LinkedIn is one of the top-tier social media platforms, with over 800 million users in over 200 countries. No wonder marketers, entrepreneurs, authors, and influencers pay close attention to this platform.
Regarding LinkedIn, social media gurus rave about scheduling and posting regularly, uploading videos natively, using live streaming, and upgrading to a premium subscription.
However, fewer people discuss the importance of using hashtags on LinkedIn. This is why I decided to shed some light on how to use hashtags on LinkedIn.
Keep in mind that if a social platform has provided users with a feature, it always has a specific role to play. So don’t sleep on such opportunities on social media.
Before we roll, let’s cover the basics.
What are LinkedIn hashtags?
LinkedIn hashtags are terms written with the sign “#” before the keywords. They are used in LinkedIn posts, comments, and ad descriptions to increase reach. Plus, hashtags also help people connect with like-minded people on the platform.
Furthermore, LinkedIn hashtags work precisely like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook hashtags. Users can search the content on LinkedIn using hashtags, which comes in handy for researching the platform.
One of the perks of LinkedIn hashtags is that users can follow the relevant hashtags to keep up with their industry. All they have to do is to type in their hashtag in the search bar and hit enter. LinkedIn would showcase the posts, jobs, people, groups, companies, and more related to your hashtag.
Why using LinkedIn hashtags is important?
LinkedIn hasn’t been the same platform it was a few years ago. Back then, companies and recruiters were big on this platform, and people hopped on LinkedIn to find jobs.
Things have drastically changed over the past few years. Now LinkedIn is one of the mainstream social media platforms. Therefore, it’s important for individuals and brands to understand every tiny aspect of the platform to make things happen.
Hashtags are one of the essential features of social media platforms. If you have been ignoring them for a while, then it’s time to rethink your social media publishing strategy. The following points will surely help you change your mind.
Here’s why LinkedIn hashtags are important:
Connect like-minded people
Hashtags, without a doubt, connect like-minded people.
Here’s how:
When you post a great piece of content with relevant hashtags, some industry-related people exploring the same hashtags stumble upon your LinkedIn post. Thus, it gives you a chance to connect with a look-alike audience.
Improve content discoverability
It’s the most important aspect of using LinkedIn hashtags. No matter how big or small you’re on LinkedIn, hashtags give your posts a chance to get discovered beyond borders.
Monitor content by keywords, topics or sources of your interest. Curate content that drives engagement on all of your channels.
Discover Relevant, Trending And Engaging Content
You should know that hashtags are searchable entities on almost all major social platforms. Therefore, using hashtags in your posts enables your content to get discovered through search. You can also use hashtags to discover content.
People can follow hashtags
One of the perks of using LinkedIn hashtags is that people can follow the hashtags. It means the hashtags could open new doorways of attention for LinkedIn users. It’s an excellent opportunity to keep an eye on the industry. Plus, LinkedIn users get to discover niche-related content without connecting with hundreds of thousands of people just by following relevant hashtags.
Increase post-organic reach
Hashtags could power up your LinkedIn posts to reach more people. The reason is that almost every social media platform makes any content pops that get clicks, likes, or comments. It’d surely take off if the right hashtags could get your content a few likes or comments. Thus, you’d be able to increase your post organic reach.
Related Read: Best Time to Post on LinkedIn
Add relevancy to the post
Since hashtags are connecting force on social media, users could use them to clarify their intention. Suppose you’re a recruiter looking for a content-writing candidate for a client. You could simply write a LinkedIn post and add hashtags such as #contentwriter, #contentwriting, and #jobalert to your post to clarify the post. Similarly, hashtags could do this for every industry or segment.
Infuse expert vibes
It’s an unspoken rule that using relevant hashtags puts you ahead of an average Joe. The reason is that most users don’t know how to use hashtags. So it’s not viable to ignore the tactics that signal certain implications. Using hashtags correctly could easily tell the audience you know what you’re talking about. This way, you might end up getting more eyeballs around.
So these were a few of the many reasons for using LinkedIn hashtags.
