Understanding Instagram Hashtags Power

During COVID19, social media proved to be more than entertainment methods. Thousands of people worldwide found a way to grow their work and brand for their products. Instagram is one of the top 10 social media apps, allowing its users to share their photos, images, and videos to express their thoughts, share their lives, and promote their work.

Instagram statistics have recorded that around 130 million users tap shopping posts every month.

One of the most powerful ways to grow viral on Instagram is using Hashtags. You can use hashtags to reach your target audience, widen your followers’ base, and increase your engagement rate.

In this article, we’re going to address the impact of Instagram Hashtags and how to use them to build a strong marketing strategy on Instagram.

What is a Hashtag? 

A Hashtag is a label used on social media channels to categorize information and topics. To make a Hashtag, you shall add the symbol # before the word. Usually, Hashtags consist of 1 to 3 words with no spaces in between.  

What is the Purpose of Hashtags?

Hashtags are a method of topic categorization and creating links for them. They help the users to find what they’re looking for easily.

Nearly 95 million photos are posted every day on Instagram. Hashtags help to put your content in front of the right people and let your target audience find your posts too!

If you intend to grow your business online, you need to be updated and know what’s new about your field. Using Hashtags will help you learn about your audience, what they want, and what they’re looking for.

You’ll learn about your competitors, which will help you design a strong marketing strategy and avoid any possible mistakes.

Hashtags enable you to go viral, easily brand your products, increase your engagement rate, and promote your account.

What are the types of Instagram Hashtags?

To develop an effective Hashtag strategy, you need to know the different types of Instagram Hashtags.

Top Instagram Hashtags for companies:

These Hashtags attract users with a specific interest in what you’re offering and help you grow a robust community.

You can use the following Hashtags to promote your business:

• Product or service Hashtags:

Usually, they are general hashtags such as #flowershop or #watches. Companies can use product Hashtags for posts related to their offerings. 

• Niche in your industry Hashtags:

These Hashtags express your work better and narrow the search options. They’re more specific. (e.g. #handmadeaccessories)

• Branded Hashtags:

Branded Hashtags represent your product name or slogan, which helps to grow a community around your business. 

• Campaign Hashtags:

Choosing a unique Hashtag is essential to propagate for your product and track your campaign activity. 

• Instagram communities for your industry:

You can find and join people who do activities the same as yours and be visible among them. (e.g. #photographersofinstagram)

• Cultural movement Hashtags:

This type of Hashtags can change the whole world, not just share in business! Instagram makes the news go viral and helps the different communities to express their opinions and call for their rights. (e.g. #feminism, and #BlackLivesMatter)  

• User-generated content Hashtags:

With this broad user base, it’s hard to control what gets posted. This one represents a group of branded, product, and campaign Hashtags so that users can find unfiltered photos of your product.

• Hashtags for special events or seasons: e.g., #BlackFriday

• Phrase Hashtags: e.g., #bebrave.

• Location Hashtags: Use these Hashtags to attract the people in your area. (e.g. #eiffelboutique)

Top Instagram Hashtags for individuals:

Adding Hashtags to your posts will make you famous on Instagram. You’ll have more followers and high rates of engagement.

• Daily Hashtags: e.g., #saturadynights.

• Hashtags with acronyms: e.g., #qotd (quote of the day).

• Personal Hashtags: e.g., #lovemyself.

• Holiday Hashtags: e.g., #cristmaseve.

Tips for using Instagram hashtags:

Instagram has few rules for using hashtags. If you stick to these rules and follow these tips, you’ll achieve your goal; become viral on Instagram, and gain more engagement. 

How many hashtags to use on Instagram?

Instagram allows you to add up to 30 hashtags on your post and up to 10 hashtags on a story. If you try to add more, your caption won’t post.

The average number is 11. Commonly, users add 1 to 3 hashtags to their posts.

To find what’s best for you, try many times as you want till you know what suits you more.

Is it reasonable to add hashtags to every Instagram post?

YES YES YES!

Hashtags increase your chances of being visible and gain more reach. Your content will be easier to find.

Can I use the same hashtags so many times?

Try using other hashtags that are highly relevant to your content. Want to know how to do that? You have many options! Word spinning, for example, may be helpful.

You sure don’t want to be banned or recognized as spam content.

Instagram algorithms will push your posts downwards if you keep using the same hashtags over and over again.

How to hide hashtags on Instagram?

You may be asking why I would hide them in the first place.

Posts that have so many hashtags may look spammy for the reader. Hiding hashtags is an excellent idea to organize your content and get the best outcomes.

• Hide hashtags in the comments:

This trick gives better results if you’re targeting a mobile audience.

