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The Importance of Hashtags on Instagram

  • Writer: Emily Kidd
    Emily Kidd
  • Jul 5
  • 1 min read

Hashtags might look simple — but on Instagram, they pack serious punch for small businesses.

Here’s why you should be using them strategically on every post:


👫 Expand Your Reach

Hashtags help new people find your posts — even if they don’t follow you yet. When you tag something like #EdinburghEats or #FitnessTips, your content becomes discoverable to anyone following or searching that tag.
Your post might even land on Instagram’s Explore page, putting your business in front of a much wider — and more relevant — audience.
Graph showing increased Instagram engagement after using hashtags

✊ Boost Engagement


Posts with hashtags often get more likes, comments, and shares. Why? Because hashtags give the algorithm a clearer idea of what your content is about — and that makes Instagram more likely to show it to people who care.


🎯 Target Niche Audiences

Hashtags like #CrueltyFreeSkincare or #StartupMarketing help you speak directly to your ideal customer. Instead of just hoping people find your content, you’re joining the exact conversation they’re already part of.
“Instagram hashtag search results showing #edinburgheats”

🌐 Build Brand Identity

Branded hashtags (think #NikeRunClub or #ShareACoke) can help you build community, encourage user-generated content, and track campaign engagement.

Even a simple brand-specific tag — like #DigitalRiserTips — can help our content become more memorable and consistent.

📌 In a Nutshell


Hashtags aren’t just a trend — they’re a smart, free tool to get more eyes on your content. Take the time to research and use the right ones, and you’ll start seeing stronger results.

 
 
 
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