Instagram Hashtag Strategy for Beginners - AdMarketing Titan

Cracking the code of hashtags is one of the most frequently discussed topics by content creators.

Which hashtags to use? Which hashtags are relevant? What are even hashtags?

Some accounts are seen using 15+ hashtags while some of the accounts are using 3-4 hashtags. Both get similar reach and engagement. Why is that?

This post breaks down the basics of hashtags, why they are beneficial, and ways to find relevant hashtags.

What is a hashtag?

Hashtags are those words preceded by the symbol ‘#’ used in social media platforms which helps categorize the content into different topics and helps in discovering content both while using the search or now even in suggestions.

Hashtags also facilitate engagement and community building by connecting users who share common interests, trends, events, or discussions. They play a crucial role in social media marketing strategies, helping businesses and individuals increase their visibility, reach a targeted audience, and enhance engagement with their content.

In the context of Instagram, people can

• Search for the hashtags to see relevant posts
• Follow the hashtag to see other related posts

Hashtags are also clickable to show all the posts that are directly related to the hashtags. This helps in finding keyword-related posts and reels directly without much scouting.

Hashtags are also one of the most effective ways to get more eyeballs and hopefully more engagement.

Do hashtags work now?

Yes, hashtags still work and hopefully continue to do so.

However, it's important to have a clear hashtag strategy as Instagram limits the reach of spammy hashtags as well as accounts using too many hashtags in pursuit of getting more reach.

Basics of hashtags

They start with '#': Also, Hashtags don’t have any spaces or punctuation in between.

Accounts should be public: they work only when the posts are public and the content is allowed to be discovered.

Keep it short: Hashtags are often small strings of characters or words. Unless it’s for a specific community or brand that has some following, go for shorter hashtags.

Find relevant hashtags: it’s important to always see the relevance of the hashtags.

Benefits of using Instagram hashtags

If you are a small business owner of a cake shop, it’s important to share images on Instagram with relevant hashtags targeting people with an interest in cakes.

Hashtags can be used to raise awareness and also join in the trend or conversation with all the topic-related people.

Here is the list of things hashtags can help you for:

Increase engagement: Hashtags help the posts, videos, and reels get more exposure and engagement, especially to those people who follow the hashtags as well as search for them to get information about topics.

Also, Christina Nicholson from Huffington Post also said that a post with hashtags gets 12% more interaction.

This increased visibility can lead to more likes, comments, and shares, ultimately boosting engagement rates.

Building awareness: Adding appropriate hashtags to your content will significantly boost its visibility and recognition. Adding trending or niche-specific hashtags associated with your business or content helps you reach potential followers who have similar interests.

This increases the visibility of your business and creates a community around your content.

Help Target Audience Find You: Hashtags act as a discovery tool on Instagram, enabling users interested in specific topics to find related content easily. By strategically using hashtags that resonate with your target audience's interests and behaviors, you can attract new followers who are genuinely interested in your offerings.

Capitalize on Trend: Trending hashtags reflect current events, seasons, or popular topics that capture widespread attention on Instagram. Incorporating trending hashtags into your posts allows you to join relevant conversations and capitalize on the virality of those topics.

As a result of your content being included in larger conversations and trends, you may see a boost in reach and engagement.

Content Inspiration: Keeping up with hashtags associated with your industry or specialization could work as a continuous source of ideas for writing fresh content. You can get insightful information and inspiration for your own posts by keeping an eye on trending hashtags and studying the kinds of topics that appeal to your audience.

It helps in maintaining the relevance and originality of your content strategy.

Community Building: On Instagram, hashtags help users connect with communities and other like-minded people. Engaging with users who have similar interests and taking part in hashtag conversations can help you build genuine relationships and attract a loyal following.

This feeling of community promotes continued engagement with your content and strengthens brand loyalty.

Types of hashtags

Even though hashtags have one simple job to perform in social media, some important types of hashtags will help you differentiate them easily for using them in your content strategy:

Branded Hashtags: These hashtags are unique to your brand and are used to promote brand identity. These hashtags can be the brand slogan or campaign name.

Example: #shareacoke or #ShotoniPhone

Trending Hashtags: These types of hashtags are popular due to some kind of fan craze or the result of some situation. They often reflect timely topics, events, or viral content.

Example: #photooftheday or #CopaAmerica

Community Hashtags: Community hashtags connect people around shared interests, hobbies, or causes. They are broader and aim to foster a community around a particular topic.

For example: #PhotographyLovers or #bikerlifestyle

Niche Hashtags: These are specific to a particular industry, interest, or subculture. They target a smaller, more targeted audience but can be highly effective in reaching people with specific interests.

Example: #pastarecipies or #gardeningadvice

Location-Based Hashtags: These hashtags are location-specific and are usually used to attract local audiences

Example: #nycfoodie or #LondonFashionWeek

Event Hashtags: Used for events, conferences, or occasions to promote and organize content related to the event. They help attendees and organizers share updates and engage with others attending.

For example: #zomaland or #sxsw2022

How to Find Relevant hashtag

Now that you know the benefits of hashtags, it’s important to find relevant hashtags that Instagram wouldn’t flag as spammy content:

Utilize Explore Page: See what’s already ranking. The Instagram Explore page is a great way source to pick and choose what are the relevant hashtags.

Search for topic-related keywords and filter by top posts.

Instagram Tag Search Tool: The volume of the hashtags used becomes an important metric for finding the best hashtags. It's important to filter out hashtags that have been overused since it may be drowned by the sheer volume of posts that the hashtags have been featured.

On the other hand, posts with a low volume of usage may be used scarcely.

The sweet spot is considered to be 100K-200K posts.

To check the hashtag’s post volume on Instagram, go to the search tool on the Explore page put in a keyword, and then go to tags.

Look at what competitors are doing: Look at what hashtags your competitors and industry influencers are using. Analyze their posts to identify popular and effective hashtags within your niche.

Hashtag Suggestion Tools: Many third-party tool suggestions are used to help find relevant hashtags based on your content. These tools provide hashtag suggestions and analytics to optimize your hashtag strategy.

Some of them include Hootsuite Instagram Hashtag Generator and Keyword Tool Instagram Hashtag Generator.

Hashtags in the Comments Section

Yes, it’s your choice if you want to add hashtags in the comment section.

In fact, Instagram has confirmed that hashtags are effective in both the post caption as well as the comment section.

However, it’s important to post hashtags, especially in the comment section as soon as the post goes live.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of Instagram hashtag strategy is essential for anyone looking to enhance their visibility and engagement on the platform. By carefully selecting relevant hashtags that resonate with the target audience, leveraging trending topics, and monitoring performance metrics, anyone can effectively amplify their reach and foster meaningful connections with users interested in the content.