Twitter’s response? It was too geeky and was never going to be popular.

Welp fifteen years later, and hashtags are a staple on social media, particularly in Twitter, TikTok, and the topic we’ll be discussing in the near future: Instagram.

Learn how you can harness the power that comes from Instagram hashtags to increase your following, connect with your followers, and grow your reputation.

What is a hashtag?

A hashtag is a term, phrase or phrase that has the symbol of pound (#) before it. Social media sites, when you click or tap on the hashtag, you’ll see all the posts on the platform that contain the hashtag. This allows users to classify their content and find relevant posts in the sea of social media posts. Hashtags are available on the most well-known social media platforms, such as:

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

TikTok

Twitter

Why should you use hashtags on Instagram?

While many websites on social networks support hashtags. Twitter as well as Instagram are most likely to be the ones where hashtags are the most crucial. Here are a few advantages of making use of Instagram hashtags.

Increase your reach. Hashtags can make the Instagram Stories, posts Reels as well as Stories visible to users on their daily Instagram wanderings, providing you with numerous avenues to reach out to an even larger audience.

Enhance engagement. Instagram posts with hashtags see an average of 12.6 percent increase in engagement when compared to posts without. Another report suggests that 29 percent.

Create your following. Since hashtags can help you be discovered by niche groups They also help you gain more Instagram followers. Quality followers with the potential to turn into customers.

Build your brand’s credibility With hashtags that promote user-generated content, as well as plain-joke hashtags with only visual purposes hashtags can play an important role in expressing the voice of your brand and also in establishing trust.

instagram hashtags improve engagement 29-79%

Image source

 

How do you add hashtags to Instagram

The process of adding hashtags to Instagram is as simple as placing the pound symbol before an expression or word! Here are some side tips:

Do not use punctuation. Don’t include punctuation marks as well as spaces within your hashtag. For instance, #don’t-hate or #do-not-hate won’t work. #donthate will.

It should be easy to understand. It is helpful by capitalizing the initial letter in every word in hashtagged phrases to ensure better comprehension (for instance, #findyourpassion and #FindYourPassion. It is important to note that capitalization doesn’t alter the location that hashtags link to.

Double-check it. Always search for the hashtag to ensure that it’s not linked to something indecent. Sometimes, mixing words with spaces can result in new words that you didn’t want to.

Do not repeat hashtags. Repeating the same hashtag in a blog post won’t boost the chances of being discovered or appearing higher in search results.

The types of Instagram hashtags

There are a variety of hashtags that you can use on Instagram:

Location hashtags: These are crucial for local social media marketing . They can assist in attracting customers from nearby areas. Be aware that using a location hashtag isn’t the same as adding a location to Instagram!

#detroitrealestate

#landscaperboston

Popular hashtags: They are usually extremely broad, which means they’re not likely to generate the most meaningful engagement, but they can be a great way to gain some exposure.

#waybackwednesday

#dogsofinstagram

The most popular hashtags are a result of current happenings of various tones.

#marchmadness2022

#quarantineworkout

Branded hashtags: Companies often develop hashtags that are unique to their brand or to a particular campaign to increase participation and the creation of user-generated content.

#goldiesquad (@goldieblox)

#myDSW (@dsw)

Instagram hashtags – an example of a hashtag that is branded

How many hashtags are there on Instagram?

Instagram lets you utilize as many hashtags you want, and while we’ve historically been advised to use about 10 hashtags but new research from Later suggests that 20-30 hashtags are the best option (for feed posts). Here’s what they suggest:

Utilize 20 hashtags to maximize reach rate.

Use 30 hashtags for optimal engagement rate.

graphs that show how many hashtags you can use on Instagram

Image source

But don’t force it. If your content doesn’t require 30 hashtags, stop looking for hashtags. Keep in mind that your goal isn’t to be visible in every search but to be found in the appropriate searches.

How do you hide Instagram hashtags

If your article is certainly worth 20-30 hashtags There are a few methods to conceal them to ensure they don’t obstruct your blog post.

Include them in a comment. Include a handful of them within your Instagram caption, and then add the rest of them in a comment to your blog post.

Then push them back down. Write your caption, and then make new lines using just a one period per line. When you have enough white space between your caption, add your hashtags.

Cover them. In Instagram Stories you can have your hashtag’s text color the similar to your background or cover it by stickers.

How to hide Instagram hashtags

Image source

 

How do you make use of hashtags on Instagram

Hashtags can be a great tool to advertise your Instagram account without cost. Here are some tips on how to make use of hashtags to promote your account on Instagram.

