LinkedIn hashtags in 2025 are less about reach and more about categorization and engagement. Here’s what you need to know:
- Hashtags boost engagement by 12.6% but only modestly increase reach (9%).
- Posts with 1–3 hashtags perform best, averaging 14.7 likes per post. Avoid using more than five hashtags to prevent appearing spammy.
- Generic hashtags (e.g., #Leadership) offer broad visibility but face high competition. Niche hashtags (e.g., #Cybersecurity) drive better engagement with targeted audiences.
- Place hashtags at the end of your post or naturally embed them in the text for better readability.
Key Takeaways
- Use 3–5 relevant hashtags: Combine 2–3 broad with 1–2 niche hashtags.
- Avoid overused or generic tags like #Business or #Success.
- Monitor hashtag performance to refine your strategy.
Hashtags now act as tools for content organization and SEO rather than primary discovery drivers. Focus on relevance and quality over quantity to maximize LinkedIn engagement in 2025.
Hashtags Are Evolving: What You Need to Know for 2025
What the Data Shows: Hashtags and Engagement
LinkedIn Hashtag Performance: Optimal Usage Guide 2025
Analyzing 10,000 posts has uncovered key patterns that directly influence content performance, challenging some long-held beliefs about hashtag use in 2025.
How Many Hashtags to Use Per Post
The data shows that posts with 1–3 hashtags average 14.7 likes per post [3]. Including at least one hashtag can boost engagement by 12.6% compared to posts without hashtags [4]. However, using more than five hashtags tends to reduce engagement and can come across as spammy [4].
"Studies show that posts with 1 to 3 hashtags get the highest average engagement, with around 14.7 likes per post. That’s the sweet spot: enough to boost discovery without looking unprofessional." – Neal Schaffer [3]
LinkedIn’s professional tone means hashtag use requires careful consideration. As Rishi Jobanputra, Senior Director of Product Management at LinkedIn, notes:
"Our feed algorithm has really evolved, and we’re just doing a better job at understanding what content is about and trying to match it to the right audiences. […] Hashtags can come in useful when people are trying to search for a specific trend or a topic." [6]
The takeaway? Focus on quality over quantity. Stick to 3 to 5 relevant hashtags that align closely with your post’s topic. If you’re using a branded hashtag, pair it with 2 to 4 industry-specific or trending hashtags for better reach [5].
Generic vs. Specific Hashtags: Performance Comparison
The data highlights a clear difference between generic and niche hashtags. Popular hashtags like #Innovation (38 million followers) and #SocialMedia (19 million followers) offer broad visibility but come with intense competition. On the other hand, niche hashtags like #Cybersecurity (600,000 followers) and #ContentMarketing (655,418 followers) attract higher engagement from a more targeted audience.
While generic hashtags help cast a wide net, niche hashtags create deeper connections with professionals interested in your topic.
| Feature | Generic Hashtags | Industry-Specific Hashtags |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Broad visibility | Targeted visibility |
| Competition | High competition | Lower competition |
| Engagement Rate | Lower engagement rate | Higher engagement rate |
| Audience | General audience | Niche audience |
| Example | #Leadership (3.2M+ followers) | #Cybersecurity (600K+ followers) |
For the best results, combine 2 to 3 broad hashtags with 1 to 2 specific hashtags. This approach balances reach with targeted engagement [2].
"Mix broad and niche hashtags for the best results. Popular hashtags expand reach, while specific ones help you target the right audience." – Hootsuite [2]
Where to Place Hashtags in Your Post
Strategic placement of hashtags can significantly improve engagement. While LinkedIn’s algorithm analyzes the entire post for context, the way hashtags are positioned affects how readers interact with your content [2].
Placing 3 to 5 relevant hashtags at the end of your caption keeps your message clean and focused. This ensures your opening lines grab attention without distraction [2]. Alternatively, hashtags can be naturally embedded within the text – for example: "The rise of #RevenueOperations is redefining how GTM teams operate" [7]. This approach integrates hashtags seamlessly into the narrative.
