15 Best Practices For Instagram Hashtags

Do you struggle to get your amazing Instagram content seen by the right audience? Hashtags can help you achieve this by broadening your reach and increasing engagement. In fact, Instagram posts with hashtags have 12.6% more engagement compared to other posts.

But how would you know the right hashtag to use? This guide provides you with the power of hashtags. In this post, we will look at 15 best practices on how to choose and use the right Instagram hashtags for your posts. But first, let’s understand what are good Instagram hashtags.

What Makes A Good Instagram Hashtag?

A good Instagram hashtag is like a bullseye- relevant to your content, reaches your target audience and provides engagement. It should not be too widely used (lost in the feed) or too specific (hardly seen).

By using Instagram hashtags wisely, you attract the right viewers and boost your impact on Instagram. Here’s a checklist for finding the right hashtags for your posts.

1. Relevance & Content Match- Choose hashtags that describe your post.
2. Audience Target- Check hashtags’s appeal to what your ideal followers search.
3. Popularity- Opt for hashtags with 10k-200k posts - avoid overly popular hashtags
4. Mix it Up- Use both broad and specific hashtags.
5. Engagement- Active Users- Check hashtag posts for recent engagement.
6. Banned Words- Avoid using shadowbanned hashtags.
7. Length Variation- Include both long-tail (#socialmediastrategy) and shorter (#socialmedia) hashtags. 
8. Branded Hashtag- Create a unique hashtag for your brand and campaign. 
9. Track & Analyze- See what works and adapt your hashtag strategy.

How To Choose Instagram Hashtags: Best Practices

Mastering hashtags can be tricky at times, but we'll show you how to find relevant ones for your content. Ttransform your Instagram game using the following best practices for choosing Instagram hashtags. 

1. Include Relevant Hashtags

Hashtags might seem like magic words, but just like SEO, relevance reigns supreme. Using generic hashtags with no real search volume won't get you discovered.

Imagine being a yoga teacher; you are just about to post a new online class. You can use #yoga, but it's really very broad. Instead, type "vinyasa yoga" in the search bar—or any kind of yoga you do. 

Instagram will generate relevant hashtags used by other creators, and you are endowed with keywords to attract potential students who may be actively looking for similar content. 

2. Utilize Trending Hashtags

Trending hashtags are a great way to increase your reach and engagement among a larger audience. You can think of them as the current topics that drive discussion in your niche. 

To find trending hashtags, search for keywords related to your post on Instagram and see which hashtags pop up the most. 

Once you find and utilize popular Instagram hashtags, strategically, your content will be put in front of a wider audience, gaining more visibility and engagement. 

3. Tailor Hashtags For Each Post

One-size-fits-all doesn't work for hashtags, as each post deserves its own unique set of hashtags. Imagine describing a delicious pizza with a generic #food hashtag. It doesn't quite capture the essence, right? 

Instead of using generic and basic hashtags, discover new ones and tailor them to reflect your content. For pizza, use #pizzalove, #homemadepizza, or #pizzanight—these specific hashtags will attract viewers specifically searching for pizza content. 

4. Include A Mix of Hashtags

While your branded hashtag should be a constant, it's wise to mix up the hashtags types,  to reach a wider audience. Think of hashtags like keywords – you want to cover a range to maximize discovery.

The key is to cast a mix of popular and niche hashtags. Popular hashtags (#travel) help you reach a large audience, while niche hashtags (#vanlife) target specific communities. This variety ensures your content reaches both broad and relevant viewers, maximizing your chances of audience engagement.

5. Leverage Branded Hashtags

The branded hashtags create a unique identifier for your brand and campaign. By encouraging user-generated content with your branded hashtag, you don't only create a community around it but also invite fans to become part of your story.  

Your audience becomes co-creators, sharing their experiences and perspectives while using your hashtag. This attracts new organic followers who can resonate with your authentic content. So, go ahead, drive in the power of branded hashtags, and watch your tribe grow!

6. Include Location-Based Hashtags

Location-based hashtags are hashtags that include the name of a place- a city, a park, or a landmark. Using these hashtags is the best strategy for your Instagram page to tap into a specific audience and build a strong local presence. 

For a delicious food picture, consider a hashtag referencing your city's famous dish (#ChicagoDeepDish). If you're promoting a local business, try a hashtag specific to your neighborhood (#ShopSmall_MainStreet). The idea is to think beyond generic location tags (#NewYork) and explore more targeted options.

These hyper-local hashtags will attract potential customers searching for recommendations in their locality, increasing your local visibility while building a community for your brand.

7. Experiment And Analyze

Do research and experiment with your hashtags, as what works for one post might not be ideal for the next. Instagram Insights and analytics tools can help you find hashtags with the most engagement opportunities. Take note and adapt your future hashtag strategy accordingly. 

You'll gain invaluable insights about hashtags that work best by continuously experimenting and analyzing your results. This data-driven approach for choosing the right hashtags will maximize your reach and engagement with every post.

8. Avoid Overusing Hashtags

While well-planned and relevant hashtags bring in audiences, randomly stuffing them into the caption does the reverse, impacting your overall reach and Instagram.

So, focus on quality over quantity and use 3-5 relevant hashtags —that describe your content and intended audience. This number will keep your captions clean from clutter, won't annoy the viewer, and maximize the effectiveness of your chosen hashtags.

9. Add Hashtags On Stories And Reels

Using niche hashtags in stories and reels offers fantastic opportunities to expand your reach and engagement. These hashtags help your content appear in search results and on dedicated hashtag pages, attracting newer audiences.

