How to use hashtags for business (without the spam)

What hashtags actually do

A hashtag groups content on a topic and helps platforms and people find it. On Instagram and TikTok they provide context alongside your captions and on-screen text. On LinkedIn and X they play a smaller role, so use fewer. Hashtags will not rescue weak content, but they help the right content reach the right people.

The three-layer method

• Specific (2 to 3): narrow topics that describe the post, such as #houstonhaircolor or #sourdoughforbeginners.
• Broad (1 to 2): larger topics for general discovery, such as #smallbusiness.
• Branded (1): your own tag for campaigns and customer posts, such as #BellaHairStudio.

How many to use

There is no single right number and platforms change their advice. A small set of relevant hashtags, roughly 3 to 8, is a safe approach on Instagram and TikTok, and 1 to 3 on LinkedIn and X. Test and watch your own insights.

How to find good ones

1. Search your topic on the platform and look at the suggestions.
2. Look at what nearby competitors and similar successful accounts use.
3. Check the size: very large hashtags are crowded, very tiny ones reach few people. Mix sizes.
4. Keep a saved list by topic, and rotate them across posts.

Local hashtags for local businesses

Add your city, neighbourhood or service area: #houstonfood, #katytxsalon. Local customers search by place. Combine with a location tag on the post.

Common mistakes

• Using the same 30 hashtags on every post.
• Using irrelevant but popular tags to chase reach.
• Hiding hashtags in a wall of text instead of placing a few at the end or in the caption.
• Ignoring keywords in the caption itself, which also drive search.
• Using banned or spammy tags that can limit your reach.

Where to put them, and how to save time

Place them at the end of the caption or in the first comment, whichever your audience reads less awkwardly. To save time, let tools suggest sets: Socialknocks' AI writes captions with relevant hashtags tuned for each network. For caption wording, see our social media caption ideas guide.

Example: hashtags for three businesses

• Houston hair salon: #houstonhairstylist #balayage #hairtransformation #smallbusiness #BellaHairStudio
• Online candle shop: #handmadecandles #soywaxcandles #cozyhome #shopsmall #YourBrandName
• Accountant: #smallbusinesstax #bookkeepingtips #freelancertips #financetips (fewer is fine on LinkedIn)

A 15-minute hashtag routine

• Pick 3 content themes you post about most.
• For each, search the platform and note 6 relevant tags of mixed size.
• Save them as three lists in a note or your scheduler.
• Rotate lists across posts and review reach every month.
• Drop any tag that never brings reach or the wrong audience.

Hashtags and accessibility

Write multi-word hashtags in CamelCase, for example #SmallBusinessTips, so screen readers can read each word. Put hashtags at the end of the caption so the message reads cleanly.

Keep reading

• How to grow on Instagram
• How to start on TikTok
• Caption ideas
• Social media for small business

Frequently asked questions