Let’s be real: hashtags can feel like fluff; something influencers use with vacation snapshots, not something serious B2B brands need to think about. But if you’re in the energy, oil and gas or manufacturing arena and posting on LinkedIn or X, hashtags play an essential role in helping the right people see your content.
#WhyHashtagsMatter
Hashtags aren’t just labels; they’re discoverability tools. When used with intent, they can connect your company’s thought leadership, product launches, event coverage or hiring posts with an engaged audience. Think of them like digital road signs guiding users to your content. And, no matter what business you are in, you want prospects, customers, media and potential hires to take notice and engage with your content.
#WhatEvenIsTrending?
Trending hashtags are phrases or keywords gaining traction, such as those related to news events, entertainment, upcoming events, community efforts and seasonal topics. But for B2B companies, the sweet spot is to pair trending hashtags with your brand message.
For example, you plan to attend a major industry event in 2026, such as the Offshore Technology Conference or RE+. #OTC2026 and #RePlus26 will be time-sensitive hashtags with high visibility, and they are great for getting noticed by peers, partners and potential customers during peak show engagement times. If used effectively, this is an excellent opportunity to make an impression on viewers who may have never engaged with your brand, visited your LinkedIn page or even heard of you before. With this in mind, well-planned and strategic content offers a golden opportunity to make a powerful first impression. Or, maybe, leveraging seasonal engagement with #Summertime #Renewables, #TurnaroundSeason or #HeatSafety could make sense. Linking these trending hashtags to operational realities in industrial, manufacturing and oilfield sectors could offer a way to promote your safety focus or energy-efficiency commitment.
The goal is to jump into timely engagement opportunities without forcing your brand into hashtags that don’t fit.
#ProToolsForPros
Don’t try to guess what’s trending or randomly mash words together and slap a # in front. The point is to attract viewers by using tags they recognize. These tools offer help to find hashtags that are popular and relevant:
X Trends: Check the “Trends for You” section to see what’s gaining momentum in your location or sector.
LinkedIn Search & Events: Search key terms to see which hashtags thought leaders and competitors are using. LinkedIn’s event pages also surface hashtags around conferences, panels and webinars
Hashtagify or RiteTag: These platforms let you analyze hashtag popularity, related tags and competition. They’re great for finding keywords that are active but not oversaturated.
Social Management Platforms like Hootsuite or Loomly: Use the analytics dashboards to track how your hashtags perform post-by-post. Over time, this helps you weed out underperformers and focus on high-impact tags.
#MeasureWhatMatters
Is your hashtag strategy actually working? Track these three things:
- Impressions: How many people are seeing your post?
- Engagement: Are people clicking, sharing and commenting?
- Follower Growth: Are you attracting new eyeballs and building your network?
Tip: Try A/B testing. Use two different sets of hashtags on similar posts to see which performs better. It’s simple, and it helps your strategy based on real data.
#ThisSeasonTryThis
If you’re looking for ideas that make sense right now, here are three hashtags to consider this summer:
#HeatSafety: Promote worker safety, PPE or training in extreme temperatures.
#Renewables: Tie in clean energy efforts, new tech or commentary on evolving industry trends.
#TurnaroundTime: Highlight services, projects or challenges related to summer maintenance.
These hashtags are timely, relevant and give you a way to speak to real situations your audience is dealing with today.
#FinalThoughts
Using hashtags isn’t about chasing trends for the sake of it. It’s about being seen in the right conversations. Whether you’re touting your team’s field expertise, recruiting top talent or showcasing your newest project, hashtags help open the door to new visitors, broader conversations and more visibility.
Unsure which ones to use, or how to work them into your social strategy? Foster Marketing can help! From content planning to campaign tracking, we’ll help you make hashtags work harder for your brand. Connect with us on LinkedIn or send us a message.
#ProToolsForPros
Don’t try to guess what’s trending or randomly mash words together and slap a # in front. The point is to attract viewers by using tags they recognize. These tools offer help to find hashtags that are popular and relevant:
X Trends: Check the “Trends for You” section to see what’s gaining momentum in your location or sector.
LinkedIn Search & Events: Search key terms to see which hashtags thought leaders and competitors are using. LinkedIn’s event pages also surface hashtags around conferences, panels and webinars
Hashtagify or RiteTag: These platforms let you analyze hashtag popularity, related tags and competition. They’re great for finding keywords that are active but not oversaturated.
Social Management Platforms like Hootsuite or Loomly: Use the analytics dashboards to track how your hashtags perform post-by-post. Over time, this helps you weed out underperformers and focus on high-impact tags.
#MeasureWhatMatters
Is your hashtag strategy actually working? Track these three things:
- Impressions: How many people are seeing your post?
- Engagement: Are people clicking, sharing and commenting?
- Follower Growth: Are you attracting new eyeballs and building your network?
Tip: Try A/B testing. Use two different sets of hashtags on similar posts to see which performs better. It’s simple, and it helps your strategy based on real data.
#ThisSeasonTryThis
If you’re looking for ideas that make sense right now, here are three hashtags to consider this summer:
#HeatSafety: Promote worker safety, PPE or training in extreme temperatures.
#Renewables: Tie in clean energy efforts, new tech or commentary on evolving industry trends.
#TurnaroundTime: Highlight services, projects or challenges related to summer maintenance.
These hashtags are timely, relevant and give you a way to speak to real situations your audience is dealing with today.
#FinalThoughts
Using hashtags isn’t about chasing trends for the sake of it. It’s about being seen in the right conversations. Whether you’re touting your team’s field expertise, recruiting top talent or showcasing your newest project, hashtags help open the door to new visitors, broader conversations and more visibility.
Unsure which ones to use, or how to work them into your social strategy? Foster Marketing can help! From content planning to campaign tracking, we’ll help you make hashtags work harder for your brand. Connect with us on LinkedIn or send us a message.