  1. Treat them as words

Hashtags are the key words of Instagram SEO. It is recommended to use an assortment of popular hashtags to gain wider visibility, and also smaller-scale, but more focused hashtags to draw followers and clients. Tools for researching hashtags (which we’ll cover in the next section) can aid in this, but they’re also a simple process. For instance:

Low-intensity, broad landscaping, backyard

Less broad, medium intent: #landscapinghouston, #residentiallandscape

Specific, high intent: #landscapingserviceshouston

Examples of Instagram hashtags

  1. Save a default list

While you shouldn’t use the same hashtags within the same post however, you are able to (and should) use hashtags you already have in various posts. Keep a list of hashtags in your pocket so that you can add them to your posts.

But keep in mind. Relevance is crucial. Eliminate hashtags in cases where they don’t make sense. If someone is searching for hashtags and your irrelevant blog post appears this could make your company appear untrustworthy, unreliable, or even desperate.

  1. Make your own campaigns for hashtags

A few of the most successful Instagram marketing campaigns use hashtags to promote their products. For instance, the iconic #IceBucketChallenge. The marketing team of the ALS Association was able to increase awareness through the hashtag, however they also raised a significant amount of funds ($115 million, to be precise!). Consider ways to achieve the same thing by encouraging your followers to WANT to use your hashtag that will increase awareness of your company among other Instagrammers.

Hashtags don’t have to be brief-lived contests or trends. In fact, some of the most successful branded hashtags are the timeless ones, like Chewy’s #petsbringustogether.

chewy’s hashtag campaign is #petsbringustogether

  1. Create an evergreen hashtag to promote UGC

Use the hashtag developed by the company that makes sneakers, Allbirds. Instead of using the same hashtags for every blog post, they have used #weareallbirds. Happy customers also use it to showcase their latest sneakers!

 

Example of a hashtag that is branded on Instagram.

How to create a brand-new hashtag for Instagram:

Make it unique. Make sure you are specific and include your company’s name.

Make it simple to remember. If a hashtag is too long and complicated like #wordstreammakesadvertisingeasy, your followers won’t remember or use it.

Make sure to check it. Always search for the hashtag to ensure it’s not being used elsewhere or, even worse, being it’s being used to promote something that’s inappropriate or offensive.

  1. Make use of hashtags to announce giveaways.

Create an Instagram contest asking participants to upload a photo and tag your company and include a hashtag. It not only makes it easier for you to keep track of entries, but it could also assist in filling your brand’s hashtag with amazing content.

How to use Instagram hashtags Example of a hashtag contest

  1. Create an hashtag challenge

Hashtag challenges can connect your followers and create a community about your company. Here’s a great example of a hashtag challenge from Lululemon UK and Stava, who collaborated to organize an exciting challenge that enticed users to complete a 40-80K run, and then use the hashtag on their Instagram posts with #4080challenge.

However, as I’ve mentioned before make sure you be sure to check the hashtag. When you search #4080challenge on Instagram You will get more results for cars than runners.

How to use Instagram hashtags how to use hashtags on Instagram search hashtags results

#4080challenge…a Lululemon campaign and a car

  1. Other brands may also be included.

In addition to including the brands you follow in your posts, make sure to use their hashtags that are branded by them as well. It’s a great way to support other companies in their marketing strategies on Instagram, and who knows, they may feature you or utilize your hashtag in return for the favor.

Instagram hashtag post featuring yogurt and Granola

 

Need more ideas? Take a look at these 157 Authentic Halloween Hashtags for Fall to Get more customers.

  1. Follow hashtags

There are some hashtags that you must follow on Instagram.

Your own hashtags that are branded to stay on top of engagement and to monitor your reputation. People may not always mention your company on the same page where they are using your hashtag.

The hashtags of your competitors to keep track of them.

Industries hashtags are used to be up to date with the latest developments and news in your field.

If you want to follow hashtags, just search for the hashtag you want to follow and click”follow” or “follow” button from search results.

How do you find hashtags on Instagram

In order to use hashtags in your Instagram content effectively and in a meaningful method, you must conduct some research. Where do you begin? Here are some suggestions…

Hashtag research tools

There are a myriad of Instagram hashtag generators available, such as All Hashtag and Sistrix–that will create relevant hashtags and provide you information on which hashtags are most popular.

Instagram hashtags generator sistrix

Instagram search

Enter hashtag suggestions into Instagram’s Instagram search bar, and then see the auto-fill results. Simple to use.

Instagram hashtag tools – Instagram search

Make sure you are aware of your competition

Be aware of your industry’s influencers and competitors. If you’re not sure which tags are worth applying, examine the strategies others are using successfully in their field. This can give you a great base from which to develop your own strategy.

Instagram hashtag analytics

The time has come to talk about reporting. It’s impossible to know if your hashtags are enhancing the effectiveness of your marketing on social media without knowing the figures. You’re fortunate to have a variety of tools available to you. Three of them are listed below.

  1. Instagram Insights

The first thing to look at is Instagram’s analytics. It is accessible on mobile devices if you have the Instagram corporate account. You can also check the performance of a particular post’s hashtag by clicking “View the insights” beneath the post.

