As social media became a dominant means of communication, hashtags have been a highly powerful force in shaping conversations. From conversations about global events, going viral, raising awareness, or gaining attention, hashtags bring people together and promote valuable interactions.
For creators and brands that want to establish a solid online presence, strategically using hashtags is no longer a choice—it’s a requirement. But while hashtags can help you reach more people, abusing them can have the opposite effect and make you seem opportunistic or tone-deaf.
This guide is here to assist you on how to hop on trending hashtags the right way—without sounding desperate. If you’re new to hashtags or need to fine-tune your strategy, you’ll find practical tips to guide you in organically jumping on trends, build credibility, and target the right audience.
Hashtags are terms or phrases preceded by the “#” symbol utilized in classifying content under shared themes. They’re applied to link conversations, share experience, and increase exposure across likeminded tastes. However, one shared problem most individuals grapple with is obsessively appending hot hashtags to undeserved pieces of content.
Take the case of the 2020 #EndSARS protest. The protest, led by Nigerian youth against police brutality, went viral. At the time, artist Reekado Banks posted about releasing new music under the widely used #EndSWAT hashtag. This was met with public condemnation, with fellow artist Wizkid calling him out for insensitivity.
The moral? Relevance is everything. Just as you wouldn’t walk around in a trash bag and then pair it with a designer handbag, your hashtags should be as excellent as your post. A hip hashtag won’t save a lousy post—or worse, tarnish your reputation if used irresponsibly.
The Wrong Way to Join a Trend (aka “Desperate” Hashtagging)
Let’s get this out of the way: if you’re posting about a trending topic that has nothing to do with your brand, audience, or niche just to get views, people will notice—and not in a good way.
Here are a few red flags that scream “I’m just here for the attention”:
- Using hashtags unrelated to your content
- Posting generic or low-effort content just to ride the wave
- Overusing trending hashtags in one post
- Hijacking serious or sensitive matters for clout
- Ignoring your brand tone or values in pursuit of virality
You wouldn’t want to be the loudmouth at the dinner party raging about something that’s off-point, right? Same for social media. Hashtags are added to enhance, not as a half-hearted stab at attention-seeking.
Step-by-Step: How to Join a Trending Hashtag the Smart Way
Now, on to the nitty-gritty. Here’s how to jump onto the trend without looking thirsty for likes or in need of engagement.
- Look to the Relevance First
All trending hashtags aren’t your business. Before you dive in, consider the following:
- Is this trend relevant to my brand, audience, or niche?
- Can I add a different spin or something of value?
- Would my audience need or benefit from hearing from me on this topic?
If the answer is no to all three, it’s okay to sit that trend out. Silence is better than off-brand content that is opportunistic or forced.
- Know the Context Before Posting
Never post without knowing the entire context behind the hashtag. Some trends carry cultural, political, or emotional weight. Posting without context can be interpreted as ignorant or offensive. Take a few minutes to research:
What does the hashtag actually mean?
- Who started it—and why?
- Are there tones or rules others are employing?
- Has there been blowback around it?
- A rapid scan can protect you from humiliation and preserve your brand reputation.
- Add Value to the Content
After verifying that the trend has relevance to your message, do not simply paraphrase what everyone else is doing—add value instead.
Here are some ways to do that:
- Educate: Provide knowledge, tips, or information related to the trend.
- Entertain: Employ humor, anecdotes, or creative visuals to add something new.
- Inspire: Post a true story, lesson, or encouragement.
- Engage: Ask a reflective question or encourage others to join the discussion.
Example: If #WorkFromHome is trending, a digital productivity coach might share “5 Tips to Stay Focused While Working from Home”—complete with a brief reel or carousel. That’s on-brand, relevant, and valuable.
- Add Your Own Spin
Besides applying present trends, top content creators also put their own spin.
Ask yourself:
- Can I connect this trend to your or your brand’s history?
- Can I approach this topic in a new way no one else is writing about?
- Can I use my tone, imagery, or niche voice to stand out?
Being current doesn’t mean sounding like everybody else. Your authenticity is your power.
