Using Social Media with Intention: Part Two - From Hashtags to Content Proliferation

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In Part One, we explored why clarity, focus, and consistency are essential when it comes to building your presence on social media. We talked about intention, sharing the right kind of work, and how to maintain a consistent brand and tone.

Now, let’s carry that conversation forward from hashtags and stories to the humble (and wildly underused) link in bio, and how to make your content work harder across everything you do.

5) Hashtags

Let’s be very honest about hashtags: they’re a bit overhyped.

I don’t know anyone who’s ever said, “Oh, I got discovered from a hashtag and now I’ve gone viral and everything changed.” It just doesn’t really happen that way.

That said, I do think hashtags still have a place in good social media practice. You can follow a hashtag, you can search them, and they can act as a handy little signpost to what you’re sharing. But they’re not the secret sauce. They’re just one more small part of the bigger picture.

What I suggest is this: pick maybe seven really solid, relevant hashtags that reflect the kind of work you do or the audience you want to attract. Save them in your Notes app. Keep them consistent.

I don’t change my hashtags very often  I prefer to use ones that feel like they represent my work and brand. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel every time you post.

Also, I personally prefer to place my hashtags in the comments section rather than in the post itself. I just think it looks neater. Cleaner. A bit more thoughtful.

So yes, use hashtags but don’t obsess over them. They're helpful, but not make-or-break.

6) Stories, reels, and lives

Do you need to post a story every day? No. Your entire Instagram feed will not collapse if you don’t. But stories, reels and lives are brilliant tools if you use them intentionally.

Let’s break them down:

Stories: 24-hour content. Photos, videos, boomerangs - quick little updates. Great for nuance, great for smaller moments. If I had a retail shop and a really beautiful batch of peonies arrived, or if there was a daily offer I wanted to shout about, I’d share it in a story. It’s low-pressure and doesn’t clutter your main feed. Stories are also great when you have a new post up - it gives a snippet of what to expect and it people to go and look.

Reels on Instagram & Facebook: Video content, up to 3 minutes but less than 60 seconds is preferable. These usually get better traction because Meta is really pushing video these days in competition with TikTok. They’re perfect for showing how something’s made, a before-and-after, a wedding setup, a quick tip - anything a bit more visual or fun. And they’re permanent, unlike stories.

Lives: Now this one’s a bit more marmite. Some people love them. I used to do quite a few during the pandemic, when everyone was asking. But truthfully, I find them a bit hit-or-miss. You can plan them in advance, but if people miss it in the moment, it can feel a bit anticlimactic. Lives do show your personality, and they’re great for passionate storytelling or Q&As, but they’re not for everyone.

My advice? Choose what suits your audience and what suits you. My system is:

1. Feed (grid) comes first - the main showcase

2. Then stories - the behind-the-scenes stuff

3. Then reels - the fun, creative moments

4. Then lives - for special things or big energy

You don’t have to do it all. Just pick what works - and stick with it.

7) Links

This one might just be the most underrated part of your entire profile: your link in bio.

It’s one link  but it has the power to drive so much action. Whether you’re sharing a new product, a blog post, a booking form, or a free tutorial, that little link is your gateway.

You’ve got two main options:

1. Build a “links” page on your website (simple, stylish, and fully on-brand)

2. Use a tool like Linktree - which is free and easy to set up

I used Linktree myself for years. It worked brilliantly. You can stack as many links as you like - download a free resource, book a consultation, browse a lookbook, visit your gallery - whatever you want your audience to do.

The only rule? Keep your links up to date.
If you’ve moved a page, changed a URL, or finished a promotion - update it. There’s nothing worse than clicking a link and getting an error or finding outdated content. You want that moment of interaction to feel seamless.

So use your link in bio with purpose. Treat it like your call to action.

8) Content proliferation

Now, this is one of my favourite tricks - and no one talks about it enough.

Let’s say you’ve just taken a beautiful image or just shot an amazing video. You’ve edited it, you’ve written a brilliant caption. You post it to Instagram… and then what? Is that it?

Of course not.

That caption - especially if it’s a little longer or more thoughtful - could become a blog post. It could go into your newsletter. It could sit on your website. You could pull a quote from it for a story. The image could be added to your gallery. It could be reused in a few months’ time, if it’s still relevant.

You don’t need to create something new every single day. Reuse, repurpose, recycle. That’s content proliferation: taking one piece of content and using it across multiple platforms.

You can even plan for this. Batch your writing, pre-select your photos, have a little notes folder ready to go. It’ll save you time, and it’ll make sure your social presence stays consistent even when life gets busy.

And yes - keep it relevant. Make sure everything you’re sharing still reflects your current style, your brand, and your goals. But don’t be afraid to get more mileage out of the work you’re already doing.

You’ve spent time creating it. Let it keep working for you.

_{If all of this feels like a lot - and you’re still finding your feet with flowers, design, or your creative style - let me gently say: you don’t have to do it alone.}

_{First Steps with Flowers is the course I created to help you build real creative confidence - from choosing your tools and developing your style to creating floral work you’re proud to share. It’s designed for beginners, but rooted in professional techniques. If you want to start creating with clarity this is where to begin.}

_{Join First Steps with Flowers today and start building something truly your own - both on the table and on your feed.}