If you are thinking of adding a funny cooking story or uploading one such reel,  consider adding relevant hashtags like #homecookingfails or #quarantinekitchen in its caption to improve reach. 

10. Stay Updated With Current Hashtags

Research trending hashtags relevant to your niche on a regular basis. Notice what people are talking about, or even what your competition is abuzz about, and include those in your content strategy. Tools like Instagram's search bar and trend reports will give you an idea of what's hot.

The world of social media works fast, and so do trending hashtags, so don't get left behind. Staying updated with current hashtags will ensure your content speaks to the latest conversations and attracts more attention online.

11. Monitor Hashtag Performance

Monitoring hashtag performance is crucial for determining the areas of improvement. Therefore, notice which hashtags generate the most engagement in the form of likes, comments, and shares. 

You can also utilize Instagram Insights, the in-built analytics tool of Instagram track the performance of your hashtags. 

Focus on the best hashtags and reduce the usage of hashtags that have underperformed over time. Monitoring this performance regularly will ensure you achieve maximum reach and engagement with the best hashtags.

12. Include Hashtags In First Comments

Instagram allows you to add a comment to your own post, and that's the perfect place to stash your hashtags. This way, your caption stays focused and visually appealing while the hashtags continue to work their magic in the background, attracting viewers searching for those specific terms. 

People searching for those specific hashtags will see your post and comment, increasing engagement opportunities for your content. This allows you to connect with a wider audience and spark engagement. It's a win-win for a sleek look and maximum reach.

13. Avoid Using Banned Hashtags

Using banned hashtags in your Instagram posts reduces your content’s visibility and can be a major drawback to your overall engagement. Most banned hashtags are related either to spam or unsolicited content and using them can flag your account and can even result in a shadowban.

Therefore, stay safe by avoiding banned hashtags altogether. To identify banned hashtags, you can use Instagram’s Explore page. 

If a hashtag does not appear in the search results or links to a broken page, there are chances its a banned hashtag. Identify location hashtags with this practice to ensure your hashtag strategy works in your favor and not against you.

14. Proofread Hashtags Before Adding

Before hitting the post, take a moment to proofread your hashtags. A simple misspelling can render your carefully chosen hashtag useless. Imagine using #foodphotography instead of #foophotographer – you'd miss out on reaching the right audience.

Misspelt hashtags neither would attract followers nor would spark any conversations. Moreover, typo errors make your content appear unprofessional. Therefore always enure to proofread your hashtags to ensure you reach the right audience. 

 15. Add Only Content Specific Hashtags

The key is to use hashtags that accurately describe the content of your post. Don't use random, generic hashtags (#blessed, #likeforlikes). These might not attract your target audience and can even come across as inauthentic.

Instead, focus on specific hashtags relevant to your photo or video. Think #baking for a delicious cake picture or #travelphotography for stunning landscapes. This strategic approach ensures your content reaches the right audience. 

Now, let’s understand how you can build an Instagram hashtag strategy that maximizes your reach. 

How To Build Effective Instagram Hashtag Strategy? 

To devise an effective Instagram strategy, first establish campaign goals and understand what your target audience searches for. Then follow the below steps to choose and use the right hashtags.  

1. Analyse Your Audience Interest

Before jumping right into hashtags, understand who you are reaching out to. What are their interests, and what conversations are they following? Analyze their posts and explore the hashtags they use. This intel will guide you toward hashtags that resonate with your target audience.

2. Find Hashtags Relevant To Your Brand

Every brand has a different identity! Use those hashtags that directly relate to your niche and reflect the right message. Keep in focus on what products or services you sell, what problems you solve, or what emotions you evoke. Such relevant hashtags will attract viewers genuinely interested in what you have to offer.

3. Use Both Niche and General Hashtags

Don't rely solely on niche hashtags with limited reach. Balance your strategy by incorporating broader, popular hashtags to expose your content to a larger audience. Think of it as a recipe: a sprinkle of popular hashtags adds a dash of wider visibility, while niche ones ensure you attract the right kind of attention.

Final Thoughts

Hashtags are a strategic gateway to connect with your target audience and spark dynamic engagement. A well-crafted hashtag strategy will attract new followers eager to connect with your brand and improve your audience engagement. 

Utilize these practices, find and select relevant hashtags, analyze their performance, and refine your approach to reach new people with hashtags.  You are just a few right hashtags away from your target audience! Find the relevant ones and use them!

FAQs

1. How to choose the right hashtags for Instagram?

Choose hashtags relevant to your content, think #baking for a cake pic and #biking for a cycling post. Explore trending topics in your niche and find a balance between popular and niche to target specific ones. 

2. How to best use hashtags on Instagram?

To best use hashtags on Instagram, utilize relevant hashtags strategically. You can add them directly in the caption or place them in the first comment to maintain a clean look. Both work! Experiment and see what resonates with your audience.

3. What is the ideal number of hashtags per post?

While Instagram recommends 3-5 in-caption hashtags, you can add up to 30 hashtags in your first comment to expand your reach without cluttering your caption. Remember to use the right and relevant hashtags- they work the best.

4.  How to get the best hashtags on Instagram?

You can get the best hashtags by researching your niche and audience. Explore hashtags used by your competitors, leverage Instagram's search bar - type relevant keywords to find hashtags with maximum usage volume. 

5. Is it better to use popular or niche hashtags?

The optimal strategy lies in a strategic mix. Include a few popular hashtags to gain visibility and broaden your reach. However, prioritize using a larger number of niche hashtags to connect with your ideal audience.