Adding a hashtag to a LinkedIn post can help increase the visibility and reach of that post in a few key ways. Hashtags allow users to organize and search for content, so using relevant hashtags makes it more likely your post will be discovered by others who are interested in that topic or keyword. Here’s a closer look at how LinkedIn hashtags work and how to use them effectively.
Hashtags Help Categorize Content
Hashtags act like keywords or categories that help group related content. For example, adding #socialmedia, #marketing or #LinkedIn to a post categorizes it so other users interested in those subjects can find it more easily. LinkedIn hashtags work just like hashtags on other social networks – anyone searching or following particular hashtags will see posts containing those terms pop up in their feed or search results.
This makes hashtags very useful for targeting your content to specific audiences on LinkedIn. If you want to reach people interested in social media, adding #socialmedia makes your post more discoverable to that group. The same goes for any industry, job function or topic – using relevant hashtags essentially labels your content for matching audiences.
Hashtags Expand Your Reach
Along with categorizing content, hashtags expand the reach of your posts. Adding a popular hashtag means your content may be viewed by users who don’t normally see your posts but do follow or engage with that hashtag. For example, if you use trending hashtags or hashtags commonly searched for on LinkedIn, you can get your post shown to new audiences beyond just your direct connections.
This “hashjacking” approach can be an effective way to utilize LinkedIn hashtags for greater visibility. Look at which hashtags are generating engagement within your industry and consider incorporating the most popular ones into your own posts. Just be sure the hashtags you use are directly relevant to your content – irrelevant hashtags may cause your post to be seen as spam.
How Hashtags Help With SEO
Using targeted keywords in your LinkedIn content is a key SEO strategy for improving your visibility in search engines. Hashtags contain keywords and phrases, so they can similarly optimize your posts for search if you use terms and topics that your target audiences are likely searching for.
For example, an HR professional wanting to rank for searches related to “recruiting” or “HR management” could include hashtags like #recruiting, #HRmanagement, #HRpro in their posts. This makes their content more findable in LinkedIn search, Google search, and other search engines for users searching those and related terms.
Hashtags even help optimize the snippet preview of your post in search results by highlighting topic keywords – which improves click-through rates from search. Overall, incorporating relevant hashtags is an easy way to directly build keywords into your LinkedIn content for SEO.
Best Practices for Using LinkedIn Hashtags
To maximize the benefits of hashtags, keep these best practices in mind:
- Place hashtags at the end of your post – LinkedIn cuts off any hashtags used at the beginning or middle of a post in the main feed view.
- Use 2-3 highly relevant hashtags per post – Too many hashtags looks spammy and irrelevant hashtags don’t add value.
- Research which hashtags are popular and trending within your industry.
- Include both broad and niche hashtags to reach the most people.
- Test different hashtags to see which perform best for your audience.
- Optimize hashtags for SEO by using relevant keyword terms.
Maximizing LinkedIn Hashtag Visibility
To maximize visibility of your hashtags on LinkedIn:
- Post consistently and frequently – The more you post, the more opportunities for your hashtags to be seen.
- Engage with others’ content and hashtags – Exposure works both ways on LinkedIn.
- Follow hashtags you use so you see who else is engaging.
- Watch the LinkedIn newsfeed for trending topics and relevant conversations to join.
- Analyze hashtag performance to refine the terms you use over time.
Types of Content to Use Hashtags On
You can use hashtags on any LinkedIn post type. Here are some of the best content formats to incorporate relevant hashtags:
- Standard posts – Include hashtags at the end of the main post text.
- Articles/long-form posts – Add hashtags in an intro/summary section for visibility before users click “see more.”
- Photos – Place hashtags in the caption alongside the photo/image being shared.
- Videos – Add hashtags in the video description text.
- Discussion posts – Use hashtags to summarize the discussion topic and draw in participants.
- Events – Incorporate event-specific hashtags people can use to discuss/share the event.
The key is using hashtags consistently across different content types for maximum visibility and categorization.
Pitfalls of LinkedIn Hashtags to Avoid
While hashtags can boost engagement when used effectively, there are a few pitfalls to avoid:
- Don’t hashtag irrelevant or misleading keywords just to try gaining reach. This can cause your post to be seen as spam.
- Avoid excessive hashtags that provide no context. Too many hashtags looks messy and promotional.
- Don’t use trending hashtags that have nothing to do with your content. These will appear disingenuous.
- Steer clear of oversaturated hashtags that are used by millions. These typically won’t help reach your niche target audience.
The key is using hashtags selectively with precision and relevance to deliver the right messaging to your desired audiences.
Measuring Hashtag Performance
You can measure the performance of different hashtags you use by:
- Looking at LinkedIn post analytics to compare engagement on posts with different hashtags.
- Checking which hashtags drive more profile views or new followers.
- Seeing which hashtags result in higher search impressions/traffic to your profile and content.
- Analyzing hashtag click-through rates in search engines if you’re using them for SEO.
- Using social listening tools to identify your top hashtags by mentions and reach.
Using this data can help you determine which hashtags resonate most with your target audiences on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
Adding relevant hashtags to LinkedIn posts helps get your content seen by more of your target audiences. Hashtags improve visibility in the main feed, in search, and among particular topic follower groups. Using them strategically can expand your reach, engagement, and SEO. Just be sure not to overdo it on the hashtags and only use ones directly related to your post topic to maximize the benefits.
