Social Media MarketingMarketing

How to Tag Someone on Facebook

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By Lindsey Newman - Guest Contributor

Published | Updated on
5 min read
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Tagging on Facebook can alert followers to posts and encourage engagement.

Tagging someone on Facebook makes a post visible to other users and connects you to a wider network of people and businesses. Through tagging, you can create a link to the tagged person’s timeline, which will also notify them about the post.

What is tagging on Facebook?

On Facebook, tagging is when you mention and link to another user, page, or group. You can tag in posts, comments, status updates, and photos. Tagging a user, page, or group turns their name into a clickable link and gives them a notification that they’ve been mentioned.

A notification showing a user has been tagged in a post on Facebook

A notification showing a user has been tagged in a post on Facebook

Why would you want to tag someone on Facebook?

There are many reasons why a business might want to use Facebook tags. For instance, you could tag another brand to announce a collaboration to both companies' user bases, or you could share user-generated content to promote the community and tag the users who shared the content to give credit.

When a person writes a Facebook post about a business and tags the business in it, the post shows on the business's Facebook page (as long as they have approved the tag or enabled public tagging). The marketing capabilities of Facebook’s tagging feature are cost-free, instantaneous, and ultimately invaluable.

Facebook tagging on desktop

On a desktop, the easiest way to tag on Facebook is by using the tag button.

Click on the status bar to start tagging.

Click on the status bar to start tagging.

Step 1: From your Facebook newsfeed, click on the text bar reading "What's on your mind?"

Click on the three dots on the bottom right to open more options.

Click on the three dots on the bottom right to open more options.

Step 2: In the "Create Post" window, locate and click on the three dots at the bottom right-hand corner to open additional "Add to Your Post" options.

Click on "Tag People".

Click on "Tag People".

Step 3: Click the "Tag People" option, indicated by a blue silhouette icon.

Start typing to select the person you want to tag.

Start typing to select the person you want to tag.

Step 4: Type the name of the person you want to tag and click "Done". 

Step 5: After tagging a user, their name will appear in the post. Once you're done tagging, click "Share" to publish the post.

Tagging on desktop using the "@" symbol

You can save a few steps when you tag someone in a Facebook post by using the "@" symbol.

Start typing "@" to open the tagging menu.

Start typing "@" to open the tagging menu.

Step 1: Locate the text bar at the top of the screen. Type the "@" symbol into the "What's on your mind... " text bar. Then, type the name of the person you wish to tag and select their name from the drop down menu.

Step 2: Click the "Post" button at the bottom to publish your content.

Facebook tagging on mobile

The interface of the Facebook app is consistent across all mobile platforms. Follow these steps to tag someone in a post by using the tag button:

Step 1: Open the Facebook app and tap the "What's on your mind?" text bar at the top of the screen to reveal additional posting options.

Open additional posting options by clicking "What's on your mind?"

Open additional posting options by clicking "What's on your mind?"

Step 2:  A "Create Post" window opens. Tap the blue silhouette icon labeled "Tag People."

Start typing a name into the search bar.

Start typing a name into the search bar.

Step 3: Scroll through your friends list to find the user you wish to tag or type their name into the search bar. Once you have chosen the user, tap “Done” in the upper right corner.

Step 4: Finish writing your post, and then tap "Post" to publish your content.

Tagging on mobile using the "@" symbol

Similar to desktop, you can also use the "@" symbol to quickly find and tag Facebook users.

Type "@" and start typing to open the tagging menu.

Type "@" and start typing to open the tagging menu.

Step 1: Tap the "Write something…" text bar and use the "@" symbol to search for the user you wish to tag. Do not leave spaces between the "@" symbol and the person's name.

Remember that the tag will not work if there are spaces between the "@" symbol and the person's name that you wish to tag.

Step 2: Tap the "Post" button to finalize your status update.

How to tag someone in a previous post

Have you ever posted a status update and forgot to tag a person or business in it? Follow these quick and easy steps to modify an existing post from a desktop or the Facebook mobile app.

Step 1: Click or tap the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the post that you wish to edit. Then, click or tap the "Edit post" button.

Start editing your post to add a tag after publishing.

Start editing your post to add a tag after publishing.

Step 2: Click or tap the blue silhouette icon to open the "Tag People" option or type the "@" symbol into the status bar. Type the name of the person or business you wish to tag, and select their name from the drop down menu.

Step 3: Click or tap the "Done" button to update your post with the tag, and click or tap "Save" to update your edited post.

What to consider when tagging on Facebook

Check out these tips and tricks for tagging on Facebook:

  • Tag people, pages, or groups that are directly relevant to the content you’re posting.

  • Avoid over-tagging people or pages over a short time span, which can seem spammy.

  • Provide context about why you’re tagging a person or page, since this can help increase engagement. 

  • Tag people in the comments of thought-provoking content to encourage engagement. 

Remember, Facebook is not only for social connections. When used effectively, businesses can greatly benefit from the word-of-mouth marketing that Facebook’s tagging feature encourages.

Disclaimer:

The steps to tag someone on Facebook were researched in September, 2023. The provided screenshots reflect how to perform such steps on a desktop and mobile and are subject to change. Refer to Facebook's Help Center for additional information.


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About the Author

Headshot of Lindsey Newman

Lindsey Newman is a veteran content writer specializing in technology and marketing. Her consumer tech work has been featured by Newegg and QuickBooks, and her content writing insights can be found on Medium.

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