Hashtags continue to be a powerful way to expand your reach and get discovered on social media. But not all hashtags are created equal. Use the right hashtags in the right places, and you can drive meaningful engagement. Use irrelevant or excessive hashtags, and you risk turning off your audience.
To help optimize your hashtag strategy in 2023, we’ve put together platform-specific best practices to follow. Read on to learn how to make the most of hashtags on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook this year.
LinkedIn: Niche Professional Expertise
With LinkedIn’s feed algorithm prioritizing content that sparks constructive dialogue, hashtags should be used strategically to engage your professional community. Aim to use 2-5 well-chosen hashtags per post to ensure relevance. Place them at the end of your caption or in the first comment for optimal visibility.
Niche Hashtags
Using niche hashtags allows you to establish yourself as an industry expert and connect with others in your field. For example, if you work in #cybersecurity, you could use hashtags like #dataprotection or #ethicalhacking to be discovered by your peers.
Branded Hashtags
Branded hashtags are great for associating yourself with companies and showcasing expertise. For example, if you’re a #Microsoft partner, you could use #Azure or #Office365 to reach others interested in Microsoft products.
Localized Hashtags
Localized hashtags help you network in your geographic community. Whether you’re in #Boston or #SiliconValley, geo-targeted hashtags will help you connect locally.
Leadership Hashtags
For personal branding, use leadership hashtags to share career advice and wisdom. For example, you could use #leadership or #careeradvice to position yourself as an expert.
Instagram: Lifestyle and Campaign Discovery
On Instagram, hashtags help users find visual content and accounts aligned with their interests. Strategically leverage hashtags to get discovered. While you can use up to 30 hashtags per post, it’s only recommended to use 3-5. If you do want to exceed 5 hashtags, put 1-3 top in your caption, and the rest in the first comment.
Campaign Hashtags
Using campaign hashtags is great for gaining exposure for specific initiatives or events. If you have a special promotion or giveaway, campaign hashtags can help get the word out.
Lifestyle Hashtags
Lifestyle hashtags allow you to connect with those who share your passions, like #travel or #interiordesign. Share visual content using hashtags that represent your brand’s lifestyle.
Branded Hashtags
Associate with companies and influencers through branded hashtags like #Apple or #SelenaGomez. Just make sure to use them where relevant.
User Generated Content Hashtags
Encouraging user generated content (UGC) is a great Instagram strategy. Make it easy for followers to tag you by creating a branded UGC hashtag like #MyFavoriteProductFriday.
Local Hashtags
Using local hashtags like #PortlandOregon or #NYCEats helps you get discovered by users in your area. Use geo-targeted hashtags to increase local exposure.
TikTok: Ride the Trends
On TikTok, leveraging viral hashtags is key for getting noticed. But balance trending hashtags with branded and niche hashtags too. You can use 100 hashtags per post. Put 5-10 top hashtags in captions and fill the rest of the character count in comments.
Trending Hashtags
Check TikTok’s trending hashtag page and use relevant trending hashtags to gain exposure by piggybacking on viral sounds, memes, challenges, etc. Using #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt or #BookTok could help more users find your content.
Branded Hashtags
Like other platforms, branded hashtags help associate your brand with companies, influencers, or creators. If you post TikTok videos featuring #Target must-haves or #CharliDAmelio dances, use their branded hashtags.
Music/Audio Hashtags
Using hashtags for specific songs, sounds, or audio used in your TikToks helps surface your content when users search for those tracks. Identify key songs and sounds with #JustinBieber or #OhNoOhNoOhNo.
Challenge Hashtags
Participating in TikTok challenges can be a great way to use trending hashtags organically. Film the latest dance challenge or viral meme and use the designated hashtag
X (Twitter): Conversations and Connection
On Twitter, hashtags create searchable threads around events, news, and shared interests. Use them to join relevant conversations. You can use 1-2 hashtags per tweet. Put them at the end of your content for optimal visibility.
Event Hashtags
When there are conferences, TV premieres, album releases, or other events relevant to your audience, join the conversation with event hashtags like #SXSW or #TheBachelor.
