.png){kind=icon}
When a trend goes viral, millions of people jump in to get a share of the spotlight. They feel like they're part of a bustling community of like-minded people--and if they're lucky, their contribution might go viral, too. Eventually, the excitement dies down and the general public moves on, but the fad leaves a permanent mark in online history.
For these reasons, small businesses are adding viral content to their social media calendars. Once you've developed your assets, you'll need to enhance your visibility and differentiate yourself from the crowd. Learning how to use trending hashtags on Instagram can expose your brand to a wider audience, increase your following, and demonstrate to the world that you're part of a cultural movement.
Hashtags are short tags that people add to their Instagram posts to improve visibility and attract like-minded followers. When a user searches for a hashtag, they'll see a list of popular posts that include that tag. You can try it yourself by entering a tag, such as "#matcha," "#tuxedocats" or "#booklovers," into the Instagram search bar and scrolling through the posts that the algorithm presents.
Some hashtags relate to a community, trend, or event, while others simply describe the subject matter of the image. For example, if you shared a photo of your morning coffee, you could add "#blackcoffee," "#coffeelovers" and "#morningroutine" to the end of your caption. These tags attract people who drink the same type of coffee, enjoy coffee in general, or appreciate morning rituals.
In any case, it's important to keep your tags short and relevant. Most people use short search queries, so "#seattlecoffee" will probably attract more users than "#bestblackcoffeeinseattleperiod." However, that doesn't mean you should rely on single-word hashtags that get thousands of posts each day. Instead of enticing customers, your pictures will probably get lost in the flood.
Instead, stick to hashtags that strike a perfect balance between general and specific. These are usually two- or three-word tags with one or two adjectives. As you start entering hashtags, Instagram will provide recommendations for similar tags. Try adding these to your content to reach a wider audience.
You can even come up with a hashtag for your company that helps you keep track of customers' updates. Invite them to use your hashtag whenever they discuss your company, and comment on their pictures to thank them for their business.
Trending hashtags relate to a song, dance, meme, or another viral moment that's currently exploding on the Internet. These tags are valuable for businesses because they could earn millions of views in a matter of hours. While using one of these tags doesn't guarantee more views, you'll have a chance to catch some of the attention while the trend is still fresh.
Sometimes, these tags originate from short-term trends that fade away within a few hours. This might involve a minor news story, an online game, a funny celebrity moment or a new episode of a popular TV show. Chasing after these tags usually isn't worth your time unless you already have a relevant post ready to go.
At other times, trending hashtags can reflect significant cultural shifts. Events that tend to go viral include:
When Taylor Swift announced her engagement in 2025, businesses across the country referenced the moment with memes, updates and hashtags. As a result, they earned views — and possibly sales — from Swift's global fan base. While it's not your job to post celebrity news, this is an example of a trend that became a lucrative marketing opportunity.
Occasionally, a moment appears to go viral for no reason at all. Private citizens become celebrities after a video unexpectedly takes off, inviting millions of people to share their thoughts. Keep an eye out for these hashtags, as they typically develop organic followings, rather than artificial engagement driven by bots and trolls.
Trending tags offer a shortcut to reaching a wider audience. When millions of people are discussing a single topic, your tagged post might attract people who wouldn't otherwise know about your business. As a bonus, trending tags are free and can be used in just seconds.
Ideally, the best time to use a trending hashtag is just before the trend takes off. More people will see your pictures before they disappear in the sudden avalanche, and you'll get credit for staying ahead of the curve. Unfortunately, it's hard to predict how popular trends will be--and by the time you've added posts to your calendar, the general public has moved on.
Luckily, you might be able to score a viral moment by using a trending hashtag at its peak. You already have a built-in following that can make your post more relevant, increasing its visibility on the hashtag's search page. If nothing else, you'll show your followers that you're up to date on cultural shifts.
You can also use a viral hashtag when the moment is starting to fade, but be sure not to wait too long. Otherwise, your business might look stuffy and out of touch. Can you imagine how you'd feel if Starbucks posted about the Harlem Shake in 2025?
To start, you'll need to find popular hashtags that will help you grow Instagram audience. A quick Google search for "trending Instagram hashtags" will give you several websites that list common tags, such as "#motivation," "#instafashion" and "#photooftheday." Before using any of these, ensure you check the date to avoid relying on outdated information.
If you want to dive deeper, hop on Instagram and start browsing the "Explore" page. You'll find posts and videos that have earned hundreds of comments and tens of thousands of likes. Check the captions for the tags, then browse the accounts to find other tags that they've used. You could also type specific tags into the search bar to gauge their popularity and find similar tags.
You could also use search engine optimization (SEO) tools to find popular hashtags in different regions. Some software can even generate hashtags for your pictures and look up hashtags on other platforms to give you the full picture.
As you learn how to use trending hashtags on Instagram, look for relevant tags that target your audience and describe the subject matter. Avoid adding irrelevant tags, even if they're popular, as this spams the search pages and makes it harder for people to find genuine content. While you're at it, include a few regular tags so that you can still find an audience after the trend dies down.
If you want to build content around trending hashtags, take some time to separate the enduring fads from viral moments that flame out in a day. Your assets might not be ready for another month or two, and you don't want to look out of touch by referencing a meme that everyone dropped ages ago.
When your hashtags are ready, it's time to add them to your post. Type out the caption, then hit the "enter" key twice and write each hashtag with a pound sign (#) in front and a space at the end. The hashtag should turn blue when you share the post, indicating that it's a clickable link.
If you're sharing a Story instead of a post, you can add a single hashtag to your clip. Tap the sticker icon near the top, then choose the "hashtag" option and write out the tag. Afterward, you can place the tag anywhere on your Story.
Review your likes, comments, shares and views to see how well your hashtags are doing. If you used multiple tags, it can be difficult to evaluate one tag's performance, but you'll get an idea of how many people you've reached. A sharp increase indicates that people are finding your post through the tags or search page.
However, if your engagement levels don't change, the endless stream of content might have buried your post. You could try again or move on to a less popular tag. It's also possible that your content didn't add anything new to the trend, leading people to skip over it.
For most small business owners, life would be a lot easier if they could add "Go viral" to their content calendars and enjoy the sudden fame that comes with it. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to force a hashtag to become a fad. Some brands have attempted to use bots that artificially inflate their metrics, but when the general public catches on, CEOs must deal with the resulting backlash.
The best trends usually grow organically. A fresh idea, song, or joke grabs someone's attention, leading them to share it with others. Those people share it with their followers, and the fad begins circulating on the Internet, eventually making headlines and attracting celebrity commentary. Some memes even happen by accident, such as the infamous Coldplay couple.
You can't force the Internet to pay attention to your brand, but you can continue to generate quality content with relevant and descriptive hashtags. Eventually, the right person might share one of your posts and turn your company into an online sensation. Until then, keep an eye on current trends and adjust your strategy to stay fresh.
Knowing how to use trending hashtags on Instagram is just one component of a strong social media strategy. Whether you're just starting or want to refresh your knowledge, E-Marketing Associates offers a free newsletter for business growth. Simply choose between small business or hospitality news, then enter your name and email address to start getting updates in your inbox.
While you're at it, check out our blog for news, updates, and research that you can read for free at any time. We also provide discovery calls for clients who want to learn more about our software. Schedule your 15-minute call today to learn about our products and services tailored for small business owners.
.jpg)
