In the world of social media, standing out from the crowd is essential. With over 800 million users on LinkedIn, simply posting content is no longer enough. Hashtags emerged as an effective way to increase visibility, but do they still work in 2023? This comprehensive article will examine if hashtags are still an effective tactic on LinkedIn in detail.
What are LinkedIn Hashtags?
LinkedIn added the ability to use hashtags in posts back in 2014. A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by the # symbol, like #socialmedia. On LinkedIn, hashtags work similarly to other social networks. Including relevant hashtags in a post description or comment allows your content to be discovered by more users interested in those topics.
When people click on a hashtag, they are brought to a feed showing other recent posts using the same hashtag. For example, someone could search #contentmarketing and see related updates from across the platform.
Do LinkedIn Hashtags Increase Reach?
Yes, utilizing relevant hashtags is still an effective way to increase content reach on LinkedIn in 2023. Hashtags make your posts searchable and discoverable to users interested in those subjects. Studies show LinkedIn posts with hashtags average:
- 2x more engagement
- 3x more clicks
- 12x more views
The more niche the hashtag, the less competition there is, and the more targeted the audience. Including a mix of popular and niche hashtags will maximize visibility. Posts can include up to 5 hashtags before LinkedIn limits further additions.
Most Popular LinkedIn Hashtags
While niche hashtags have lower competition, broader hashtags can still be worthwhile to tap into larger audiences. According to Socialinsider, the most used hashtags on LinkedIn are:
- #networking – used in 9.3% of posts
- #business – used in 5.4% of posts
- #jobs – used in 5.2% of posts
- #marketing – used in 4.8% of posts
- #leadership – used in 4.3% of posts
Posts on trending news, events, or holidays can also utilize relevant hashtags to connect with audiences interested in those topics.
Tips for Using Effective LinkedIn Hashtags
When incorporating hashtags into your LinkedIn content, keep these tips in mind:
- Place hashtags at the end of your post to avoid interrupting the flow.
- Research popular and niche options related to your industry.
- Use a hashtag on images to make them more discoverable.
- Include a branded hashtag across company updates.
- Test different hashtags and analyze performance.
- Avoid using too many in one post.
- Consider using both broad and niche hashtags.
Are There Downsides to LinkedIn Hashtags?
While hashtags can be highly beneficial, a few potential downsides include:
- Overuse can look spammy.
- They may attract the wrong audience.
- Too many will limit overall engagement.
- Irrelevant hashtags diminish authority.
- Trending topics change quickly.
The key is using hashtags strategically and consistently tracking performance. Routinely analyze which hashtags drive the most clicks, shares, and engagement for your brand.
Do LinkedIn Hashtag Analytics
Thankfully, LinkedIn provides analytics to assess hashtag performance. You can view data on:
- Impressions – How many times content with the hashtag was seen.
- Clicks – The number of clicks on posts.
- Engagement – Likes, comments, shares.
- Follows – New profile follows.
Analyzing this data will reveal which hashtags resonate best with your target audience. You can then refine your strategy accordingly.
Accessing LinkedIn Hashtag Performance
To view hashtag analytics:
- Go to your LinkedIn Analytics page.
- Select “Hashtags” from the menu.
- Choose a date range to analyze.
- Review performance data for each hashtag used.
- Identify top performing hashtags.
Regularly checking these metrics will allow you to continually optimize hashtags for maximum impact.
Conclusion
In summary, hashtags remain a highly effective tactic on LinkedIn in 2023 when used strategically. Including relevant hashtags makes your content more findable by target audiences. Studies show posts with hashtags generate increased engagement, clicks, and views.
To maximize impact, research popular and niche options to use. Place hashtags at the end of posts and consistently analyze performance in LinkedIn Analytics. Although overuse can have downsides, targeted use of hashtags will elevate content reach. For business pages and profiles seeking greater visibility, hashtags should certainly still be part of the LinkedIn marketing mix.
Hashtag Benefits | Hashtag Downsides |
---|---|
Increased engagement | Can look spammy if overused |
More content views | May attract the wrong audience |
Improved click through rate | Too many hashtags reduce engagement |
Expanded reach | Irrelevant hashtags diminish authority |
Greater search visibility | Trending topics change quickly |