Moment Hashtags
Commenting on breaking news? Add relevant moment hashtags like #Election2022 or #Cryptocrash to share your thoughts and connect with others.
Branded Hashtags
Like other platforms, branded hashtags help associate your brand with companies, influencers, causes, etc. If Apple has a new #iPhone or #Beyonce drops a new album, branded hashtags help you tap into these conversations.
Conversational Hashtags
Express opinions, share advice, or connect through conversational hashtags like #Adulting or #IntrovertLife. Find hashtags your audience uses regularly for ongoing dialogue.
Facebook: Local and Viral Discovery
On Facebook, hashtags help users discover posts from local communities and participating in viral trends. Blend these with branded hashtags.
Local Hashtags
Use local hashtags like #PortlandOregon or #NYCEats to get discovered by people in your area on Facebook. Geo-targeted hashtags help connect locally.
Branded Hashtags
Like other platforms, branded hashtags help associate your brand with companies, creators, causes, etc. If you share a new Starbucks drink, support a GoFundMe, or post about the latest iOS, use relevant branded hashtags.
Campaign Hashtags
Drive exposure for your initiatives and events using campaign hashtags like #ShareTheMic or #StopAsianHate. This helps get your messages in front of more people.
Viral Video Hashtags
When funny or shareable content goes viral, participate using hashtags like #IceBucketChallenge or #MannequinChallenge to capitalize on the trend.
You can use up to 20 hashtags across posts without crowding. Put 1-2 relevant hashtags in your caption and a few more in comments.
Top Tools for Hashtag Optimization in 2023
So, you’ve got the lowdown on how to use hashtags across various social media platforms. But how do you find the right hashtags? How do you track their performance? Here are some of the top tools to help you optimize your hashtag game in 2023.
Hashtagify
Hashtagify is a comprehensive tool that offers hashtag tracking, analytics, and suggestions. It’s particularly useful for Twitter and Instagram. With its easy-to-read graphs and charts, you can quickly identify trending hashtags and their popularity over time.
Best For: Twitter, Instagram
Key Features:
- Trend Analysis
- Competitor Monitoring
- Customizable Reports
RiteTag
RiteTag provides real-time hashtag suggestions as you compose your posts. It’s like having a hashtag guru right beside you. The tool offers color-coded recommendations, indicating which hashtags are likely to get you the most engagement.
Best For: All Platforms
Key Features:
- Real-Time Suggestions
- Engagement Metrics
- Browser Extension
Keyhole
Keyhole specializes in hashtag analytics and social listening. It’s perfect for brands and marketers who want to keep an eye on their campaign performance. The tool offers a dashboard that shows real-time analytics, including engagement, reach, and impressions.
Best For: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
Key Features:
- Real-Time Analytics
- Campaign Tracking
- Influencer Identification
Display Purposes
For Instagram enthusiasts, Display Purposes is a simple yet effective tool. It filters out banned and spammy hashtags, ensuring that you only use ones that will boost your post’s visibility. Just input a keyword, and it will generate a list of relevant hashtags.
Best For: Instagram
Key Features:
- Spam Filter
- Relevance Sorting
- Bulk Hashtag Generation
Let Your Hashtag Strategy Evolve
Hashtags aren’t just a trend—they’re a powerful tool to amplify your voice, elevate your brand, and forge meaningful connections. As we move forward into 2023, it’s clear that simply using hashtags isn’t enough; you need to use them wisely. Different platforms have unique cultures, algorithms, and audiences. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t cut it.
Don’t settle for random or generic hashtags that leave you in the social media wilderness. Be intentional. Whether you’re tapping into professional communities on LinkedIn, joining lifestyle chats on Instagram, riding the viral waves on TikTok, engaging in Twitter conversations, or connecting locally on Facebook, the right hashtags can help to broaden your horizons.
This isn’t a “set it and forget it” situation. Keep monitoring your hashtag performance. When you notice increased engagement with a hashtag, or lost interest in another, it’s important to adjust your approach. Social media is ever-changing, and so should your hashtag strategy be. Make regular check-ins to analyze which hashtags are driving value for you and adapt accordingly.