How LinkedIn hashtags are different from Twitter and Instagram hashtags
The idea behind the hashtag is pretty much the same across all major social media platforms, whether Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. However, some features may vary from platform to platform.
LinkedIn hashtags may not be as popular as Twitter or Instagram, but they’re worth paying attention to from a social media marketing standpoint.
Therefore, it’s important to know the key differences between LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram hashtags. Here are four major differences between hashtags on these platforms:
I. Hashtags following
One of the things that the LinkedIn hashtag does have but the Twitter hashtag doesn’t have and that’s the hashtag following system. One can’t follow hashtags on Twitter unless they’re using a third-party tool for doing so. When it comes to LinkedIn, users can easily follow hashtags and they’d appear on the left of their LinkedIn feed.
II. Number of hashtag followers
LinkedIn hashtags allow users to see how many LinkedIn followers are following the respective LinkedIn hashtags. When you go to the hashtags page on LinkedIn and the hashtags you’re following appear, you can see the number of followers for each hashtag mentioned along with the hashtag. On the flip side, you can’t do this on Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.
III. Number of posts using a hashtag
LinkedIn shows the number of followers for each hashtag, but Instagram does it differently. You can see the total number of people using a certain hashtag on Instagram. When you click on the hashtags, besides displaying all the Instagram posts tagged to the hashtag, you can see an estimated number of posts containing that hashtag. It sure is a huge plus for Instagram users.
IV. Save the hashtag
Twitter does have a slight edge over Instagram and LinkedIn with hashtag-saving features. Most Twitter users might not know that they can save the hashtag on Twitter. To do so, click on a Twitter hashtag and then click on the three-dotted option in front of the hashtag at the top of the page.
Click on the “save search” option to save the hashtag. Once saved, it’d appear in your search bar as you click or tap on the Twitter search bar.
So these were the key differences between LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram hashtags.
How to use hashtags on LinkedIn
Hashtags are not rocket science, but you must be vigilant and well-informed about using them on LinkedIn. Going overboard with inserting hashtags into your LinkedIn posts might not be a good idea.
You wouldn’t want your LinkedIn content to look spammy. So avoid using a bunch of hashtags and use only the right ones.
Always keep an eye out for the trends and norms on social media – if you have been following influencers on LinkedIn, you will notice that most of them use little to no hashtags.
The reason is that they focus on the “MESSAGE” rather than the tactics. However, it doesn’t mean influencers don’t try out growth hacks on social media platforms. They sure do, and they’re pretty good at it.
Related Read: 18 Best LinkedIn Tools That Drive Results in 2022
The key to winning on social media is to test out things, adopt whatever works for you, and eliminate those that don’t fit your brand persona or don’t bring positive ROI.
Before we dig deeper into several areas on LinkedIn where you could use hashtags, it’s necessary to set the ground rules for using them.
Here are some of the fundamentals of using hashtags on LinkedIn in 2023:
I. Number of hashtags per post
There is no right or wrong way of doing this, but you must keep it simple. Social media experts suggest using no more than five hashtags in a LinkedIn post. Some marketers claim that LinkedIn recommends three hashtags per post, but I didn’t find any evidence or source for that claim. However, I believe you’ll be better off using fewer hashtags on LinkedIn.
II. Prefer medium-sized hashtags
Large hashtags are a no-go; the same is valid with short hashtags. You won’t want to compete with millions of users using the same short hashtags. Try using medium-sized hashtags to make an impact. For instance, #exercisetips or #morningworkout are far better hashtags than #exercise or #morning.
III. Use existing LinkedIn hashtags
One of the issues rookie social media users run into is creating new hashtags. You should never try to create new hashtags.
The reason is that these newly created ones won’t have any followers because you just created them. Instead, try to use the existing hashtags regardless of the platform.
IV. Add hashtags moderately
You have probably heard of the Instagram hashtags limit; users can add up to 30 hashtags in a post. However, LinkedIn doesn’t have such a restriction, but it doesn’t mean you should bombard your posts with hashtags. Add hashtags moderately, and you’ll be fine.
