In this article we look at hashtags, and how many is too many?

Hashtags have become an essential part of social media communication, they allow users to categorise and discover content. They help to increase the visibility of your posts, reach a wider audience, and enhance engagement. However, the number of hashtags to include in a social media post varies across different platforms.

In this article, we will delve into the ideal number of hashtags for four platforms; LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

LinkedIn

This is often regarded as a professional networking platform and has a more conservative approach to hashtags. While they can still be effective in boosting your content's reach, it's best to keep the number of hashtags limited. In general, including around 3 relevant and targeted hashtags in your LinkedIn posts is recommended. These hashtags should be carefully chosen to align with the subject matter and industry focus of your post. By using a small number of hashtags, you can maintain a more polished and professional appearance, ensuring your content resonates with the LinkedIn audience.

Twitter

More of a fast-paced and concise social media channel.  Twitter encourages brevity even when it comes to hashtags. Given the character limit of tweets, it's best to keep hashtags to a minimum. Including 2 hashtags in your tweets strikes a balance between improving discoverability and maintaining the integrity of your message. Choose hashtags that are concise, specific, and relevant to your tweet's content. By utilising hashtags effectively on Twitter, you can increase the chances of your posts being seen and engaged with by a wider audience.

Instagram

A visually-driven platform that thrives on hashtag usage, the ideal number of hashtags is higher compared to LinkedIn and Twitter. Instagram allows users to include up to 30 hashtags per post, but it's important to be strategic and not overdo it. Research suggests that using between 5 and 10 hashtags is the sweet spot for Instagram. By including a mix of popular and niche hashtags that are relevant to your content, you can increase the likelihood of reaching your target audience and boosting engagement. It's advisable to experiment with different combinations of hashtags to identify the ones that generate the best results for your posts.

Facebook

A channel that focuses more on personal connections and social interactions. Facebook posts tend to have a more conversational and storytelling tone, which differs from other platforms. While hashtags are still useful on Facebook, it's best to keep them minimal and focused. Including 1 or 2 hashtags in your Facebook posts can be effective in reaching a broader audience and increasing discoverability. Choose hashtags that are relevant to your content and align with the interests of your target audience. By using fewer hashtags, you can maintain a clean and visually appealing post that encourages engagement and discussion.

Summary

When it comes to using hashtags on different social media platforms, it's essential to adapt your approach based on the platform's norms and audience expectations.  By tailoring your hashtag strategy to each platform, you can optimise your content's visibility, engagement, and ultimately achieve your social media goals. Remember, experimentation and analysis are key to finding the perfect balance of hashtags for your specific audience and content type.

For help and guidance in choosing hashtags contact Helen Stott of Marketing Doris 

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