Are Hashtags Still Relevant in 2025? A Practical Guide for Small Business Owners

Hashtags aren’t dead - they’ve just grown up a bit. In 2025, using hashtags is no longer about slapping#love or #instagood onto your posts and hoping for the best. It’s about using the right tags, in the right places, in the right way. Whether you run a blind installation business, manage a print shop, or build custom homes, this guide will show you how to make hashtags work for you, not against you.

The Purpose of Hashtags in 2025 

Hashtags are now more of a content categorisation tool than a popularity contest. They help:

• Improve content discoverability
• Classify your post for social media algorithms
• Attract niche audiences
• Connect posts to events, campaigns, or topics

But - and this is a big but - only if they’re used strategically.

Instagram: Think SEO, Not Vanity

Instagram remains the most hashtag-dependent platform, but not in the way you might think. In 2025, hashtags on Instagram help classify your content for search rather than simply boost reach.

Top Tips:

• Use 3-5 relevant hashtags per post
• Avoid generic tags (e.g., #interiors) - be specific (e.g., #goldcoastblinds, #homeofficefitout)
• Always place hashtags in the caption, not the comments
• Don’t copy-paste the same hashtags every time
• Branded hashtags still matter for user-generated content and community-building

Post Structure:

1. Hook (first line to grab attention) 
2. Add value (tips, stories, insights)
3. CTA ("Tell us your favourite..." / "Tag a mate")
4. Line break
5. 3-5 hashtags (mix of location-based, niche, and branded)

Facebook: Quality Over Quantity

Facebook is not hashtag-first, but hashtags can still support content discovery - especially for local businesses, campaigns, and community groups.

Top Tips:

• Use 1-2 hashtags maximum
• Integrate them naturally into the post-copy
• Use for campaign tracking or local visibility (e.g., #BundabergBuilder,#PrintSolutionsNewcastle)
• Don’t rely on hashtags to drive reach; focus on shares, comments, and saves

Post Example: "Planning a reno in 2025? Our #GoldCoastBuilders can help you design the perfect custom home. Get inspired by our latest project..."

LinkedIn: Professional Context Matters

LinkedIn hashtags are ideal for B2B companies (like print, fit-out, or tech businesses). They allow your content to appear in topic-specific feeds.

Top Tips:

• Use 2-3 hashtags that are industry-specific
• Avoid gimmicky or casual tags (e.g., no #MondayMotivation unless it’s highly relevant)
• Add at the end of your post or subtly within the body

Examples:

• #PrintMarketingTips
• #WorkplaceWellnessDesign
• #SustainableBuildingPractices

TikTok: Discovery Meets Entertainment

TikTok hashtags still matter for discovery, especially when tied to trends. But for small businesses, your aim is relevance.

Top Tips:

• Combine one trending hashtag with one niche and one local hashtag
• Use no more than 3-5 per post
• Avoid #fyp unless it truly fits your content

Example for a florist or stylist:

• #WeddingStylistAustralia
• #BohoWeddingSetup
• #ByronBayBride

Hashtag Best Practices for All Platforms

• Use camel case for accessibility (e.g., #CustomBlindsCentralCoast)
• Avoid banned hashtags (search the tag before posting)
• Don’t reuse the same set every time
• Test what works - tweak and analyse post performance over time

A Final Note on Strategy Over Spamming

In 2025, hashtags won’t save a boring post, but they can help the right audience find great content. Think of them as the seasoning, not the main course. If your post is engaging, helpful, or entertaining - hashtags will help it travel further.

So whether you’re posting about a new showroom display, an award-winning renovation, or behind-the-scenes in your workshop - pick your hashtags with purpose, and keep them tidy.