The rise of the hashtag is undoubtedly at its peak across all social media platforms [yes, that includes LinkedIn]. I know people have always had the perception that because LinkedIn is a professional B2B platform, hashtags aren’t much of a thing #WRONG. The very same concept of choosing to follow interesting hashtags also applies to LinkedIn. People opt into the following topics and content that matters to them. The most ideal way to stay up to date with this is as simple as finding that content through hashtags on newsfeeds. The top 10 list of hashtags below really sparks me as it pretty much sums up what our South African audience is keen on reading and writing about lately.

1.  #South Africa (13,924 followers)

What a brilliant start! First on our list of most trending hashtags in South Africa is South Africa. This shows that our audience wants to know more about what is happening in our country. The fascinating reality about the LinkedIn audience is that they come onto the platform to keep up to date with what’s happening in their industry but also to read up on current affairs, and I believe that this is where this hashtag fits. People want to know what the state of their nation is and how they can contribute as professionals and economically driven individuals.

2. #Kudos (11,241 followers)

With LinkedIn being a platform for professionals, we’ve noticed that there has been an increase in member connections giving each other a thumbs up, keep it up, and even some applause. This shows us that our members are looking out for each other, that there is plenty of love and appreciation going around. Recognition goes a long way in the business space. With recognition and appreciation, one tends to be happier and do better in the workspace and life in general. It’s great to see that people are practicing this kind act on the platform. Kudos to that!

3. #Business (10,967 followers)

Third, on our list is Business. This doesn’t come as a surprise seeing as that is what the platform is built around. Professionals want to learn more about how they can upskill and better themselves in the business space. They want to know more about what is happening in Business and how this affects them in their professional environment. If you think about it, Business is a broad term which could be useful to many for several different reasons. Here’s an example of how the hashtag is being used by @Agenter to reach out to drive people to their blog where they can learn more about financial targets in Business.

4. #Jobs (4,592 followers)

A massive chunk of LinkedIn’s focus is around helping recruiters find the best talent and find the best companies to work for. LinkedIn still does have 23% of their audience who come onto the platform to actively look for jobs. So, they have opted into finding and reading content that touches on jobs. On the flip side, recruiters are regularly looking out for great talent as well as inspiration and education around this topic. It is a no brainer that this is arguably the best place to find potential candidates and employers as all the information you need is there for you. From skills, recommendations, to portfolios and workspaces – it’s all there for job seekers and recruiters to find easily.

5. #Marketing (4,311 followers)

Fifth on the list is marketing. Now, this could be due to the rise of people’s interest in wanting to learn more about marketing fundamentals, how to market their businesses, searching for best practices, and perhaps also looking out for brands that are doing their marketing right. Here’s a great example of how @Neil Patel adds the hashtag to his post that is relative to this hashtag. Click here

6. #Recruitment (4,309 followers)

Much like #jobs, recruitment is used by many of our members to seek and find new opportunities on LinkedIn.

Here is another excellent example of how recruiters are using the hashtag to find new talent. This post will appear in the news feed of all members who have opted into following the hashtag.

7. #Technology (4,229 followers)

With the rapidly and ever-changing system of things, ways of life, and how people work, technology has become a huge factor in many organisations because this ultimately speaks to the skills, techniques, and processes in which we run our lives and organisations. Professionals always have their eyes and ears open, ready to learn and hear about any news changes that may affect them and their organisations. See an example here.

8. #Leadership (4,165 followers)

I believe that now more than ever is a time where leaders across businesses and organisations are more conscious and aware of how they drive and shape their teams. Following this hashtag as a current or aspiring leader gives one insight and inspiration on unique tips, tools, and advice on how to be better leaders within their different spaces and industries.

9. #Accounting (3,901 followers)

I must be honest and express that this was a peculiar one for me. Only because accounting hasn’t always been notable. I love to see that our LinkedIn audience is very much eager to learn and understand this vertical. This may be due to many reasons, such as education, talent, or career growth.

10. #Innovation (3,458 followers)

This has been an industry buzzword for quite a while, where some believe it’s outdated and many still find it relevant, Innovation also similar to technology is how people are merely trying to get into grasps of what’s new and how they can contribute to these changes within their organisations. I still feel that this all boils down to what one defines as Innovation and how it impacts you as a professional. I’d love to read up on your opinions around this hashtag. Please do share in the comment section below in this article.