A Guide to Instagram Hashtags

Let’s be real — Instagram can feel hard to figure out. With algorithms constantly changing, trends popping up overnight, and so much content to scroll through, it’s easy to feel stuck and not know what actually works. 

But here’s the thing: Instagram hashtags are still one of the most powerful tools for Instagram success. When used right, they help you get discovered, increase engagement, and grow your community.

According to Semrush, Instagram is the fifth most visited website in the world, which shows its power as a digital marketing platform. 

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Instagram hashtags. We’ll share practical tips and strategies to help you navigate the algorithm, speak its language, and make sure your content gets noticed. 

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What are Instagram hashtags?

Instagram hashtags are words or phrases with the “#” symbol that categorize content. They serve as a bridge between your content and users searching for or following specific topics. 

For example, if you post a coffee photo with #coffee, it appears in the feed of all posts tagged with #coffee.

They can boost visibility, expand reach, and help build a loyal community when used correctly.

How hashtags work on Instagram

Instagram’s algorithm uses hashtags to categorize and recommend content to users. Here’s how it works:

• Categorization: Hashtags help Instagram organize your content by theme (e.g., #fitness, #travel) and match it to users interested in those topics.
• Discovery: Hashtags allow your content to be discovered by a broader audience. When users search for or follow a hashtag, your post may appear in their feeds or Explore page, increasing its reach.
• Engagement signals: Posts with the right hashtags receive more likes, comments, and shares. This signals to Instagram that your content is engaging and worth showing to more users.

In summary, hashtags help Instagram’s algorithm understand, categorize, and recommend your content to the right audience. This boosts the visibility and engagement of your content and Instagram profile.

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Why do hashtags matter on Instagram?

Hashtags are crucial on Instagram for several reasons:

• Visibility: Hashtags make your content discoverable to a wider audience by connecting it with relevant searches.
• Targeted discovery: Using the right hashtags connects your content with users interested in specific topics, increasing engagement and conversions. 
• Community: Hashtags help users connect with niche communities and like-minded people.
• Trending topics: Hashtags highlight trends, which allows posts to go viral and join larger conversations.
• Branding: Unique branded hashtags build a community around your brand. This is instrumental in helping you build your brand with social media.
• Algorithm benefits: Hashtags help Instagram recommend your posts to the right users, boosting visibility on the Explore page and hashtag feeds.

In short, hashtags are key to growing your followers and boosting engagement.

Types of Instagram hashtags

There are different types of Instagram hashtags, and each one serves a unique purpose to boost your content’s visibility and engagement. Let’s break them down:

• Trending hashtags: These are the hot, time-sensitive hashtags related to current events, viral topics, or challenges. Hashtags like #BlackFriday or #IceBucketChallenge are great examples. Take a look at this Instagram post for a real-life example.

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Using them helps your content join larger conversations and boosts its viral potential.

• Niche hashtags: These target smaller, more specific communities or interests. For example, if you post about eco-friendly products, you might use hashtags like #zerowastelifestyle or #EcoFriendlyLiving♻️.

Check out more examples in the Instagram post.

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While niche hashtags might not have millions of posts, they connect you with a highly engaged and relevant audience.

• Branded hashtags: These are unique hashtags businesses or influencers create to promote a brand, campaign, or product. Examples include Nike’s #JustDoIt and Starbucks’ #RedCupSeason. 

Red Bull, for example, includes its branded hashtag in their Instagram bio to strengthen its brand identity and encourage user engagement.

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This helps create a sense of community and makes it easy for followers to join the conversation.

• Location-based hashtags: Location-based hashtags are essential when you want to focus on a particular city, region, or country. Examples include #NYC, #ParisFoodie, or #LAViews. Here is an example. 

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These hashtags help you reach people interested in that specific place, whether for travel, events, or local businesses.

• Industry or community hashtags: These are specific to a particular field or interest, like #FashionBlogger, #FitnessMotivation, or #TechGeek. They connect you with others in your industry or niche, making it easier to engage with like-minded people.
• Event hashtags: If you’re posting about a specific event, conference, or holiday, event hashtags help your content get discovered by people following it. Examples include #Coachella2024, #Olympics2024, or #BlackHistoryMonth. They connect you with people participating in or interested in that event.
• Content-specific hashtags: These describe the content of your post (e.g., #foodie, #travelgram, #pets). Here is an example.

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They make your posts more discoverable by people interested in those specific topics.

Using a mix of these types of hashtags can help maximize your content's reach and engagement on Instagram.

How many hashtags should you use?

Balance is key. While they can be a powerful tool, using too many hashtags can make your content look spammy and turn potential followers away.

