Do you want to increase your reach on Instagram? Discover how to effectively choose hashtags to reach a wider audience and build an engaged community around your profile. Check out our practical tips and dominate Instagram today!
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over a billion monthly active users. In such a huge environment, standing out can be a challenge. However, the key to success is not only unique content, but often also carefully selected hashtags that can increase the visibility of your posts. In this article, you will learn how to choose them to achieve maximum results.
Instagram hashtag secrets
Hashtags are not only fashionable additions to posts, but above all a tool that allows you to reach new audiences. Thanks to them, your photos and videos can reach people who are not your followers but are interested in the topics you deal with. But how to choose the most effective ones? Is there an ideal number of hashtags? Is it better to choose popular or niche tags? You will find the answers to these questions below.
How hashtags work on Instagram
Hashtags on Instagram act as metadata that categorizes content. When a user clicks or searches for a specific hashtag, they will see all public posts that contain it. This makes your content discoverable by people outside your follower list.
Why the right selection of hashtags is important
By choosing the right hashtags, you increase the chances of reaching your target group. It’s not only about increasing the number of views, but above all about the quality of interaction. Well-chosen hashtags will attract users interested in your content, which may translate into greater engagement and loyalty.
How to analyze hashtag popularity?
Before adding hashtags, it is worth checking their popularity. You can do this directly in the Instagram app:
- enter the hashtag in the search bar;
- see how many posts are related to it;
- review the newest and most popular posts to determine if they are a good fit for your content.
Avoid too general hashtags
Hashtags such as #love, #happy and #instagood have millions of posts. While they may seem attractive, your content may get lost in a sea of others. It’s better to focus on more precise tags.
Use niche hashtags
Niche hashtags have less competition, which increases the chances of your posts getting noticed. If you run a profile about vegan cooking, use hashtags such as #veganrecipes or #vegekitchen.
Create combinations of popular and niche hashtags
By combining popular hashtags with niche ones, you increase your chances of reaching a wide audience, while reaching those most interested in your content.
Create your own hashtags
Unique hashtags can become the hallmark of your brand. Encourage your followers to use them, which will help build a community around your profile.
Monitor the effectiveness of hashtags
Regularly analyze which hashtags bring the best results. You can use Instagram’s analytics tools or third-party apps to track reach and engagement.
Optimal number of hashtags
Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags in one post, but marketers often suggest that the optimal number is 9-11. Quality is more important than quantity.
Hashtags in Stories and Reels
Don’t forget about hashtags in Stories and Reels. By adding them, you increase the chances of your content being displayed in the appropriate exploration sections.
Avoid banned hashtags
Some hashtags are banned by Instagram due to inappropriate content. Using them may result in limited scope of your account.
Stay up to date with trends
Follow current trends and popular events. By using hashtags that are popular at the moment, you can increase the visibility of your posts.
Personalize hashtags to your target group
Consider what hashtags may be of interest to your potential recipients. If you know their interests, it will be easier for you to choose the right tags.
Using hashtags effectively on Instagram is an art of balancing popularity and precision. Remember to regularly analyze and adapt your strategy. Thanks to this, your posts will reach the right people and your profile will develop.