Six tips for using hashtags effectively on LinkedIn
LinkedIn first introduced hashtags way back in the dim and distant days of 2018. Since then, they’ve become an important way to increase reach and visibility on the platform, making relevant content discoverable to users according to their interests.
You can use LinkedIn hashtags by adding them to your content (helping people to find it) and you can also follow hashtags so that you’re shown more content that you’re likely to be interested in. LinkedIn’s “Discover More” feature on your home page will show you a wide range of hashtags you could follow.
Get noticed on LinkedIn by using the right hashtags
Hashtags work slightly differently on LinkedIn compared with other platforms, so when you’re adding them to your content, don’t rely on the same ones you’d choose for Instagram or Twitter.
Instead, follow my six easy tips for using hashtags on LinkedIn and you’ll be tagging like a pro in no time!
1. Find the right hashtags
To find hashtags on LinkedIn, type a relevant word into the platform’s search bar. It’ll show you a selection of recommended hashtags, and you’ll find these are usually in bold, meaning they already exist and are used by other people on the platform. Make sure they’re professional (LinkedIn is a professional platform after all!) and relevant to your piece of content.
2. Consider the size of each hashtag’s audience
Your next step is to see how many followers each hashtag has. There’s no rule against using some of the more popular hashtags, but you might find your post quickly gets lost in a sea of other posts, meaning your target audience may not actually see it.
Using industry-specific, geographic-specific or more niche hashtags with smaller audiences can often be more effective at connecting you with your target audience. Experiment with a few and see if this works for you!
3. Don’t overdo it
#Please #do #not #hashtag #every #single #word. It makes it hard to read, doesn’t look professional and really importantly, might be marked as spam by LinkedIn. Think quality, not quantity and try for an average of three (maximum five) hashtags per post.
4. Make sure your hashtag matches your content
Your hashtags should always be relevant to your posts. For example, if I was posting these tips on LinkedIn I might choose #LinkedinTips #LinkedinMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing and #Hashtags so that people following these hashtags become more likely to see them.
5. Create your own company or branded hashtag
Using your own hashtag is a great way to increase your brand’s visibility. Every time you post content with your own hashtag, users who follow that hashtag are more likely to see your posts. You could choose to use your company name, a brand hashtag, a campaign hashtag or an event hashtag. You don’t need to do anything to set it up, just make sure it’s not already being used by someone else and then start using it!
6. Be aware of grammar and punctuation pitfalls
It’s always good to be aware of grammar and punctuation as a professional business, but there are even more reasons why this can be a problem when it comes to hashtags.
Don’t add spaces within your hashtags (otherwise they stop being hashtags!) and if your hashtag contains more than one word, use capital letters to indicate the start of each word.
We all like to laugh a little but there have been some pretty embarrassing hashtags out there. Whether they’re genuine mistakes or deliberate PR stunts, we’ll never know, but here are a few cautionary tales!
#nowthatchersdead (intended as Now Thatcher’s Dead)
#therapist (intended as Therapist)
#susanalbumparty (intended as Susan Album Party)
Time to give it a go!
Over to you… remember that adding hashtags to your posts will increase your overall chance of getting them seen by your target audience, so it’s well worth the effort. Use them wisely and test out which ones work best for you, reviewing your insights as you go.
Good luck!
Want to learn more about hashtag strategy? Social Jooce’s training covers this and lots more! →