V. Stick to the relevant ones
LinkedIn users, especially newbies, insert irrelevant and generic hashtags to get more attention. What they don’t know is that they’re up against huge players when they’re using generic hashtags. Plus, relevancy is the key to content marketing, so stick with the relevant hashtags and don’t add fluff to your hashtags.
So these were a few basic points to keep in mind while choosing or using LinkedIn hashtags.
Let’s head to the part where I discuss the LinkedIn sections where you could use hashtags.
Where to use LinkedIn hashtags
Establishing what type of hashtags you should use on LinkedIn is essential. For some types, it’s important to use location-based hashtags, for instance, if you’re visiting Los Angeles, you could use #LA or #LosAngeles in your posts.
Similarly, if you’re at the event, you could always cash in on the event-based hashtags, such as #comiccon or #smmworld.
Some of you might be curious about where to use hashtags on LinkedIn. The answer is that there are multiple LinkedIn sites where you could insert hashtags for more reach and engagement.
Here are several areas where you could use LinkedIn hashtags:
LinkedIn hashtags in the posts
It’s nearly impossible to grow on any social media platform without publishing posts natively on the platform – LinkedIn is no exception.
Try to post at least three to four times per week on LinkedIn. You could publish a text-based post, a video, an image, or a presentation deck.
Regarding the hashtags, you should include a few relevant hashtags in your post, no matter what. Social media marketers and digital marketing influencers have been doing this for a long time.
Neil Patel is a popular social media expert and entrepreneur. Check out his LinkedIn post:
He included a few hashtags relevant to his video topic in the LinkedIn post. Therefore, it’s pretty clear that we shouldn’t sleep on this opportunity to reach more people through hashtags.
LinkedIn hashtags in the articles
LinkedIn articles aren’t the most talked about at the moment, but the feature is still there. If you haven’t published a single article on LinkedIn, you could do it right away.
Simply go to the LinkedIn feed. Choose the “Write article” option from the publishing options. This option is widely known as a status bar across all social media platforms.
Anyway, when it comes to using hashtags on LinkedIn, you could also throw some hashtags in your LinkedIn articles.
Take a look at one of my LinkedIn articles from the past:
I used the hashtag #freelancing in my article. This way, I ensured that my article got more eyeballs
on LinkedIn. You can also read an official guide on using hashtags in LinkedIn articles.
LinkedIn hashtags in the profile bio
One of the most underrated growth hacks on LinkedIn is to use hashtags in the profile bio. In fact, LinkedIn encouraged users to insert relevant hashtags into their LinkedIn profile bio.
Most freelancers, web designers, and marketing experts use hashtags in their profile bio on LinkedIn.
Andrew Madson is a data science expert. Check out his LinkedIn bio:
You’ll find a lot of professionals from different fields using the same tactic on the platform.
LinkedIn hashtags in the comments
It’s a bit cheeky but it works fine. Just make sure that you don’t go overboard with this strategy. Add a highly relevant hashtag to your comment.
Some bloggers and marketing start their comments with hashtags, such as #protip or #question just to be clear. You can do that too if you want.
However, adding the hashtag to the keywords in your comment does the job.
Some believe that LinkedIn doesn’t allow hashtags to be used in LinkedIn comments, but I tested it and found otherwise.
So there were several places on LinkedIn where you could use hashtags.
LinkedIn hashtag rules & best practices
Using hashtags on LinkedIn shouldn’t be taken casually, especially when it comes to content publishing. Usually, social media platforms don’t appreciate spam activity. These social platforms often rely on the audience’s behaviors to tackle issues like hate speech or spamming.
There are always some ground rules for using social media platforms. When users pursue their social media goals without comprehending what they can and can’t do, they sometimes risk their hard work.
Therefore, it’s best to understand the basic principles of using social media platforms and their features before becoming frustrated.
Here are some unspoken rules for LinkedIn hashtags:
Length of the hashtags
The length matters greatly, especially when using several hashtags in your post. Try keeping your hashtags short and sweet.
Spacing between the words: Avoid spacing between two or more words; for instance, it should be #HappyNewYear, not #Happy New Year or #Happy-New-Year.
