Tagging is one of the simplest and most effective ways to gain followers, attract attention, and praise pages or people for their products.
So, what does tagging mean?
Read on for more information on this practical and user-friendly tool and how it may benefit your account.
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What is Tagging?
Tagging allows social media users to connect without private messaging.
Customarily, tagging involves typing usernames or first names of account holders, and the option shows up in a dialogue box.
Consider the game you may have played as a kid – called Tag.
You may have chased other children around, tapped them on the shoulder, and called them It.
Tagging on social media is essentially the same process, but without the running around.
You can also think of it as graffiti.
It gets the other user’s attention.
What is the Result of Tagging?
After you tag someone, they will likely receive a notification and can like or reply to the post, comment, or photo you tagged them in – unless they have your account blocked.
If you tag a celebrity or well-known brand, they may not acknowledge you, as they get thousands of tags each day.
Local stores, however, usually respond well to tags and appreciate the shout-out!
What Kind of Posts Can You Tag?
You can tag almost anything or anyone in any post form (depending on the platform).
For example, on Facebook, you can tag people in comments, posts, groups, pages, photos, or statuses.
Instagram allows users to tag others in posts, photos, comments, stories, and reels.
If you see a funny video or fascinating news story, you can tag a close friend or relative in the comments so they can enjoy it, too.
It also works well for recommending businesses, as you can tag them in your status for your followers and friends to view.
What Does it Mean to Tag Someone or Something?
The most basic definition of tagging is to get the attention of a brand, page, friend, or relative that you may or may not have on your friend list.
Tagging lets the recipient know you are thinking of them or want them to see a specific post.
A tagged post often leads to interaction, praise, or sharing.
On Facebook, if someone tags you, it will show up on your profile unless you hide it or un-tag yourself.
What if I Do Not Want to Be Tagged?
While we love our family members, sometimes they tag us in odd posts or photos that we would rather not see on our profiles (particularly on Facebook and Instagram).
Enter the remove tag tool, a handy function that lets users remove themselves from a post if they do not want to see it on their profiles.
If a spam account tags you, you can also report or block that account to prevent them from harassing you any further.
At its core, tagging and hashtagging have similar effects.
The primary difference between the two is the subject matter.
Hashtags
Hashtags (represented by the pound sign) reference events, people, subjects, and more general topics than a traditional tag.
Common uses for a hashtag include:
- Celebrity fan accounts
- Food or recipes
- Fitness
- Challenges
Remember the cinnamon challenge?
People that recorded themselves doing the challenge used a hashtag – so if people clicked on the hashtag, it would take them to an entire archive of every cinnamon challenge existing tag.
Hashtagging does not take you to a single post.
It sends you to a page featuring every post with the hashtag in its description.
Where Can I Find Hashtags?
Most people type hashtags after they finish their initial post, whether text (such as on Twitter) or a photo on Instagram.
Small businesses often saturate their descriptions with hashtags, so they appear on multiple hashtag archives.
If a company requests a sponsored post from a popular account, they usually use a hashtag to attract more followers and attention to the brand.
Tags
As mentioned earlier, tags only apply to singular accounts, people, groups, or posts.
They do not take you to an archive of every post the tagged user has ever been in – they only send the account notification and show up on their profile.
Tags are more personal than hashtags, as they connect two specific accounts.
Hashtags are much more general.
What is a Tag on Social Media?
A tag is a shout-out or attention-getting measure directed at the user of your choice.
You can tag anyone you choose at pretty much any time.
If someone tags you, it will show up on your page, and vice versa.
The only time it will not work is if you block the other account or they block you.
Why Should You Use It?
Use tags when you see a post that reminds you of a friend or loved one.
You can also use a tag for photos, memories, and comments in groups you both may be members of – posts are the most common.
Another reason to use tags is to recognize a local company for its services or products.
The engagement boosts their chances of appearing on more pages, and small business owners appreciate knowing that you enjoyed their product.
Recognizing others is the principal goal of tagging, but it is also a great way to connect with friends or share a laugh.
You can make someone’s day by tagging them in a cat video!
When Should I Tag?
Since you tag from your profile or account, you can tag people whenever.
However, you may want to do so during the day if you want a quick response.
Otherwise, you can tag your friends in lighthearted content or interest groups at any point – whenever you feel compelled.
How Do I Tag on Social Media?
Every platform has different social tagging systems.
Below are some of the most popular outlets and how to tag people through your account.
One of the oldest platforms, Facebook is one of the most widely used sites for connecting with friends and family.
Although the website has had its fair share of controversies, people never shy away from posting.
What is Tagging on Facebook?
Tagging on Facebook is the quickest way to acknowledge another user or brand.
If you see a post featuring something that reminds you of a loved one, you can tag them to let them know they’re on your mind.
You can tag people in almost anything on Facebook.
Photos, comments, and shared posts are all fair game.
How Do I Tag Someone on Facebook?
If you want to tag someone on Facebook in any post, follow these steps:
- Begin typing the name or page in the text box above the post.
- When a dropdown box appears, click on the account you want to tag.
