Ever wondered how best to use hashtags on Instagram? You’re not alone, but when the stats suggest that by using even just one effective hashtag, your engagement will increase by 12% then it really is worth reading on.
Although high-quality images and influencer campaigns can make a huge difference to your results, your hashtags will determine where your target audience will see your posts. Used correctly, they will drive more attention to your company, encourage engagement, and improve brand reputation.
What Exactly Are Hashtags And Why Are They So Important?
Even if you are new to Instagram, you will have probably seen the various popular hashtags such as #NoFilterNeeded and #InstaGood for example? Hashtags are a combination of numbers or letters preceded by the # symbol. They are a crucial component of Instagram’s categorization system, meaning they make it easier for people to find your content. Imagine having a shop filled with the most exquisite products at amazing prices, but your shop is down a dimly lit backstreet that isn’t even on a map for anyone to find! Well, think of your posts in precisely the same way! You may have an eye-catching image with a well-worded caption but without the correct hashtags, it will simply not be seen by your intended audience.
Types Of Instagram Hashtags:
There are a number of different styles of Hashtags on Instagram and each has its own purpose. It’s a good idea to try and use a combination of different types of hashtags of you can and 11 hashtags per post is a good target.
Trending Hashtags. These are great for companies who want to join in with the latest Insta experiences. They can be acronyms and an example would be #MCM which stands for Man Crush Monday.
Branded Hashtags. A branded hashtag can be as simple as your company name, tagline, or the name of one of your products or campaigns. This kind of hashtag will encourage audience engagement and content creation. A popular example would be the #LetsDoLunch by Domino's Pizza.
Product Or Service Tags. These are basic words that describe your service or a product like #mensbarbers or #birthdaycake.
Niche Hashtags. These are hashtags that link you to a specific niche, like #Weddingphotographer.
Industry Community Hashtags. There are many communities on Instagram ready to support your brand, such as #BakersOfInstagram.
Special Event Hashtags. Choose these if they are relevant to your product or a specific post. For example, you may be showing the human side to your brand and be celebrating a member of the teams birthday in which case you can use #happybirthday tag.
Location Hashtags: Geo-tagging your Instagram post is a great way to connect with your local community.
Daily Hashtags: Use these on specific days of the week and you will be found when people search using popular tags such as #motivationalmonday or #throwbackthursday.
Now that you can identify the different types of hashtags at your disposal, follow these top tips for how to ensure your hashtag game is on point:
Do your research. Make sure you know which kind of hashtags are trending, and which are most widely used for success in your specific industry.
Check out your competitor's hashtags. If they are successful in your industry, there’s a good chance they are using hashtags in the right way! Take inspo and follow their lead.
Use the right amount of hashtags. Generally, aim for at least 3 hashtags per post. Most companies agree that 11 is a good maximum amount.
Use hashtags on your Instagram stories as well as your standard newsfeed.
Track the success of your hashtags. This will lead to future success as you will know which ones to use going forward based upon engagement. You can do this by using the Instagram Insights feature in your Business profile.