Instagram hashtag analytics

 

  1. Sprout Social

If you’re looking to gain more information about individual hashtag performance, it could be worthwhile to invest in a different reporting tool that delve into the details such as Sprout Social. This powerful social reporting tool can help you create Instagram report on the performance of hashtags that perform a range of tasks such as:

Check out your most popular Instagram hashtags with those which get the most attention.

Check out how hashtags branded by the brand perform in comparison to other hashtags.

Utilize their hashtag feature to create hashtags for specific campaigns reports.

Instagram hashtag monitoring tools

  1. Iconosquare

Although the cost is slightly higher than Iconosquare however, there’s plenty you can accomplish, including posting social media posts, to tracking the comments you leave, and accessing comprehensive analytics in one location.

In terms of the tracking of hashtags, this software offers extremely sophisticated data analytically regarding hashtag engagement and whether or not specific hashtags contribute to the growth of a brand or campaign.

Iconosquare

For more information, check out the list of hashtag trackers from Brand24.

The most well-known Instagram hashtags ever

Popular hashtags won’t make you stand out, but they could help in gaining exposure. Additionally, they’re a great “seed” hashtag which you can alter to increase relevance.

According to Hootsuite Here are the 20 most well-known Instagram hashtags:

#love (1.835B)

#instagood (1.150B)

#fashion (812.7M)

#photooftheday (797.3M)

#beautiful (661.0M)

#art (649.9M)

#photography (583.1M)

#happy (578.8M)

#picoftheday (570.8M)

#cute (569.1M)

#follow (560.9M)

#tbt (536.4M)

#followme (528.5M)

#nature525.7M

#like4like (515.6M)

#travel (497.3M)

#instagram (482.6M)

#style (472.3M)

Repost # (471.4M) (How do you repost your post via Instagram this page!)

#summer (454.2M)

Remember that the best way to utilize hashtags is to inspire yourself, not to fill them with hashtags.

Daily Instagram hashtags

There’s an entire article on hashtags for each one of our days, however this is a simplified version:

Monday: #mindfulmonday, #mondaymood, #mondayquotes

Tuesday: #tooltiptuesday, #traveltuesday, #tuesdaytrivia

Wednesday: #waybackwednesday, #wellnesswednesday, #woodworkingwednesday

Thursday: #throwbackthursday, #thankfulthursday, #thursdaythought

Friday: #fearlessfriday, #flashbackfriday, #featurefriday

Saturday: #saturdaysweat, #saturdayselfie, #saturdaysale

Sunday: #sundayfunday, #spotlightsunday, #sundaysweets

Best Instagram hashtags for #ThursdayThoughts

#thursdaythoughts

 

Instagram hashtags to help grow your business

The most effective Instagram hashtags to use to increase your reach are ones specifically tailored to your industry. Then, you can alter the hashtags to include your city or even your business’s name. Steph has got you covered with more than 300 specific hashtags for your industry to use in your posts. Here’s an example:

Real estate news: #newlisting, #openhouse, #mortgagetips #townhouse

Education: #highered, #virtuallearning, #alumni, #go[schoolname]

Automotive: #carsforsale, #cardealership, #collisionrepair, #tirerotation

Healthcare: #getyourcheckup, #telehealth, #cancerawareness, #hearthealth

 

Instagram hashtags for business on Instagram – #carmechaniclife

#carmechaniclife…not shown in the image due to the hiding trick mentioned above

 

Mental health hashtags

#stigmafree, #mentalhealthadvocate, #mentalhealthawareness, #anxietyisreal, #endthestigma, #selfcare, #acceptyourself, #gowithin, #mindsetshift, #selfacceptance, #youareworthy, #healthyboundaries, #itsokaytonotbeokay

Mental health hashtags on Instagram

#itsokaytonotbeokay

 

The hashtags for diversity and inclusion

#empowerment, #inclusion, #socialimpact, #community, #loveislove, #accessible, #disabilityawareness, #diversityequityinclusion, #pride, #blacklivesmatter, #allmeansall, #bettertogether, #unityindiversity, #loveforall, #minorityowned, #veteranowned, #womanowned, #blackowned

Instagram hashtags for diversity and inclusion

Small-scale business Instagram hashtags

#shoplocal, #buylocal, #supportsmallbiz, #familyowned, #smallbusinesssaturday, #smallbusinessweek, #smallbusinesslove, #smallbusinesstips, #smallbusinessowner, #handmade, #handcrafted, #etsyshop

Small business hashtags on Instagram

Inspiring hashtags

#hustle, #motivationonoftheday, #ifnotyouwho, #justdoit, #alwaysbekind, #workhard, #bebolder, #nevergiveup, #walkyourtruepath, #starttoday, #carpediem, #ifnotnowwhen, #accountability, #bethechange