I have been asked many times, “Are hashtags really THAT important?” and I always answer YES! If hashtags are not a part of your social media strategy, you don’t have a strategy at all. Using relevant, targeted hashtags on your posts is one of the best ways to get discovered by new audiences on Instagram. This can result in more engagement, more followers, and more customers for your business. That’s what we all want, right? If you want to grow on Instagram, you have the right hashtag strategy. Do your research and use hashtags relevant to your content and niche.
So First…The Basics
Hashtags are important to expand your reach on social media. They are used to make it easier for your content to be found by your target audience. While hashtag strategy is an ever-evolving thing on Instagram, the point remains that people use hashtags to search for products and services. Choosing the right hashtags can be the difference between your ideal client seeing your posts and crickets. Hashtags tell Instagram what your niche and identity is how people can find you.
Use Less Hashtags
I know, I know…you’ve always been told to use all 30. But the reality is that may be an outdated strategy. Some people are still finding success with using all 30 available hashtags, but Instagram themselves have said it’s not really necessary. It can actually confuse the algorithm. Instead, use between 8-15 hashtags that are more focused on your niche. Try to limit repeating hashtags to no more than three that really hone in on your identity. The rest should be highly relevant to that particular post and who the post is for.
Add Hashtags When You Post & Research Which Ones to Use
Adding hashtags long after posting is ineffective, do it right away. Do your research. Find hashtags that are relevant to your niche. If you don’t know which hashtags you should use, see which hashtags your audience, competitors, and industry leaders are already using. Make sure to put your hashtags in the first comment instead of cluttering your caption.
Getting the most eyes on your posts has a lot to do with the hashtags you’re using. Use a hashtag generator to avoid banned hashtags. Avoid using overly popular hashtags like #love or #friend. Your content will be drowned out. And don’t use hashtags that are not relevant to your content. Hone in on what your content is saying and who that post is for and use relevant hashtags to increase your reach and engagement.
