Top hashtags to use on social medias in the healthcare sector

Are you a healthcare professional who’s started using social media and want to ensure your post is perfect and reaches a wide audience? Several factors come into play, but one key element is hashtags! Using hashtags effectively can boost your visibility, attract a targeted patient base, and enhance engagement. Here’s how!

 

The golden rules for using hashtags in healthcare

Since their debut on X (ex-Twitter) in 2007, hashtags have revolutionized how users search for and consume content. Hashtags categorize content to make it easier to find. Before diving into specifics, here are some golden rules for using hashtags in the healthcare sector.

 

Diversify your healthcare hashtags

It’s crucial not to stick to the same hashtags repeatedly. Vary them to reach different communities and prevent your posts from being redundant. Ideally, use a mix of popular and niche hashtags to maximize your reach. Here are some types of hashtags to consider:

 

Geolocated hashtags

Geolocated hashtags are tied to a specific place. For your practice, this could mean using your region or city, like #Geneva or #LausanneCity, to attract a local audience.

 

Popular hashtags

Use popular hashtags within your field. If you’re a dentist, you might want to use hashtags like #Dentist, #DentistLife, or #Smile to increase your posts’ visibility. Broader hashtags like #Engagement can also be useful. However, ensure they are relevant to your content!

 

Unique hashtags

Create unique hashtags to strengthen your brand identity. For example, CHUV uses #CHUV and Hôpital de la Tour uses #HôpitalDeLaTour.

 

Niche hashtags

For instance, niche hashtags for dentists might be #Bruxism or #DentistryHumor. These hashtags target specific audiences and topics, helping attract followers who share these interests.

 

Avoid banned hashtags

Some hashtags are banned by platforms for various reasons, such as spreading inappropriate content. Surprisingly, some unexpected hashtags can be banned. For example, Instagram temporarily banned hashtags like #Brain, #Date, and #Workflow.

Using a banned hashtag can limit your posts’ visibility, resulting in a “shadowban,” where your content is less prominently displayed without notification from the platform. Regularly check lists of banned hashtags, available on several websites, to stay updated.

 

Which hashtags to use in healthcare on Instagram?

Hashtags on Instagram have evolved significantly in recent years. In the past, using many hashtags could increase a post’s visibility, but this is no longer the case. The algorithm now considers the entire post to classify and potentially share it with other users, and it may penalize posts with too many off-topic hashtags. Therefore, we recommend using 3 to 5 relevant hashtags that accurately describe your post. If you want to add more, consider commenting on your own post with additional hashtags.

Trends change frequently, so check what hashtags your competitors use and which are currently popular. Tools like Sistrix or Inflact can also help you find suitable hashtags.

Remember, Instagram highlights only a few posts per hashtag, so don’t forget niche hashtags for a better chance of being featured! Also, include geolocated hashtags if you target a specific region.

 

 

Which healthcare hashtags to use on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a platform for professional exchanges, so the content will differ from Instagram, and this also applies to hashtags!

Your hashtags on LinkedIn should reflect your content’s professional nature and be directed primarily towards your colleagues. Using too many hashtags can be seen as spam, so it’s recommended to use only 2 to 3 relevant hashtags per post. Choose hashtags related to your medical field, like #MedicalDevice, #Physiotherapy, or #YourClinicName! Since you shouldn’t use too many, place them strategically in your post (not necessarily at the end but in the text).

If you think a hashtag is relevant for your post, search for it on LinkedIn to see the content already using it and ensure it aligns with your post.

Finally, make sure your hashtag is easily readable and understandable. Avoid technical terms or long hashtags like #OneDocForHealthProfessionalsWhoWantToBoostTheirMedicalPracticeAndAreTheGOATS.

 

 

Best healthcare hashtags for TikTok

TikTok is a very dynamic platform, so use viral hashtags and those related to current trends and challenges. TikTok users love entertaining, inspiring, and educational content and are particularly fond of challenges so why not try one yourself?

As previously mentioned, varying your hashtags is crucial, especially on TikTok. Niche hashtags are particularly useful for reaching an engaged community. Online tools can help find the right hashtags, but make sure the tool is specific to TikTok. You can also go directly to TikTok’s Explore page to find the most effective hashtags and research those you wish to use.

The ideal number of hashtags is between 3 and 5. As with Instagram, you can add hashtags in the comments, but these are less effective than those in the main post.

 

Are hashtags still useful on social media?