If you’ve struggled to develop an effective hashtag strategy and are questioning hashtag relevance in your 2025 social media marketing efforts, you’re not alone. But does that mean hashtags are no longer effective?
There is growing evidence to suggest that keyword-rich captions are more valuable than hashtags to help reach. Further evidence suggests that the overutilization of hashtags can be detrimental. While staying informed about evolving social media marketing trends is important, it’s equally essential to take a strategic approach to how you utilize hashtags moving forward.
Hashtag Best Practices
Yes, hashtags do have benefits related to SEO, mostly in searchability of your posts. Targeted hashtags can enhance visibility by helping a broader audience discover your content. However, it’s important to use them in conjunction with your overall social media marketing strategy and in moderation.
Strategically chosen hashtags can significantly boost content visibility by making it easier for a wider audience to discover your posts. However, effective use requires balance and intention—overuse can dilute your message and reduce engagement. Since each social media platform approaches hashtags differently, it’s important to tailor your strategy accordingly. Here’s how each platform varies:
- X
If you have a target audience that flocks to X, use no more than two hashtags per tweet. You don’t want to clutter your posts, so only use trending or branded tags to avoid overstuffing and taking on a spammy look. - Instagram
Put your hashtags in the caption or in the first comment, as this gives your post a cleaner look. Keep you list of hashtags current, so you don’t make the mistake of using a banned or irrelevant one. - Facebook
Your use of hashtags on Facebook won’t drive the same discovery as you see on Instagram or Twitter, but if you concentrate on using only one or two per post and use campaign-specific tags, you can expand your reach. - LinkedIn
For optimal engagement on LinkedIn, use up to three hashtags. Industry-specific and professional tags work well on this platform but place them at the end of your post. Given the professional atmosphere here, avoid casual tags. Successful social media marketing is the result of strategic planning, consistent branding and knowing what resonates with your audience. At SJC Marketing, we can help you in all those areas as we stay on top of the latest trends and tools that maximize engagement. Before you embark on your next social media marketing campaign, reach out to us.