Use hashtags that are directly related to your content and target audience. Consider what keywords and terms your audience is likely searching for to find posts like yours. By using relevant hashtags, you increase the likelihood of users interested in your topic discovering your post.
Find a good balance between popular and more specific hashtags. Popular hashtags have a large search volume, which means many users are searching for them. However, competition is also high, so your posts can quickly get lost in the crowd. More specific hashtags may have lower search volume, but they reach a more targeted audience that is more likely to engage with your content.
Conduct thorough hashtag research to find relevant and current hashtags. Use tools like the Instagram Hashtag Explorer to discover popular hashtags and find related hashtags. Make sure the hashtags you use are actually being used by people in your target audience and not just by bots or spam accounts.
The number of hashtags you use should be appropriate. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but it’s not necessary to use them all. What’s more important is the quality of the hashtags. Use hashtags that truly match your content and appeal to your target audience. Avoid excessively generic hashtags that have no relevance to your specific post.
Create your own branded hashtag that is unique to your brand or company. This hashtag can help build a community around your brand and encourage engagement from your followers. Use the brand hashtag in your posts and also encourage your followers to use it to promote interaction and sharing.
Use trending hashtags that are popular at the moment. Keep an eye on current events, holidays, seasonal topics, or trends that are relevant to your industry. By using relevant hashtags related to ongoing conversations and events, you can insert your posts into existing discussions and gain more visibility.
It can be advantageous to use a mix of popular hashtags with many posts and less popular hashtags. Using popular hashtags can help you appear in the top posts for those hashtags, leading to more visibility. At the same time, you can also use less popular hashtags to be found in the latest posts and reach an engaged audience.