Hashtags on Instagram are like keywords for Google – they offer you the opportunity to get discovered by new audiences. They can help you categorize your digital content, boost brand awareness, and position your brand with authority.
Why Do Instagram Hashtags Matter?
Hashtags are important on Instagram because they can help you connect with new customers, expand your reach, spark conversations, and even track user-generated content for your brand. Users can in fact follow particular hashtag, and any hashtag you can think of can be followed This can help tremendously with hashtag research, as it’s an instant way to figure out how your posts can fit in with existing posts and target specific digital audiences.
Types of Hashtags
Industry Hashtags
These hashtags fall under the category of high competition hashtags since many people use them regularly, and they generally have been tagged on millions of posts historically.
Industry hashtags increase the visibility of your post, a but are also a highly competitive space, so it’s good to include a few in your posts to give Instagram an idea of the general topic of your posts, but also mix in some more niche hashtags for specificity.
Niche Hashtags
If you want to add some more specificity to the marketing industry/business you’re in, then niche hashtags are for you. They are more specific and less popular than general industry hashtags, and they can increase Instagram post engagement to people who have more specific search terms.
Brand Hashtags
These hashtags are used to attract new followers and for promoting a product you like in hopes of attaining a brand partnership. How does that work? Most businesses have their own campaign hashtags that they regularly use to find potential brand ambassadors and affiliates.
Make new connections by following some branded hashtags. And you may even get a brand featured or become part of a fantastic new community.
Community Hashtags
Instagram is all about community, and joining a particular Instagram tribe is as easy as including some community-based hashtags on your relevant posts. Community hashtags are more specific than niche and brand hashtags and are less competitive then the previous hashtag groups further up the funnel. Consider using 3-5 community hashtags in addition to others in your social media posts.
Don’t know which community hashtags to use. Worry not! Research what your followers or competitors are using on their photos as hashtags and follow suit.
Location Hashtags
If you want people in your locality to find your posts quickly then use these low competition, high specificity, location hashtags on your posts.
For business’ promoting on Instagram that want to reach a wider target audience, consider combining location hashtags, niche hashtags, and industry hashtags on every post.
Effective tips to your Instagram Hashtag:
Be conscious of the number and placement of your hashtags
In a recent study, SocialInsider examined 650,000 Instagram posts to determine how hashtag use affected their performance. What they found was that overall, posts with 7 or 30 hashtags hidden in the caption got the most engagement.
Find popular hashtags related to your brand
Check out what hashtags influencers and brands like yours are using. People interested in related content will be searching those hashtags and will therefore be more likely to come across your content. It’s a great way to ensure your posts are reaching appropriate audiences.
Search Instagram hashtags before using them
Before you use a hashtag on Instagram, make sure search it yourself to see who is using it. And what kind of content comes up. Just because a popular influencer or brand used it, doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for your content.
Switch it up
Varying your hashtags makes it possible to reach a wider and more diverse audience. People who search #sailing are not necessarily the same people who search #sailboats. But if you’re a sailboat rental company, it’s a good idea to reach all of them. Using different hashtags in each post gives you the opportunity to try out lots of different hashtags. And see which ones get you the most engagement.
