Hashtags on LinkedIn serve as a powerful mechanism for content classification and audience expansion. These labels are the primary way LinkedIn’s algorithm connects your professional content with users interested in specific topics, even if they are not in your direct network. Unlike consumer-focused platforms, hashtags here foster visibility within professional niche communities and industry discussions. Strategic use of relevant tags can significantly increase the probability of your posts appearing in the feeds of your target professional audience.
Technical Steps for Adding Hashtags to a LinkedIn Post
Start a new post by clicking the “Start a post” field on your desktop or the pencil icon on the mobile app. As you draft your content, you can manually type the pound symbol (#) followed immediately by a keyword, or use the platform’s suggestion feature. When you begin typing the pound symbol, LinkedIn automatically presents a dropdown list of related, popular hashtags.
Selecting a suggested hashtag is often the most efficient method, as it confirms the tag is established and has a following on the platform. On the desktop interface, you may also see an “Add hashtag” button below the post window, which offers a selection of recommended tags.
Strategic Placement and Optimal Quantity
The most effective approach to using hashtags favors quality and precision over volume. The optimal quantity for a standard LinkedIn post is between three and five highly relevant hashtags. Using this controlled number maintains a professional aesthetic while providing the algorithm with enough data points for categorization.
Placing these carefully selected tags is a key formatting consideration for maintaining post readability. The recommended practice is to group the hashtags at the end of your post, separated from the main body of the text by a couple of line breaks. This method prevents the tags from distracting readers from your core message.
Methods for Researching High-Performing Hashtags
Discovering the most effective tags begins with leveraging the platform’s internal search capabilities. Type a relevant keyword into the main LinkedIn search bar, and the platform will display a list of suggested hashtags along with their follower counts. This allows you to gauge the popularity and reach of a tag before you commit to using it.
Another research method involves analyzing the content posted by recognized industry leaders and competitors. Pay attention to the specific hashtags they use on their highest-performing posts to identify tags resonating with your shared audience. You can also explore relevant LinkedIn Groups to observe the terminology and tags emerging in professional discussions.
Choosing the Right Categories of Hashtags
A well-rounded hashtag strategy involves using a mix of tag categories to balance broad reach with targeted relevance.
- Industry or Niche hashtags: These are the most important category, as they directly connect your content to professionals in your field. For example, instead of the vague #Marketing, use the more specific #B2BContent or #SaaSMarketing to reach a highly focused audience.
- Community or Event hashtags: These are designed to connect with specific groups or conversations, such as tags for conferences like #SocialMediaWeek or shared professional experiences like #RemoteWorkLife. They are excellent for connecting with a specific, temporary, or geographically-defined audience.
- Trending or Broad hashtags: These have millions of followers and can provide a surge in general visibility, but they must be used sparingly due to high competition. Examples include #Leadership or #Innovation, which expose your post to a massive audience but may result in lower relevance.
- Branded hashtags: These are unique tags for your company or personal brand, such as #YourCompanyNameInsights. They help you track your own content and encourage others to use it, building a cohesive content library.
Common Hashtag Mistakes That Limit Reach
One of the most frequent errors is known as hashtag stuffing, which involves overcrowding a post with an excessive number of tags. Using more than five hashtags can signal spam to the algorithm and significantly reduce the visibility and reach of your post. This practice also makes the content appear unprofessional.
Another mistake is failing to verify the relevance of a hashtag to the post’s actual content. Using a tag simply because it is popular will confuse the algorithm and expose your content to the wrong audience, leading to low engagement. Ensure you never use spaces or special characters like commas, periods, or hyphens within a single hashtag, as this will break the tag and render it useless. For multi-word phrases, capitalize the first letter of each word, such as #DigitalTransformation, to improve readability.