Another effective tactic is placing hashtags in the first comment. This keeps the main caption concise while still expanding your post’s reach. For instance, in March 2025, Laura Zubick, Sr. Manager of Social Impact at Hootsuite, used hashtags like #beyondthenest and #HootsuiteForGood in the first comment to label her post and amplify its visibility [2].
Finally, remember to capitalize each word in multi-word hashtags (e.g., #DigitalMarketing instead of #digitalmarketing) to make them more readable, especially for screen readers [2][8].
These strategies lay the groundwork for identifying the top-performing hashtags of 2025. Up next, we’ll explore the 10 hashtags driving LinkedIn engagement this year.
10 Highest-Performing LinkedIn Hashtags in 2025
Analyzing data from 10,000 posts, we’ve identified hashtags that continue to drive strong engagement and impressions, even with LinkedIn’s recent updates. While LinkedIn has removed features like follower counts and the ability to follow hashtags, the numbers still reveal clear winners in engagement.
The top-performing hashtags fall into two groups: broad-reach tags that maximize visibility and niche tags that resonate with specific audiences. For example, hashtags like #SocialMedia dominate with over 19 million followers, while focused tags such as #ContentMarketing (655,000 followers) and #SocialMediaManager (10,738 followers) show how smaller, engaged communities can deliver impressive results [2]. Pairing general hashtags like #Leadership with industry-specific tags like #Fintech is a smart way to connect broad audiences with specialized decision-makers. This approach highlights the importance of understanding how different types of hashtags contribute to engagement.
Industry-Specific vs. General Hashtags
Looking closer at the data reveals how general and niche hashtags serve different purposes. Broad hashtags like #SocialMedia help expand your content’s reach but face fierce competition, which can dilute engagement. On the other hand, industry-specific tags like #B2BSales attract smaller but highly focused audiences [4]. Studies show that niche hashtags often outperform broad ones when it comes to reaching the right audience [3]. For instance, a B2B sales professional might use general tags like #Leadership and #SocialMedia alongside targeted ones such as #B2BSales and #RevenueOperations to combine visibility with precision targeting.
New Hashtag Trends in 2025
Emerging hashtag themes in 2025 reflect shifts in workplace culture and business priorities [4]. Here are four key trends:
- Remote Work: Tags like #RemoteWork, #WorkFromHome, and #HybridWork capture the ongoing evolution of flexible work arrangements.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Hashtags such as #Diversity, #Inclusion, and #Equity resonate with audiences invested in creating inclusive workplace environments.
- Professional Development: Use tags like #CareerDevelopment, #Upskilling, and #LifelongLearning to engage professionals focused on personal and career growth.
- Sustainability: Tags like #Sustainability, #GreenBusiness, and #EcoFriendly align with the increasing focus on environmental responsibility.
These trends align with LinkedIn’s move toward AI-driven content recommendations, where hashtags now act as secondary signals to help categorize content rather than being primary discovery tools. This shift makes it more important than ever to use hashtags that genuinely reflect your content’s topic. Thoughtful hashtag selection can still be a powerful way to amplify engagement [6].
sbb-itb-8725941
How to Build Your LinkedIn Hashtag Strategy
To create a strong hashtag strategy on LinkedIn, you need to understand how the platform uses hashtags. LinkedIn treats hashtags as labels that help categorize content, making it easier for the algorithm to deliver your posts to users interested in specific topics [2, 20]. Unlike some platforms, hashtags on LinkedIn are more about organizing your content than instantly increasing reach [3]. With LinkedIn’s growing focus on SEO, choosing the right hashtags is more important than ever [1].
How to Select Hashtags for Your Target Audience
Start by analyzing your audience’s behavior. Use LinkedIn’s search bar to discover hashtags relevant to your industry, and take note of which tags perform well in competitors’ posts [1, 2, 5, 10, 18, 20]. For instance, if you’re targeting B2B sales professionals, compare engagement metrics under hashtags like #B2BSales and #SalesStrategy. Look at the quality of posts and the level of interaction in the comments to determine what resonates. The goal is to align your hashtags with your audience’s professional interests.