- Write a comment or description after the tag and click share.
Short, sweet, and to the point, Twitter is among the most popular social media platforms for its 140-character limit and less-restrictive-than-Facebook policies.
What is Tagging on Twitter?
Tagging on Twitter is similar to Facebook but on a smaller scale.
You can tag other users in tweets, threads, photos, and videos.
Additionally, you can follow hashtags and view an archive of past tweets, similar to Instagram.
How Do I Tag Someone on Twitter?
Tagging on Twitter is even easier than on Facebook.
All you do is type in the @ symbol and enter the name you want to tag – click post tweet, and you are good to go.
Instagram grew exponentially in popularity over the past few years due to the rise of influencers and celebrity accounts.
Brands and companies also use Instagram and often share posts to their Instagram story (short clips or images that disappear after 24 hours).
What is Tagging on Instagram?
The tagging feature on Instagram follows the same construct as Facebook and Twitter, but you may see giveaways or prizes more often.
Influencers or brands with sponsors run ad campaign giveaways by asking users to tag friends in the comment section.
The more you comment and tag, the more likely you will win.
How Do I Tag Someone on Instagram?
Instagram has a few options for tagging, including:
- Stories – you tag someone in your story by clicking on the icon that looks like a piece of paper. Click on the @mention sticker to enter your desired account.
- Posts – after you edit your photo(s), Instagram will allow you to tag others by clicking on the image at the location you want the tag.
- Descriptions – if you do not want to tag someone in a photo, you can tag them in the description. Just type in the @ key and enter the account name.
- Comments – like Facebook, you can tag other users in comments using the @ symbol and their name.
When you tag another user in a photo, other accounts can tap the image to view the tags.
If you want to build your professional network or find a new job, LinkedIn is the way to go.
While their tagging system operates comparably to the other networks on this list, the end goal is typically different.
What is Tagging on LinkedIn?
Tagging on LinkedIn is a great way to connect with other team members or praise employees for their hard work.
You can tag other users on LinkedIn if you follow them, but most people on the professional outlet have their accounts set to private.
How Do I Tag Someone on LinkedIn?
You tag on LinkedIn the same way as Facebook – typing a name and selecting it from a dropdown box.
Your scope on LinkedIn will likely be more narrow on LinkedIn.
You may only be able to tag people you work with or those with public accounts.
Pinterest is a hub for food, clothing, home decor, and cosmetic inspiration, and users often tag followers and friends to share ideas.
What is Tagging on Pinterest?
While users can tag followers in posts, one of the most common tagging features on Pinterest is the ability to share a board with other followers.
A communal board is an excellent method for gathering travel plans, wedding ideas, and social activities.
How Do I Tag Someone on Pinterest?
You can tag accounts on Pinterest by entering the @ sign and typing in the username.
Pinterest also allows you to tag brands and companies and use hashtags.
YouTube
Another platform that has been around forever, YouTube maintains its status as the most-used video-sharing social media network.
What is Tagging on YouTube?
YouTube has relatively limited tagging capabilities.
You can only tag other users in comments – or the description of your video if you create content.
How Do I Tag Someone on YouTube?
If you want to tag someone in your favorite YouTube clip, head to the comment section and type in the @ symbol.
Enter their name, click, and share.
TikTok
Reminiscent of the now-defunct Vine, TikTok is a video-sharing platform with billions of accounts.
As TikTok only features videos, you can only tag other accounts in video posts.
What is Tagging on TikTok?
Tagging on TikTok customarily works through comments or descriptions on video clips, like YouTube.
How Do I Tag Someone on TikTok?
Like YouTube, you can tag someone on TikTok by entering their name in the comment section.
Click their account from the dropdown box, and hit the post button.
Other Cases
The social media platforms above may be the most popular, but other platforms use electronic tag systems as well.
WordPress, for example, allows users to tag accounts in posts or comments related to the blog they create.
Tap the spacebar and enter @, followed by the account username or blog title.
You may notice that almost all platforms utilize the @ key to tag other accounts, and while it may seem odd at first, it streamlines the process across social media outlets.
If all else fails, type in the @ symbol to tag!
Cloud-based tools use tagging features by providing users with a tag cloud database of resources and other accounts.
If you work remotely, cloud-based tools work well for monitoring productivity and operational processes.
Finally, if you want to keep things simple, try tagging someone on Facebook with their first name.
You do this by entering the name as you ordinarily would but deleting the last name.
The first name should remain bolded.
Keeping Track of Tags
If you have a popular account, tracking your tags can become cumbersome.
The best way to manage your tags is to check your notifications frequently or disable them altogether.
Tracking services are also an option and can help you find legitimate sponsors and influencers to collaborate with or show public support for your business.
Wrapping Up
Tags work wonders for connecting with friends, family, people with shared interests, and even your favorite brands.
If you own a small business, tagging can make or break your social media success.
Remind customers to tag you if they post anything positive about your company and acknowledge it if they do so.
For casual users, it lets people know you think about them – even if you live hundreds of miles apart.
