Why do we use primary keywords and hashtags in content creation and digital marketing?

Athira Karayil — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 11:12:35 +0000

Primary keyword

This is the main phrase a page is built around, the thing you want it to rank for on Google. A write-up on your site might target “TryCloudflare phishing detection.”

Why it matters:

Google understands the page. Putting the keyword in the title, URL, first paragraph, headings and meta description tells Google what the page is about.
It matches what people search for. Writing around a phrase people actually type brings in visitors who already want that topic.
It keeps the content focused. One page targets one topic, so your own pages don’t compete with each other for the same search.
It lets you track results. Search Console shows which keywords bring clicks, so you can see what’s working.

Alongside the primary keyword you use secondary keywords, related phrases like “phishing infrastructure hunting” or “Cloudflare tunnel abuse.” These help the page rank for variations.

Hashtags

A hashtag (#cybersecurity) groups posts by topic on social platforms. They matter most on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok.

Why they matter:

Discovery. People who follow or search a hashtag can see your post even if they don’t follow you.
Categorizing. They tell the platform’s algorithm what the post is about, which helps it reach the right audience.
Joining trends and events. Event hashtags (like a conference’s tag) put you in front of people following it live.
Branding. A personal tag (say #AKSecurity) collects all your posts in one place.

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Keywords: use the phrase naturally. Repeating it over and over (keyword stuffing) hurts rankings.
Hashtags: use 3–5 relevant ones on LinkedIn and 1–2 on X. Mix broad tags (#cybersecurity) with niche ones (#threatintel, #phishing, #blueteam). Dozens of tags look like spam and can reduce reach.

In short, keywords get you found on Google, and hashtags get you found on social media. Used together, they push traffic from both places to your site. Read More

DEV Community: Athira Karayil

Why do we use primary keywords and hashtags in content creation and digital marketing?