For example:
- A recruiter looking to attract tech talent might use #TechRecruiting and #SoftwareEngineering.
- A marketing consultant might choose #ContentMarketing and #MarketingStrategy.
Remember, fewer but more relevant hashtags will always outperform a scattershot approach.
Mixing Branded and Industry Hashtags
Combining branded, industry-specific, and general hashtags is a proven way to maximize engagement. Research indicates that posts using niche hashtags see 28% higher engagement compared to those relying solely on broad tags. Additionally, using branded hashtags consistently can increase follower growth by 17% over six months [9].
Here’s a suggested mix:
- Include 1–2 broad hashtags like #Marketing or #Leadership.
- Add 2–3 niche hashtags such as #B2BMarketingStrategy or #RemoteLeadershipTips [9].
For branded hashtags, aim for something short, memorable, and unique to your business. Test your branded hashtag in LinkedIn’s search bar to ensure it’s not tied to unrelated content. For example, if your company is launching a thought leadership campaign, you could pair a branded hashtag like #YourCompanyInsights with tags such as #ThoughtLeadership and #BusinessStrategy. This approach builds brand recognition while expanding your reach.
Hashtags to Avoid
Some hashtags can harm your efforts rather than help. Generic tags like #Business, #Marketing, or #Success are highly competitive and often lead to your content being buried [5, 10]. Similarly, trend-focused tags like #love or #instagood can damage your credibility on a professional platform [5, 20].
Avoid these pitfalls:
- Overloading posts with 15–20 hashtags. This can look unprofessional and might even trigger LinkedIn’s spam filters [5, 20].
- Using banned or overused hashtags like #FollowMe or #LikeForLike, which LinkedIn deprioritizes [5].
- Choosing hashtags with millions of followers but low engagement. These rarely yield meaningful results [10, 20].
- Misspelled hashtags. For instance, #leadershipdevelopement instead of #leadershipdevelopment means your content won’t reach the right audience [10].
When deciding between similar hashtags (e.g., plural forms or abbreviations), always choose the one with the larger follower count [10].
Using Closely to Improve Your Hashtag Strategy
Once you’ve nailed down the right hashtags for your LinkedIn content, the next step is to track their performance and expand your reach. Closely offers tools for automation and analytics that can help you fine-tune your hashtag strategy while managing your LinkedIn and email campaigns from one place. Let’s dive into how Closely’s features can enhance your approach.
Monitoring Hashtag Performance with Analytics
Closely’s analytics dashboard gives you a clear picture of how your LinkedIn campaigns are performing. It tracks key engagement metrics, such as responses, connection requests, and profile views, helping you understand which posts resonate best. You can even compare campaigns with different hashtag combinations to see what works.
For instance, if you’re running two campaigns – one using #B2BSales and #SalesStrategy, and another featuring #LeadGeneration and #SalesAutomation – Closely can measure response rates and engagement levels. This way, you’ll know which hashtag mix is capturing your audience’s attention and driving results.
The platform also simplifies communication by consolidating all replies into a unified inbox, making it easier to tweak your strategy in real time. And when you combine hashtag tracking with multichannel outreach, you can amplify your efforts even further.
Combining Hashtags with Multichannel Campaigns
Closely doesn’t just track hashtags – it integrates them into a larger, multichannel strategy. By automating LinkedIn and email outreach, the platform allows you to create a seamless experience. For example, when you post content with optimized hashtags on LinkedIn, you can simultaneously reach the same prospects through personalized email sequences. This dual approach strengthens your message and increases engagement.
What’s more, Closely’s AI-powered personalization ensures that every touchpoint feels relevant to the recipient. Meanwhile, your hashtag strategy helps new prospects discover your LinkedIn content organically, creating a powerful feedback loop for engagement.