It’s so easy to do.

After sharing your post, click on the comment section and add the hashtags you want in a comment.

These hashtags won’t be visible unless the users navigate to the comment section.

• Hide hashtags in the captions:

The idea is Instagram hides captions after 3 lines. You can take advantage of this trick and add your hashtags after writing 3 or 4 lines.

If your caption is short, write what you want, then add punctuation marks in separate lines then write y

our hashtags, for example: add a few dots in each line before adding your hashtags like what we do here at Digiutm

Hashtags to avoid on Instagram:

There are a group of banned hashtags on Instagram, which are against the guidelines.

Most of them are reported as inappropriate content. (e.g., offensive or self-harm hashtags).

To check for your hashtag, you can search the hashtags section before sharing it. You’ll receive a message showing that the hashtag you’re searching for is hidden or reported.

Top Trending Instagram hashtags 2021

We can say they’re top Instagram hashtags all the time. Millions of people use these hashtags every day. It’s better to use more specific hashtags to get more interactions.

1. #love
2. #instagood
3. #fashion 
4. #photooftheday
5. #art
6. #beautiful
7. #photography
8. #follow
9. #cute
10. #instagram
11. #nature
12. #followme
13. #travel
14. #style
15. #report
16. #instadaily
17. #summer
18. #selfie
19. #fitness
20. #beauty
21. #food
22. #friends
23. #music

How to Find Trending Hashtags?

To know if your hashtag is trending, you can search for it. Write your hashtag in the tags search section, then you’ll find it with all other hashtags relevant to it. They’ll appear in a list, with the count of posts included too.

Top Trending Hashtags on Instagram:

 

1. #life
2. #music
3. #amazing
4. #nofilter
5. #motivation
6. #sunset
7. #instagood
8. #foodporn
9. #handmade
10. #dogsofinstagram
11. #bestoftheday
12. #instafood
13. #explore
14. #memes
15. #followforfollowback
16. #tweegram
17. #instagramhub
18. #quarantine
19. #BlackLivesMatter

Tips for using Instagram hashtags for business:

•  Be organized:

You can do it manually by using spreadsheets, excel, or any analytic tool.

If you’re managing an account about food, you can fill your sheet with #recipes, #nationalrecipes, #spicy, #colorfulfood, #desserts, and other relevant hashtags.

The problem is that you have to fill it manually and add every new hashtag. 

Other tools are available on the internet that can do it automatically for you. Do quick research, and you’ll find them.

•  Have your code:

As we’ve mentioned, you can add up to 30 hashtags in your post, and the average hashtag number is 11.

The magic number differs from one person to another. You’ll have to try many times before you finally know yours.

Be specific about your choices, and limit the use of general hashtags. This will increase your chances of being more visible.

•  Narrow your hashtags:

Try to make your content “less talking, more looking.”

The more specific your content is, the higher the reach you get.

Don’t be random. For example, if you search for #travel, you’ll find thousands of quotes, photos, and videos about travel. Some of them will show deserts, mountains, seas, plans, etc. 

Be specific about your hashtags; add locations or travel destinations, for example.

•  Search for trending hashtags:

An easy way to do that is to check your newsfeed regularly. Know the hashtags of your followers and your competitors, search for updates in your industry and find out what other people do.

•  Figure out relevant hashtags:

When you open the search bar on Instagram, you find the tags section. Write your hashtag, and then a list will appear showing your hashtag and all other hashtags related to it.

Also, you’ll find the count number of posts included.

•  Track your hashtag:

Instagram enables you to follow your hashtag. It’s a great advantage!

This enables you to track every activity related to your hashtag, find the people who’re talking about it and contact them.

You’ll keep updated with any further changes.

•  Raise a campaign hashtag:

It’s an excellent way to achieve optimum use of Instagram hashtags. This will help you build a community around your brand and support your products. You can start by including your branded hashtag in your Instagram profile so you become more functional. Then you can add it to your posts, comments, and stories.

Branded hashtags are a shortcut to get your product promoted.

Conclusion:

The most important thing about hashtags is that they are easy to use. You no longer have to worry about your time, money, or efforts. You can use Instagram hashtags only and just with a few clicks.

It isn’t just about finding your interests, but it also allows people who’re interested in your content to find you.

They say: “Smart, not hard.” These are the best words to describe the effect of hashtagging on business. We’ve covered all the tricks and tips of using Instagram hashtags for your business. Day by day, you’ll master these steps and figure out your key to gain more reach and engagement rates.

Practicing is the cornerstone of every success. So, keep hashtagging!

Want us to take care of your brand on Instagram? Contact us!