Among all the social media platforms, LinkedIn is known for establishing its voice through professionalism and networking. Though hashtags originated – and were only used exclusively – on Twitter, it hasn’t stopped other social platforms from adopting the pound sign to expand reach. This week, we take a look at the hype about LinkedIn hashtags and how they benefit your business.
The #Hashtags are Back
No, that’s not déjà vu. LinkedIn did use hashtags for a time before they took away their functionality, but no need to worry because they are back! When you click or tap on a hashtag, you are able to search through other posts that use the same one. One of the benefits of using hashtags is increasing your reach and exposure. When you use relevant hashtags, you open the door for opportunity. Your posts can reach more people and send more users to your page to learn more about your company.
Reach and Exposure
Reaching your target audience requires more than embedding hashtags in your posts. You should stick to a regular posting schedule, share relevant content, and tag when you can. For instance, are you working with another company? Tag their LinkedIn page, so their followers also see the post. You can greatly enhance visibility by sharing to the right groups and sharing company posts on personal profiles. If you have a wide network of followers on your personal account, then you can share your company’s posts to enhance visibility.
Determine the best way to reach your target audience and utilize the strategy that works best for your company. Ask yourself the right questions to better understand your social media needs. For instance, is your target audience using LinkedIn? Are you looking to generate B2B or B2C leads? How do you reach those people?
New Requirements for Posts
Some users are being required to use hashtags in their posts and have expressed their disapproval of the change. Many claim it is not a user-friendly option, as it puts a requirement on a post that not all people may want to take advantage of. LinkedIn is a useful networking tool, but they have demonstrated delays in developing their platform for social media use.
They have a great opportunity to deliver businesses with the tools they need to enhance their B2B marketing initiatives, but LinkedIn does have some catching up to do in the social sphere. To be able to compete with other social channels, we think they have done a great job in delivering new features. Over time, we believe their technology will only get better. For all we know, the hashtag requirement could be a bug that needs some attention.
Suggested Hashtags
LinkedIn now offers suggested hashtags when users post an update, but are they worth it? It seems like the functionality still needs some refining, as some of the suggested hashtags are just pulled from the words in the post. It does not seem as if there is an algorithm for choosing the most effective or trending hashtag yet. LinkedIn may have been more concerned with delivering a new feature to its users instead of testing and perfecting its functionality. We think it has the potential to be a time-saver for businesses and help enhance company posts when selecting hashtags.
Is your company posting on LinkedIn? Get in touch with Social Spice Media to learn more about the social channels that are right for your business. We will develop a custom plan to help you increase brand awareness and enhance your brand’s online presence.
