Should I use hashtags and tags to help the algorithm find my audience on social media?

Tags and hashtags are largely outdated—the algorithm already knows what your content is about without them. What influences the algorithm is the quality and engagement of your content: Did you stop people from scrolling? How much time did they spend with your post? Did they engage with it? Did they send it to friends? Create content people will spend time with and share. Consistency is the real secret to winning on social media—show up regularly so you can learn what works and why it works. Focus on creating valuable content that keeps people on the platform rather than gaming the system with hashtags.

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Asked by an artist asking about platform choice · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-07-20