Podcast Summary: Grow Your Local Business

Episode Title: What’s the Deal with Instagram Hashtags in 2026?
Host: Leslie Presnall
Release Date: March 24, 2026

Episode Overview

In this timely episode, local marketing expert and life coach Leslie Presnall tackles the confusion surrounding the current state of Instagram hashtags for local businesses in 2026. Leslie explores the latest platform updates, shares best practices for using hashtags effectively, and explains the rising importance of SEO and keywords on Instagram. She also offers hands-on strategies for small business owners to be more discoverable by local clients, demystifying what actually works today—and what’s no longer worth your energy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hashtags in 2026: Are They Still Useful?

• Are hashtags dead?
  Leslie addresses the rumor: “So what's the deal with hashtags on Instagram in 2026? Are they dead? Are we still using them?” (01:23)
• Limits have changed:
  Instagram now only allows 3 to 5 hashtags per post or reel, a sharp decrease from the previous 30. Some users are seeing a cap of only 3.
• No longer for reach:
  “Hashtags no longer increase your reach ... Instagram has made much more of a shift to using SEO.” (03:00)
• SEO is the priority:
  Instagram now prioritizes keywords in captions, videos, images, and on-screen text over hashtags to determine audience targeting and content visibility.
  “It's analyzing all of that over what hashtags you're using to determine, like, who to show your content to.” (03:30)

2. The New Role of Hashtags

• Clickable and searchable:
  Hashtags remain clickable and searchable. They enable users to find content related to specific tags, but not to push your posts into wider audiences.
• Best uses:
  • Local hashtags:
    Use your city name and popular local tags (“hashtag Baton Rouge,” “hashtag 225 Baton Rouge,” “hashtag Go Baton Rouge” [05:40]) to be discoverable within your community.
  • Industry-specific local tags:
    Combine your city and industry for targeting: “Baton Rouge photographer,” “Dallas dentist,” or “Charlotte real estate” (06:10).

    “If you're using something like photographer, that's going to group you in with every single photographer in the world. That is not going to help you at all.” (06:30)

• Ditch generic hashtags!
  Drop tags like “Happy Saturday,” “blessed,” or pop culture phrases:

  “Anything that's like Happy Saturday, hashtag blessed, hashtag eat, pray, love, like none of that is going to help you anymore. So not that it helped you before…” (06:45)

3. Instagram as a Search Engine

• Rising importance of search:
  Instagram has evolved into a powerful search engine. People may search for “Baton Rouge balloon artist” or “hashtag Austin Yoga Studio.” If you’ve used these tags, your content can surface (07:20).
• Optimization over hashtags:
  The best results come from optimizing your profile, captions, and content with local keywords. Hashtags play a supportive role only.

4. Proactive Outreach Using Hashtags

• Find and engage with potential clients:
  Leslie recommends actively searching local hashtags (like “Baton Rouge moms”), engaging with posts under those tags, and connecting with your target audience.
• Instant visibility:

  “This is how they see your name for free. You guarantee that you get in front of them. It's instant visibility.” (08:10)

• You don’t have to wait:

  “You can go out and find people. You don't always have to wait on people to find you. You don't have to post and hope—like, you do get to do both.” (08:20)

5. Strategic Takeaways

• Hashtags still work—differently:
  • Use limited, relevant hashtags as local discovery tools.
  • Focus on SEO/keywords for reach; hashtags supplement this effort.
• Balance proactive and passive tactics:
  Diversify by both optimizing for discoverability and by going out to engage deliberately with potential clients.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Instagram’s new priorities:
  “Instagram has made much more of a shift to using SEO, so search engine optimization... it's really prioritizing those keywords in your captions, in your videos, on your images, the text on screen.” (03:00)
• On industry hashtags:
  “If you're using something like photographer, that's going to group you in with every single photographer in the world, that is not going to help you at all.” (06:30)
• On proactive engagement:
  “This is how they see your name for free. You guarantee that you get in front of them. It's instant visibility.” (08:10)
• On generic hashtags:
  “Anything that’s like Happy Saturday, hashtag blessed, hashtag eat, pray, love—like none of that is going to help you anymore. So, not that it helped you before...” (06:45)
• Summary advice:
  “Do hashtags still work? Yes, they are useful. Do you need to spend all of your time on a hashtag strategy in 2026? No.” (09:30)

Important Timestamps

• 01:23 — Introduction: Are Hashtags Dead in 2026?
• 02:15 — New Hashtag Limits & Instagram’s Stance
• 03:00 — Hashtags Don’t Affect Reach; SEO is Key
• 05:40 — Best Practice: Local Hashtags
• 06:10 — Industry + City Hashtags vs. Generic
• 07:20 — Instagram as a Local Search Engine
• 08:10 — Proactive Discovery & Engagement
• 09:30 — Summary Advice: Hashtags’ Role & Where to Focus

Final Takeaways

• Limit your use of hashtags to 3-5, prioritizing those that include both your local area and your business type.
• Focus energy on strengthening your Instagram SEO with keywords in your captions, content, and profile.
• Use hashtags as a tool to actively discover and engage with your ideal local clients—but don’t rely on them for massive reach.
• Avoid generic, non-local, or unrelated hashtags entirely.
• Balance optimization (being found) and outreach (finding others) to build a strong local presence in 2026.

Resources Mentioned:

• [Local Instagram Formula] (link in episode) — For mastering keywords and content optimization.
• [Free Guide: How to Grow Your Local Instagram Following] (link in episode) — To find more strategies for outreach and engagement.

For any local business owner navigating the changing Instagram landscape, Leslie’s practical advice will help you maximize your discoverability and client connections in your city—no hacks, trends, or hashtag rabbit holes required.