- Use the Hashtag Naturally—Not Overly
The goal is for the hashtag to support your content—not overwhelm it. It takes only one or two carefully chosen hashtags to get the job done. Overloading your caption with 10 high-frequency tags makes it look desperate or spammy. And, worse still, some sites (like Instagram and LinkedIn) might even penalize this in their algorithms.
Make sure your hashtags:
- Work well within your sentence naturally
- Are spelled correctly
- Don’t interrupt your main message.
- Post While the Trend Is Still Hot
Timing is everything. Most trends have a super brief life span—anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. Wait too long, and your content will be outdated, or worse, like you’re hopping on a wave that’s already lost steam.
Use tools like:
- X (formerly Twitter): Check out what’s trending in the trending section for fresh topics.
- Google Trends: Check out what’s trending on the web.
- TrendTok or TrendHub: Keep an eye on TikTok and Instagram trends.
- Planning quick, useful content will keep you ahead of the din.
- Participate with Others Using the Hashtag
Hashtags are for discussions, not for monologues. Don’t put up your content and then vanish. Do this instead:
- Like and comment on other creators’ posts using the same hashtag
- Respond to commenters on your post
- Share or repost something that resonates with your brand message
- When you interact sincerely, you get seen more and your brand is perceived as authentic.
- Avoid Piggybacking on Tragedies or Sensitive Topics
Some popular hashtags are tied to serious causes—like political unrest, tragedy, or injustice. If your brand has no authentic or respectful contribution to make, best to listen, amplify credible voices, or support quietly.
Trying to use serious hashtags to sell or promote is bound to sound tone-deaf or exploitative.
Rule of thumb: If it feels wrong, it probably is.
- Keep an Eye on the Results
Lastly, don’t .forget to measure the effectiveness of your work. Tracking your results will inform you of what worked, what didn’t work, and how you can do better next time.
Watch these:
- Engagement metrics: Likes, comments, shares, saves, retweets.
- Reach and impressions: How many were exposed to your post?
- Follower growth: Did you gain new followers after implementing the trend?
- Click-throughs or traffic: If you included a link, did people click it?
- Audience sentiment: Were comments by people optimistic, pessimistic, or a mix?
Utilize built-in analysis features like Instagram Insights, Facebook Creator Studio, Twitter/X Analytics, or third-party tools like Later, Hootsuite, or Buffer to access this data. If growth went up positively after your engagement with the trend, then that is a go-ahead sign to do more. If not, modify and refine your approach.
Here are some tips based on various social media platforms.
For any social network, the most important thing is the content and the description that comes after that hashtag, although it’s good to know some tips:
Hashtags on Instagram
Don’t put so many hashtags in your post, first because it distracts from the appearance of the post, and secondly is that the description gets noise when used with so many numbers and Instagram deletes your visualization when you use so many hashtags.
Recommendation: Use 4-6 but try to put them in the text and not at the end bunched, remember that Instagram is a social network where the visual is what matters.
Hashtags on Facebook
Facebook hashtags do not mean much in comparison to other social media platforms, but pay attention to take care that your posts have the ones required because the algorithm on Facebook considers the hashtags to recommend the content in searches and on the timeline of users based on their interests.
Hashtags in Twitter
In this social network we propose an adequate proportion of the text and place the hashtag in the text itself without its misuse and that it is not something like
#Today #Les #I will speak #Of #Use #De #Los #Hashtags #En #Social #Networks #Lean #My #Blog.
Hashtags are not just digital labels, they are beyond that—they’re gateways to global conversations. Used wisely, they keep brands and makers up to date, convey personality, and get more noticed.
But don’t forget: chasing trends without strategy is like shouting in a crowded room—nobody listens for long. Instead, be intentional, timely, and authentic with every post. With time, your community won’t just see your content—will trust and engage with it.
So, next time a hashtag trend explodes, breathe, plan ahead, and post on purpose.
The moral is You don’t have to shout to be heard on social media. Joining a trending hashtag works best if your contribution is timely, thoughtful, and well-crafted.
Instead of chasing every trend, chase the trends that suit your voice and your message—and come bearing something to contribute on it.
When you add value to a trending conversation, you don’t come across as desperate. You come across as intelligent. Strategic. Unforgettable. And that’s how you play the trend game without losing your following. So tell me, what are some hashtags changes you are going to make from now on? Comment below