Closely Plans for LinkedIn Automation
Closely offers four pricing plans tailored to different LinkedIn automation needs:
| Plan | Monthly Price | LinkedIn Accounts | Credits/Month | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $49 | 1 | 1,000 | Solo professionals testing hashtag strategies on one account |
| Growth | $127 | 3 | 3,000 | Small teams managing multiple profiles with coordinated campaigns |
| Essential | $205 | 5 | 5,000 | Growing sales teams running consistent outreach campaigns |
| Custom | $350 | 10 | Custom | Agencies or larger teams needing advanced analytics and white-label options |
Every plan includes unlimited email accounts, data enrichment tools, and white-label options. The credits can be used flexibly for verified emails, phone numbers, or AI-driven personalizations, allowing you to allocate resources based on your campaign goals. Plus, you’ll have access to 24/7 support and, on higher tiers, a dedicated customer success manager to help you adapt your strategy as LinkedIn’s algorithm evolves through 2025.
Summary and Next Steps
Main Findings from the Data
Research highlights that by 2025, hashtags on LinkedIn act as strategic tools for boosting SEO and organizing content, rather than simply driving discovery [1][9]. Posts that include at least one hashtag enjoy 12.6% higher engagement, while using 1 to 3 hashtags per post is linked to an average of 14.7 likes per post [4].
The key takeaway? Quality beats quantity. Carefully chosen, relevant hashtags paired with broader keyword optimization yield the best results. This means weaving relevant terms naturally into your profile and posts while using hashtags to categorize and amplify your content. For deeper engagement, lean into specific, niche hashtags that resonate with your target audience.
Action Steps for 2025
The findings point to clear strategies for enhancing your LinkedIn presence. Here’s how to put them into action:
- Audit your hashtag usage: Look at your recent posts to identify the hashtag combinations that generate the most engagement. From there, create a refined list that balances industry-specific hashtags with broader ones.
- Experiment with combinations: Test posts with one broad hashtag and two niche ones. Monitor performance to see which mix delivers the best results.
- Keep your strategy aligned: Ensure your hashtag choices complement your overall messaging across platforms. Revisit and update your hashtag list every quarter to stay relevant.
FAQs
What’s the best way to use both broad and niche hashtags on LinkedIn?
Using a mix of broad and niche hashtags is a smart way to expand your reach while keeping your content relevant. Start by selecting one or two broad hashtags that represent your industry or overarching theme (like #Leadership or #Marketing). Then, include two or three niche hashtags tailored to your specific audience, content, or trending topics (such as #RevenueOperations or #SaaSStartups).
For better engagement, limit your total hashtags to three or fewer per post. You can place them at the end of your post or weave them naturally into your writing. Make it a habit to track your hashtag performance – drop the ones that aren’t working and experiment with new, relevant ones to keep up with trends. Striking this balance helps make your posts both discoverable and engaging for your audience.
Why should you regularly track the performance of your LinkedIn hashtags?
Consistently keeping an eye on how your LinkedIn hashtags are performing helps you stay in tune with shifting trends and audience preferences. This allows you to tweak your strategy to stay visible, increase engagement, and ensure your content stays relevant.
Tracking performance lets you pinpoint which hashtags connect best with your audience, steer clear of ones that are overused or underperforming, and fine-tune your approach for better results. Regularly reviewing your hashtag strategy ensures your LinkedIn efforts remain fresh and focused on achieving meaningful outcomes.
Why should I place hashtags at the end of my LinkedIn post?
Placing hashtags at the end of your LinkedIn post keeps your main content clean and easy to follow. This way, your message flows naturally without any interruptions, making it more visually appealing and maintaining a polished, professional tone.
Adding hashtags at the bottom also makes it easier for readers to engage with them after they’ve taken in your content. It works well with LinkedIn’s algorithm, which uses hashtags to boost discoverability, while keeping the focus on your message. This simple approach helps improve visibility without sacrificing clarity or professionalism.