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Blog Entry: #Facebook

Facebook is now using hashtags just like Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr in order to search for content and photos. The Silicon Valley social media conglomerate announced Wednesday that they have rolled out the hash tag function.

The hashtag is a tool that allows users to add the # symbol to signify a specific topic or buzz word discussed in a post, status, or photo. Using the hashtag allows the content to become searchable in an organized and categorized format.

The hashtag is useful because it brings specific conversations to the surface and can create trending information about public events, people, and topics.  Additionally, users can use the hashtag to control their audience and topic for their posts. Facebook has created these functionalities for the hashtag:
<ol>
	<li>Search for a specific hashtag from your search bar. For Example, #NBAFinals</li>
	<li>Click on hashtags that originate on other services, such as Instagram.</li>
	<li>Compose posts directly from the hashtag feed and search results.</li>
</ol>
Facebook has added that they will continue to release more features that help people discover more conversations around the world.

<a href="http://www.brandiron.net/?attachment_id=2903" rel="attachment wp-att-2903"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2903" title="NBA" src="http://www.brandiron.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/NBA-300x150.png" alt="" width="300" height="150" /></a>

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Utilizing hashtags can be an effective marketing and branding tactic; by categorizing a topic with a hashtag it is then associated with that content. Therefore you can associate specific searchable words with your business or products with the possibility of a viral response.

Check out the Facebook press release here:

<a href="http://newsroom.fb.com/News/633/Public-Conversations-on-Facebook" target="_blank">http://newsroom.fb.com/News/633/Public-Conversations-on-Facebook</a>