tag placed within a tweet that allows others to more easily find and connect on topics of broad interest. Pardot, a leading marketing automation company, and Marsden & Associates partner, has a great best practices guide for marketers.

Love them or hate them, it looks like hashtags are here to stay. Over the last few years, this social media phenomenon, invented by this guy, way back in 2007, and pioneered by Twitter, has worked its way into our everyday vernacular. Since then, hashtags have become so common in pop culture digital speak, that Facebook users have been putting them in their posts, even though there has been no functionality that supports hashtag search…until now. The announcement came yesterday that they would be rolling out hashtags to better support public conversations on Facebook, stating that:

            “We will be rolling out a series of features that surface some of the interesting discussions people are having about public events, people, and topics. As a first step, we are beginning to roll out hashtags on Facebook. “

Facebook even released a few tips for marketers to best leverage this new tool, titled, “ Introducing hashtags on Facebook.”

Here they are, straight from Silicon Valley:

1. If you are already using hashtags in an advertising campaign through other channels, you can amplify these campaigns by including your hashtags in Facebook advertising. The same creative best practices on Facebook still apply – compelling copy and photography that is in the brand voice works best.
2. Any hashtags that you use on other platforms that are connected to your Facebook Page will be automatically clickable and searchable on Facebook.
3. Like other Facebook marketing tools, hashtags allow you to join and drive the conversations happening about your business. We recommend you search for and view real-time public conversations and test strategies to drive those conversations using hashtags. 
4. Hashtags do not impact your distribution or engagement in News Feed on either desktop or mobile. We recommend you continue to focus on your existing campaigns to drive your most important business objectives. 

There is little doubt that this will have an impact on the world of B2B marketing, though it is yet to be seen exactly what that will entail. 

Look for a future post from us on using Facebook hashtags for your business.

Want to know how to optimize your existing social media presence, in anticipation of the new changes to Facebook, download our free Inbound Marketing eGuide.   

Please give a warm welcome to our newest Inbound Marketing Intern, Reade Milner. Reade brings a passion for digital marketing that was ignited while earning his undergraduate degree from Emory University, and fueled through his work for an SEO/SEM firm. Reade joins Marsden & Associates to support our Inbound Marketing practice, bringing his enthusiasm for all things digital and social media.  Welcome, Reade! 

Anne Marsden