Why Your Hashtags Might Be Hurting You

If you’re still copy-pasting the same 30 hashtags under every post - stop.
Not only could that be doing nothing for your visibility… it might actually be hurting your reach.

Here’s what I want business owners to know:

Hashtags are not magic.
They don’t guarantee reach, and they’re not the only way people find your content anymore - especially with social platforms becoming more search-driven and algorithm-led.

That said, strategic hashtags still have a role to play.
The key is knowing when (and how) to use them - and when to let them go.

🚩 Signs Your Hashtag Strategy Isn’t Working

If this sounds familiar, it might be time to reset:

• You're using the exact same hashtags every time

• You’re targeting ultra-competitive hashtags with millions of posts

• You’re not seeing new followers, saves, or DMs

• Your engagement drops when hashtags are added

• You’re not tailoring hashtags by platform (TikTok / Instagram / LinkedIn)

Good hashtags should support the content - not carry it.

💬 The AI Prompt: Smarter Hashtags That Actually Help

Let AI help you build a targeted list that makes sense for your business and your goals:

“Act as a social media strategist.
I want to create a strategic hashtag set for [insert platform].

My business helps [insert audience] with [insert product/service].

Suggest 15 hashtags split across:
– 3 branded hashtags I can use long-term
– 5 niche/community hashtags
– 5 topic-specific hashtags for [insert content type or campaign]
– 2 trending or seasonal hashtags (optional)

Exclude hashtags with more than 1M posts (unless highly relevant).
Bonus: Explain how and when to rotate these for best results.”

✅ Why This Works

Hashtags work best when they’re:

• Niche and community-driven

• Relevant to the specific post

• Updated often (no more “set it and forget it”)

• Part of a broader search + visibility strategy

AI helps you avoid spammy, overused tags and craft sets that actually connect you with your ideal audience.

🔧 Tool of the Day

Flick - A hashtag research and analytics tool that shows you which tags are actually performing - and which ones are wasting space. Perfect for Instagram and TikTok.

📣 Want Better Reach Without Hashtag Guesswork?

I help business owners create content strategies that don’t rely on luck or outdated tactics. If you want clarity on what’s actually helping your content perform - let’s work together. 📩Let’s work together.