The number of hashtags: Keep the number of hashtags between one or two, but no more than three, in a single post. The reason is that it confuses the algorithm, and the post doesn’t get the desired outcome.
Remove punctuation
Avoid using punctuation in your LinkedIn hashtags. It also applies to hashtags across all social media platforms.
Not only does it increase the size of the hashtags, but it also looks odd.
Avoid mix up
Make sure to check the hashtags before creating or using them. You might not use hashtags already used for a different campaign or cause.
Incorporate in your content
Choose hashtags that are easy to include in your content. Usually, longer hashtags are difficult to incorporate as compared to medium-sized hashtags.
Industry relevance matters
Always use the most relevant hashtags for your industry. Specific terminologies in every industry are alien to the general public.
Keep your hashtags more generic.
Use multiple types of hashtags
Using multiple types of hashtags means don’t just focus on short and common hashtags that are very competitive. Instead, create a mix of hashtags that includes both short and medium-sized hashtags for better results.
So these were some best practices for using LinkedIn hashtags that would help you reach more people and impact the platform.
ContentStudio is a powerful social media management tool that provides social media scheduling, content calendar, content curation, social media approval workflow, social analytics, influencer discovery, and more.
One of the perks of using ContentStudio is that it integrates with several third-party platforms such as Canva, Crello, Imgur, Giphy, Replug, Bitly, Zapier, Google Drive, and many others.
Since we’re discussing hashtags, ContentStudio has a hashtag management tool that allows users to create new hashtags or use saved hashtags. Adding hashtags to your social media posts hasn’t been this easier.
Top LinkedIn hashtags mistakes to avoid at all costs
It’s not all rainbows and sunshine when using hashtags on LinkedIn. It’s important to stick to the best practices and avoid hashtag mistakes that rookie users make repeatedly.
The LinkedIn hashtag mistakes aren’t much talked about in the social media marketing space, which is why most social media users are unaware of these mistakes.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common hashtags mistakes people make on LinkedIn:
Cluttering too many hashtags
Adding more than three or four hashtags won’t be ideal. Avoid over-optimization of your LinkedIn posts with a bunch of hashtags. Inserting an influx of hashtags in a single post doesn’t look good, and it perhaps differentiates beginners from experts.
Using short and generic hashtags
Short hashtags such as #life, #value, and #safe won’t do any good. Most one-word or short hashtags are too generic to use on social media regardless of the platform. So avoid making this LinkedIn hashtag mistake.
Generating new hashtags
One of the common mistakes most rookie LinkedIn users make is that they try to come up with new hashtags on the platform. It doesn’t work on any social media platform. The reason is that new hashtags don’t have any attention or following. So try to use existing hashtags widely used across all social media.
Adding hashtags in the post body
Many users use in-text hashtags on LinkedIn, meaning they don’t separately write hashtags at the end of the post. Instead, they turn their keywords into hashtags as they write their LinkedIn post. There is no harm in that, but it doesn’t look good. Most influencers add hashtags at the end of the post.
Sticking irrelevant hashtags
You may have come across LinkedIn posts with irrelevant and unprofessional hashtags. Maybe, someone is trying to be funny or has a bone to pick with someone and that’s why they’re using unusual hashtags in their LinkedIn post. It’s best to avoid irrelevant hashtags at any cost. It may be an overstatement, but irrelevancy from posting on social media standpoint could push the audience away from you.
Also Read: Guide to Using LinkedIn for Business in 2024
Conclusion
The core idea behind writing this piece was to explain the importance of using LinkedIn hashtags and emphasize using them the RIGHT WAY.
Let me put it this way: there are two sides to the LinkedIn scene. People are either using LinkedIn hashtags wrong, or they’re bluntly ignoring them altogether.
There has to be a middle ground. So this is why we decided to shed some light on this topic.
You can always discover the newest hashtags every month, but it’s not worth it unless you use them right.
So the focus was to educate readers on using LinkedIn hashtags the way experts and influencers use and make the most of this opportunity.
The takeaway of this article is to keep your LinkedIn hashtags relevant, medium-sized, and fewer in numbers.
I’m hopeful that this article will help you share your LinkedIn content strategy for the better.