Instagram and hashtags go together like groost and fun; sure Instagram can (in a way) work without hashtags, but it would be a waste of an opportunity not to use the power of the right hashtag strategy. Use the hashtag sauce to upgrade your profile with some effective growth!
Hashtags help you reach a wider audience, generate more engagement and get more followers. It's crucial to find the best Instagram hashtags for your profile. In order to get the most out of it, you need to constantly experiment, try new hashtags and use different combinations of them.
Luckily, we have come up with 7 tips for effective hashtag research and usage.
1. Always Search Your Hashtags Before Using Them
Make sure they are relevant to your post and to your audience. Using super common but irrelevant hashtags will make your post look spammy and get you the wrong kind of attention.
2. Post Your Hashtags in The First Comment Rather Than The Caption
Despite the fact that you’re allowed to add up to 30 hashtags, using too many of them in your captions can look chaotic. Putting them in the first comment is a better way that can (kind of) be a bit of a pain, as you have to wait for your post to be published and then comment. Sked Social lets you schedule first comment hashtags and publish them automatically.
3. Leverage More Niche Hashtags
Popular hashtags with billions of posts might get you some extra attention, but it should not be the only source of it.
The people who interact with your posts as a result of the popular hashtags you used (such as #instapic #ootd or #foodporn) will not be a part of your target audience. Thus, they will most likely not become your followers to check out more of your updates.
Combine popular (with millions of posts) hashtags with semi-popular (up to 200 000 posts) and less popular (from 100 to 1000 posts) niche hashtags in your posts, as they will help you reach a much more targeted audience so you can cut through the noise. Of course, the more profiles that use the hashtag, the less of a chance there is that your post will be seen because of it.
#likeforlike, #follow4follow #idkwhatimdoing. If you're lucky, you get some extra spam comments with these gimmicky, generic hashtags. Don't waste your hashtags with these spammy ones.
4. Use a Mix of Different Types of Hashtags
5 types of the most effective hashtags:
- Related Hashtags - Research hashtags related to the ones you're currently using.
- Local Hashtags - Neighborhood, sights, community, shop or restaurant names.
- Event Hashtags - Is there any huge event in your niche?
- Holiday Hashtags - Holiday-themed content has its place in every industry.
- Brand Hashtags - Let the brands know you are out there!
5. Don't Stick to The Same Hashtags
Instagram frowns upon it. 29 out of your 30 hashtags should be fresh for every post. Moreover, you won't learn which hashtags work best for your profile. You’ll just be stuck reaching the same audience over and over again.
With a tool called Later, you can create multiple hashtag lists based on your frequently used hashtag categories.
6. Measure Your Success, Analyze and Optimize
As said in the previous point, it’s important to track your Instagram insights to detect what works best for you. Only then can you find ways to improve your hashtag strategy. Check the hashtags used in your best performing posts, compared to those that don't do well.
There are other factors that influence your posts' success, nevertheless the more you use good hashtags and analyze your metrics, the easier it will be to find the most effective ones to boost your results.
7. Find The Industry Leaders
Are there any Instagram influencers that have the same (or similar) target audience as you? Follow them and investigate what works best for them! Learn from what they have already discovered.
There are lots of things you should work on whilst developing your Influencer persona. Especially your content and building a relationship with your audience. Nevertheless, hashtags are the fuel for Instagram engines. If you pour the best hashtags in, you will drive fast! 🚀