Also, overcrowding your post with hashtags could risk your visibility or result in a shadow ban. A shadow ban occurs when Instagram hides your posts from users who don’t follow you, impacting your organic reach.

So, you want to boost your reach but don’t want to overload your post. 

Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post. If you add more than 30, your content won’t be posted at all.

That said, you don’t need to use all 30 every time. Smart Insights suggests sticking to around 10 hashtags for the best results, while Hootsuite recommends using between 9 and 15. 

So, choose hashtags that are highly relevant to your content and target audience rather than just filling the space with as many as possible. This will help you reach the right people and boost engagement.

How to find the right Instagram hashtags

Finding the right hashtags can make a huge difference in growing your followers and boosting engagement. Here are some effective ways to discover the best hashtags for your posts:

• Use hashtag research tools: One of the easiest ways to find relevant hashtags is by using hashtag tools. These tools analyze trends and search volume to help you pick hashtags that boost engagement. 

For example, best-hashtags.com is a tool that provides comprehensive results. It offers a list of the most popular and most liked Instagram hashtags, along with detailed reports and statistics on hashtag usage. 

Here’s an example of what it generates.

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Furthermore, AI hashtag generator apps like quso.ai can recommend potential hashtags tailored to your post. You can use them to choose the best hashtags that match your content and goals. 

These apps can be a great starting point for your hashtag research. Once you’ve compiled your initial list of hashtags, refine it using the second method we’ll cover to enhance and expand your selection.

• Leverage Instagram’s search bar: Instagram’s search bar is an accurate tool for exploring potential hashtags. 

Just type in a keyword related to your content, and Instagram will suggest popular hashtags. It also shows how many posts are tagged with each hashtag so you can gauge its popularity. Here is an example.

From there, you can select a mix of high-traffic and niche tags.

• Analyze competitor and influencer hashtags: Check out the hashtags your competitors and industry influencers use. 

It’ll give you a good sense of what’s working for them. You can also spot trending or relevant hashtags this way. Furthermore, check out posts like yours to see which hashtags get the most engagement.

Be sure to combine these methods to discover the perfect mix of hashtags.

Best practices for using Instagram hashtags

Using Instagram hashtags strategically can transform your profile from a simple account into a thriving hub for your community. 

That transformation happens when you leverage hashtags not only to reach a wider audience but also to engage your followers, turning them into active participants in your brand's story.

As Envato advises, “Leverage Hashtags to Engage Your Community. Use hashtags as a tool to strengthen your Instagram community. When users tag your brand in their posts or use your branded hashtags, give them a shoutout by sharing their content or mentioning them in your posts and stories. Highlighting these interactions not only shows appreciation but also incentivizes others to use your hashtags for a chance to be featured. This creates a positive feedback loop, expanding your hashtag reach and encouraging more people to engage with your brand through hashtags.”

With this strategy in mind, let's explore some additional best practices for using Instagram hashtags effectively:

• Be authentic: Choose hashtags that truly reflect your content and brand. Avoid using irrelevant or generic ones.
• Mix popular and niche hashtags: Combine 2-3 popular hashtags with more specific ones to reach a wider and more targeted audience.
• Limit hashtags: As discussed before, stick to 5–15 hashtags per post. Instagram allows up to 30, but more isn’t always better.
• Create branded hashtags: Make unique hashtags for your brand or campaigns to build community and encourage user-generated content.
• Avoiding banned hashtags: Using banned hashtags can cause your posts to be hidden or restricted, limiting your reach. To stay safe, always check if a hashtag is banned before using it. You can do that by searching for the hashtag on Instagram and checking for recent posts (or if there’s a community guideline reporting an issue related to the hashtag). 
• Use hashtags in stories and comments: Don’t just stick to captions. Adding hashtags to Stories and comments can boost visibility, too.
• Stay consistent: Use your chosen hashtags regularly so your target audience knows what to expect and can easily follow along.

Don’t forget to track your hashtag performance. Keep an eye on which ones get the most views, likes, comments, and shares. You can use Instagram Insights or third-party tools like Sprout Social for tracking. 

Also, experiment with different hashtags and adjust your strategy based on the results. This will help you optimize your hashtag game.

Conclusion

Understanding and utilizing Instagram hashtags is crucial for success on the platform. 

When you understand how to use hashtags on Instagram and the different types, you can build a hashtag strategy that connects with your audience. This, in turn, helps you boost visibility, engagement, and community growth. 

Follow our tips to craft your hashtag strategy: Use a mix of relevant hashtags and research tools, and stay authentic. Balance popular and niche hashtags, and keep your usage limited. 

Finally, track performance, experiment, and adjust for better results. This will help you explore the full potential of Instagram hashtags and boost your content.

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