LinkedIn launched in 2003 but was late to the game when it came to hashtags. Only including them as a feature in 2016! This decision was in stark contrast to the many other social media platforms that chose to embrace hashtags fairly early on after launching, the very first and most famous one being Twitter.
What are hashtags?
Hashtags are words or phrases preceded by the hash or number symbol. On social media, they serve as an indication for users or algorithms that a post relates to a specific topic or category.
Hashtags primarily help make content discoverable in social media searches and assist in effectively reaching more people.
They are also used as a way to empower social media users to connect more with their communities. Even offering analytics that allow social media content creators and influencers to see the impact that their content has on others.
How do hashtags work on LinkedIn?
On LinkedIn, you can add hashtags to your company page, status updates, published articles and more, in order to reach audiences beyond your network connections. You can also browse hashtags to find and join different conversations around certain topics.
Should I use hashtags on LinkedIn?
Yes, you absolutely should, especially if you are managing or promoting a brand! Hashtags are an effective way to reach new audiences outside of your direct LinkedIn connections and help to bring more awareness and exposure to a business.
What are the benefits of using hashtags on LinkedIn?
When you include hashtags in LinkedIn posts, you maximise that post’s reach potential. Which is necessary if you want the content to make a substantial impact.
Lots of engagement from second and third-degree connections, not just your direct connections, can make a huge difference. Which can help to establish authority and credibility while facilitating meaningful conversations and connections with other LinkedIn users.
How to add hashtags on your LinkedIn status update
There are few ways that you can add hashtags to your status update. The first is by directly typing the hash symbol followed by the word or phrase you would like to include. As you type the hashtag, LinkedIn will start to auto-generate suggestions based on topics that are trending and popular.
The second way is to click on the “Add Hashtag” button, which can be found in the bottom left corner and select one of the suggested hashtags.
Side note, don’t add spaces to your hashtags. If you do, they won’t be clickable.
How to add hashtags to your published LinkedIn articles
Currently, users can’t add hashtags directly to the body of their articles. But they can add hashtags to the article description box. That’s the box that pops up after you hit publish to share your article with the world.
How to add hashtags to your company page
If you have a company page on LinkedIn, you can make it easier for people to find by adding relevant hashtags to the page.
Here’s how to do it.
Go to your LinkedIn company page and click the pencil icon on the bottom right next to “Hashtags”. A window will pop up. You will be prompted to “Add up to 3 hashtag topics that matter to your page”. Click “Add a hashtag” and choose up to three hashtags that you’d like your company page to be found for. Then click “Save”. Simple as that!
How many hashtags should I include on LinkedIn?
There’s actually no limit! But that’s not to say that you should go hashtag crazy. Instead, stick to a maximum of three hashtags per post.
Hashtags should not replace copy, they should only be used in moderation to improve the discoverability of your posts. Use a mix of broad and niche hashtags so as not to get lost in a sea of overly popular hashtags. Using a mixture of both will help to strike the perfect balance.
Where can I find recommended, popular and trending hashtags on LinkedIn?
There are three types of hashtags that LinkedIn will recommend based on your industry and network. These include recommended, popular and trending. If you’re looking for inspiration on which hashtags to include in your posts, check out the “Discover More” page.
To access the page, click on the “Discover More” button located at the bottom left sidebar. Here you will see the “Hashtags” button in the same area, toward the bottom left of the page. Click on the button to see your recommended hashtags and that’s it! You can draw inspiration from these hashtags or use them directly. It’s completely up to you.
If you require help with your business LinkedIn social posts and ad campaigns, give us a shout today!
