Are you using Instagram to promote your business or brand, but don’t know how to use hashtags effectively? Hashtags are a great way to increase engagement and connect with your audience on Instagram, but knowing how to use them effectively can be tricky.
What are hashtags?
Hashtags are words or phrases preceded by a # symbol (i.e. #photooftheday) that are used on social media platforms to categorize content and make it more discoverable. On Instagram, hashtags are essential tools for helping people find content that is relevant to their interests. By using relevant hashtags, you can help your posts reach a wider audience and gain more engagement. Hashtags can be used to categorize content based on topics, events, locations, or any other keyword. When someone clicks or searches a hashtag, they are taken to a page with a stream of posts associated with that hashtag. This makes it easier for users to find posts related to their interests. There are many online tools that can be used to generate online hashtags. One of the most popular tool is the InstaZoom tool. You need to enter the topic of the post to generate a hashtag related to that post. According to Instagram experts, one must choose hashtags with least competition. As your chances of getting more reach will increase with low competition hashtags.
Types of hashtags:
- Generic hashtags: These are the most commonly used and are usually one or two words long. Generic hashtags are used to describe the content of the post, such as #dogsofinstagram for posts about dogs or #travel for posts about travel.
- Branded hashtags: These are used by companies and influencers to build an online presence and engage with their followers. Brand-specific hashtags often include the company or product name and are usually used in promotional posts.
- Community hashtags: These are used to bring together members of a group or to promote a cause. For example, the hashtag #blacklivesmatter is used to draw attention to the Black Lives Matter movement.
How to use hashtags properly to benefit from them?
- Use relevant hashtags: Relevant hashtags allow users to find content related to their interests. When adding hashtags to your posts, make sure they are related to the topic of the post. But don’t just stick to one category. If you’re posting a travel photo, you could use tags that are specific to that place or activity.
- Use hashtags with high search volume: Using popular hashtags is one of the most effective ways to get your content seen and discovered on Instagram. Popular hashtags are used by millions of people every day, so they provide a great opportunity to reach a wide audience. Plus, using popular hashtags can also help you to increase your engagement rate, as more people are likely to see and interact with your content. When searching for popular hashtags, focus on those that are related to your content, as this will help you to target the right people. Take the time to research what hashtags are trending and use them whenever possible. Additionally, try to stay away from overly popular hashtags, as these are usually flooded with posts, which can make it difficult to stand out.
- Balance different types of hashtags: Using a mix of popular and relevant hashtags is one of the most effective ways to increase your visibility on Instagram. Popular hashtags are widely searched and used, so they can help you reach a larger audience. But, relevant hashtags are essential as these can help you connect with an audience that is more likely to engage with your content.
- Do not overuse hashtags: Using hashtags is an essential part of making your content visible on Instagram, but it’s important to avoid overusing them. Using too many hashtags on your post can make it seem spammy, and it will be difficult to read. It’s also important to remember that Instagram has limits in place for how many hashtags you can use. For each post, you can use up to 30 hashtags.